Is vitamin D-fortified yogurt a value-added strategy for improving human health? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Yogurt is a good source of probiotics, calcium, and proteins, but its content of vitamin D is low. Therefore, yogurt could be a good choice for vitamin D fortification to improve the positive health outcomes associated with its consumption. The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of vitamin D-fortified yogurt compared with plain yogurt on levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD). The secondary aim was to evaluate the effect of fortified yogurt on parathyroid hormone, anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and lipid profile. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for eligible studies; that is, randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compared vitamin D-fortified yogurt with control treatment without any additional supplement. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals. Findings from 9 RCT (n = 665 participants) that lasted from 8 to 16 wk are summarized in this review. The meta-analyzed mean differences for random effects showed that vitamin D-fortified yogurt (from 400 to 2,000 IU) increased serum 25OHD by 31.00 nmol/L. In addition, vitamin D-fortified yogurt decreased parathyroid hormone by 15.47 ng/L, body weight by 0.92 kg, waist circumference by 2.01 cm, HOMA-IR by 2.18 mass units, fasting serum glucose by 22.54 mg/dL, total cholesterol by 13.38 mg/dL, and triglycerides by 30.12 mg/dL compared with the controlled treatments. No publication bias was identified. Considerable between-study heterogeneity was observed for most outcomes. Vitamin D-fortified yogurt may be beneficial in improving serum 25OHD, lipid profile, glucose metabolism, and anthropometric parameters and decreasing parathyroid hormone level in pregnant women and adult and elderly subjects with or without diabetes, prediabetes, or metabolic syndrome

Fungal diversity in two wastewater treatment plants in North Italy

In urban wastewater treatment plants, bacteria lead the biological component of the depuration process, but the microbial community is also rich in fungi (mainly molds, yeasts and pseudo‐yeasts), whose taxonomical diversity and relative frequency depend on several factors, e.g., quality of wastewater input, climate, seasonality, and depuration stage. By joining morphological and molecular identification, we investigated the fungal diversity in two different plants for the urban wastewater treatment in the suburbs of the two major cities in Lombardia, the core of industrial and commercial activities in Italy. This study presents a comparison of the fungal diversity across the depuration stages by applying the concepts of α‐, β‐ and ζ‐diversity. Eurotiales (mainly with Aspergillus and Penicillium), Trichosporonales (Trichosporon sensu lato), Saccharomycetales (mainly with Geotrichum) and Hypocreales (mainly with Fusarium and Trichoderma) are the most represented fungal orders and genera in all the stages and both the plants. The two plants show different trends in α‐, β‐ and ζ‐diversity, despite the fact that they all share a crash during the secondary sedimentation and turnover across the depuration stages. This study provides an insight on which taxa potentially contribute to each depuration stage and/or keep viable propagules in sludges after the collection from the external environment

Dietary Supplementation of Hericium erinaceus

Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers. is a medicinal mushroom capable of inducing a large number of modulatory effects on human physiology ranging from the strengthening of the immune system to the improvement of cognitive functions. In mice, dietary supplementation with H. erinaceus prevents the impairment of spatial short-term and visual recognition memory in an Alzheimer model. Intriguingly other neurobiological effects have recently been reported like the effect on neurite outgrowth and differentiation in PC12 cells. Until now no investigations have been conducted to assess the impact of this dietary supplementation on brain function in healthy subjects. Therefore, we have faced the problem by considering the effect on cognitive skills and on hippocampal neurotransmission in wild-type mice. In wild-type mice the oral supplementation with H. erinaceus induces, in behaviour test, a significant improvement in the recognition memory and, in hippocampal slices, an increase in spontaneous and evoked excitatory synaptic current in mossy fiber-CA3 synapse. In conclusion, we have produced a series of findings in support of the concept that H. erinaceus induces a boost effect onto neuronal functions also in nonpathological conditions

A comparative study of the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Inonotus hispidus fruit and their mycelia extracts

Inonotus hispidus (Bull.) P. Karst. has been used as traditional medicine for the treatment of dyspepsia, cancer, and diabetes. Numerous studies have confirmed the antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiproliferative and cytotoxic biological activities of extracts from this species. The purpose of this study was a comparative analysis of the antioxidant and the antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts from fruit and liquid-cultured mycelia. Four compounds (N-butylbenzenesulfonamide, lauramidopropyl betaine, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and uplandicine), determined by hybrid HRMS, were found only in mycelia culture extracts. Free radical scavenging, measured by DPPH assay on methanol extracts, showed an activity of about 17.2% and 22.1% of Trolox in fruiting bodies and mycelia, respectively. The I. hispidus methanol extracts from fruit and mycelia culture were found to have varying degrees of antibacterial and antifungal effects against the pathogenic microorganisms tested (minimum inhibitory concentration from 0.17 to 2.56 μg mL−1)

Antimicrobial properties of Fomitopsis officinalis in the light of its bioactive metabolites: a review

Fomitopsis officinalis, also known as Laricifomes officinalis, is a medicinal polypore used for millennia (Agarikon) to contrast several diseases, particularly the pulmonary ones. A rich literature has dealt with its ethno-mycological aspects, but isolation and chemical characterisation of single compounds has only recently significantly developed, as well as in vitro tests for bioactivity. According to several reports there is evidence of a broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral activity by F. officinalis, including pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Ortopox virus. Chlorinated coumarins from mycelia and lanostane triterpenoids from basidiomes have been demonstrated to be directly responsible for antiviral-antibacterial and trypanocidal activity, respectively. A wider literature deals instead with crude extracts including an undetermined mixture of metabolites, whose efficacy in vitro is yet far from being standardised as extraction and treatment methodology are highly variable. Nevertheless, in vivo tests on bees provided promising results in order to develop sustainable solutions against the pathogens responsible for colony collapse disorders. Despite increasing attention has been paid to other medicinal aspects of this polypore, such as immune-tropic or antitumor, this review rationally reports and critically analyses the available knowledge by focusing on aspects of antimicrobial properties

An Example of the Conservation ofWood Decay Fungi: The New Research Culture Collection of Corticioid and Polyporoid Strains of the University of Salamanca (Spain)

Over the last decade, fungal conservation has become an increasingly important topic, especially for species tied to forest ecosystems. Among these, wood decay fungi are a group of interesting species from ecological and applicative points of view. Culture collections represent an important tool for the conservation of species and research material. The aim of this study was to establish the first research culture collection of wood decay fungal strains, mainly corticioid and polyporoid species, at Salamanca University (Spain). From two areas of the Iberian Peninsula, a total of 120 basidiomata were collected and morphologically identified. From these, 55 strains were successfully isolated in pure culture and their identity was confirmed by DNA molecular analysis. The average growth rate of each strain was recorded and mycelium characteristics, such as colony morphology and microscopic features, were described. Notable strains in the collection included: (1) Botryobasidium asperulum and Phlebia rufa for taxonomical studies; (2) Hericium erinaceus, Grifola frondosa and Pleurotus species for medicinal properties; (3) Irpex lacteus, Phanerochaete sordida and Trametes versicolor for their degradation capabilities; (4) Stereum gausapatum and Stereum hirsutum for their applicative and enzymatic potential. The new fungal strain culture collection represents a valuable tool for the ex situ conservation of Mediterranean wood decay fungi

Editorial: [Bioactive Compounds with Potential Medicinal Derived from Fungi: Recent and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology]

Gli editoriali non prevedono abstrac

Anti-aging Properties of Medicinal Mushrooms in Systemic Aesthetic Medicine

Medicinal mushrooms are a rich source of bioactive molecules, nutraceutic products as well as natural co-formulants and excipients. The fungal cell wall is rich in branched polysaccharides (mainly β-glucans), peptidic residues, chitin or chitosan. A plethora of secondary metabolites with current or potential application include e.g. terpenoids, polyketides, ceramides, polyphenolics, Lergothioneine and others. Mushroom application in cosmetics has been explored for a few decades only, but the increasing demand for bio-based products has stimulated this research field. Strategies against skin aging are the main target of cosmetic and cosmeceutic applications. Based on an integrated approach that pursues psycho-physical wellness, Systemic Aesthetic Medicine focuses on both external (creams, lotions) and internal (food supplements) use of fungal molecules and extracts, besides the introduction in the diet of bulk fungal biomass (nutritional strategy). Far beyond the pure cosmetology, Systemic Aesthetic Medicine in fact focuses on prevention and treatment of skin diseases and cutaneous symtoms. Main properties reported from mushrooms at this concern include: hydration, anti-oxidant, acceleration of skin cells turnover, stimulation of skin bioreparation, antiseptic, immunomodulant

WOOD DECAY MACROFUNGI: STRAIN COLLECTION AND STUDIES ABOUT ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES

The study of wood decay macrofungi that naturally biodegrade lignocellulosic polymers has been steadily increasing due to their numerous and innovative applications. In the last decade, the researchers of Mycological Laboratory of Pavia University (Italy) isolated in pure culture wood decay macrofungi collected in their own country. A few species have been investigated as regards different aspects: the growth profile at different temperature and the capacity to secrete cell wall degrading enzymes growing on poplar wood chips and sawdust. The aim of the present study was to test four lignicolous species (Daedalea quercina, Fistulina hepatica, Lenzites warnieri, Schizophyllum commune) as regards their antioxidant activity. The two species poorly or not investigated till now for this activity, D. quercina and L. warnieri, revealed the most interesting results

Evaluation of lignocellulolytic activities of ten fungal species able to degrade poplar wood

The study of wood decay fungi that naturally biodegrade lignocellulosic polymers has been steadily increasing during the past two decades due to their industrial and innovative applications. In this work, we compare ten species of lignicolous macrofungi which develop fruiting bodies on poplar in relation to their capacity for growing on poplar wood chips and sawdust and of secreting cell wall degrading enzymes. All the fungi studied appeared to be able to grow well in these conditions and to secrete cellulase and hemicellulase, Mn-peroxidase and cellobiose dehydrogenase, while Li-peroxidase and laccase were produced by seven and six out of the ten species, respectively. Variability in the levels of all these enzymatic activities was assessed. Two species, never investigated before, showed the best performances as regards production of cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic activities (Lenzites warnieri) and Mn-peroxidase (Perenniporia meridionalis). The highest laccase level was detected in the well known plant pathogen Fomes fomentarius, and the brown-rot Daedalea quercina proved to be the best producer of lignin peroxidase and cellobiose dehydrogenase