Showing papers by "Solomon P. Wasser published in 2017"

Medicinal mushrooms: Valuable biological resources of high exploitation potential

Abstract: Higher Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes mushrooms possess various immunological and anticancer properties. They also offer important health benefits and exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiallergic, antidepressive, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, digestive, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, osteoprotective, and hypotensive activities. This minireview summarizes the perspectives, recent advances, and major challenges of medicinal mushrooms with reference to their nutraceutical properties and dietary value, the production of mushroom biomass on various substrates, and the purification, characterization, and pharmaceutical effects of biologically active compounds from medicinal mushrooms.

Medicinal Mushrooms in Human Clinical Studies. Part I. Anticancer, Oncoimmunological, and Immunomodulatory Activities: A Review.

Abstract: More than 130 medicinal functions are thought to be produced by medicinal mushrooms (MMs) and fungi, including antitumor, immunomodulating, antioxidant, radical scavenging, cardiovascular, antihypercholesterolemic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, detoxification, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and other effects. Many, if not all, higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms contain biologically active compounds in fruit bodies, cultured mycelia, and cultured broth. Special attention has been paid to mushroom polysaccharides. Numerous bioactive polysaccharides or polysaccharide-protein complexes from MMs seem to enhance innate and cell-mediated immune responses, and they exhibit antitumor activities in animals and humans. While the mechanism of their antitumor actions is still not completely understood, stimulation and modulation of key host immune responses by these mushroom compounds seems to be central. Most important for modern medicine are polysaccharides and low-molecular weight secondary metabolites with antitumor and immunostimulating properties. More than 600 studies have been conducted worldwide, and numerous human clinical trials on MMs have been published. Several of the mushroom compounds have proceeded through phase I, II, and III clinical studies and are used extensively and successfully in Asia to treat various cancers and other diseases. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of and analyze the literature on clinical trials using MMs with human anticancer, oncoimmunological, and immunomodulatory activities. High-quality, long-term, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies of MMs, including well-sized population studies are definitely needed in order to yield statistical power showing their efficacy and safety. Clinical trials must obtain sufficient data on the efficacy and safety of MM-derived drugs and preparations. Discussion of results based on clinical studies of the anticancer, oncoimmunological, and immunomodulating activity of MMs are highlighted. Epidemiological studies with MMs are also discussed.

Effect of medicinal mushrooms on blood cells under conditions of diabetes mellitus

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the third most common non-infectious disease leading to early disability and high mortality Moreover, the number of patients is growing every year The main symptom of DM is hyperglycemia Increased levels of blood glucose activate polyol, hexosamine, and protein kinase metabolic pathways cause the intensification of non-enzymatic glycosylation and nitration of macromolecules This, in turn, leads to the development of oxidative and nitrative stresses and secondary complications, such as different kinds of micro- and macroangiopathies Metabolic disorders caused by insulin deficiency in diabetes significantly impede the functioning of a homeostasis system, which change the physical, biochemical, morphological, and functional properties of blood cells As a result, the oxygen-transport function of red blood cells (RBCs), rheological properties of the blood, and functions of immunocompetent cells as well as the process of apoptosis are primarily affected Modern pharmacotherapy focuses on the search for new preparations that aim to decrease blood glucose levels Undesirable side effects and adverse reactions caused by synthetic medicines led to the search and investigation of new preparations of natural origin Medicinal mushrooms play an important role among such new preparations They are a source of a large number of high- and low-molecular compounds with pronounced biological effects Our investigations show pronounced hypoglycemic and anti-anemic action of submerged cultivated mycelium powder of medicinal mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis (A brasiliensis) and Ganoderma lucidum (G lucidum) on streptozotocin-induced DM in rats Also, we showed that mycelium powders have membrane protective properties as evidenced by the redistribution of RBC populations towards the growth of full functional cell numbers Normalization of parameters of leukocyte formula and suppression of apoptosis of white blood cells in diabetic rats treated with A brasiliensis and G lucidum mycelia indicates pronounced positive effects of these strains of mushrooms Thus, the use of medicinal mushrooms for treatment of DM and in prevention development of its secondary complications might be a new effective approach of this disease's cure This article is aimed at summarizing and analyzing the literature data and basic achievements concerning DM type 1 treatment using medicinal mushrooms and showing the results obtained in our research

What Is Ganoderma lucidum in the Molecular Era

Abstract: The scientific name Ganoderma lucidum has long been used in the global medicinal mushroom market, and many publications have proven its pharmacological properties and chemical components. Although several Ganoderma species have been described worldwide as having morphology considerably similar to that of G. lucidum s. str., this binomial is still the most frequently used in pharmacological studies. However, the use of particularly divergent nomenclature has caused major difficulties in the evaluation of the results of pharmacological studies. This article is intended to provide a nomenclatural and taxonomic overview of the medically important G. lucidum group, that is, G. lucidum aggregate and G. lingzhi. Moreover, we evaluate the possibilities of how nomenclatural changes can help to avoid misunderstandings in thousands of publications and highlight scientifically correct interpretations for future studies.

Enzymatic System of Antioxidant Protection of Erythrocytes in Diabetic Rats Treated with Medicinal Mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes).

Abstract: Excessive glucose concentrations in blood and cells promote the intensification of auto-oxidation. This is one of the mechanisms through which free radicals form in hyperglycemia. As a result of hyperglycemia, oxidative stress develops and lipid peroxidation (LPO) is enhanced. Erythrocytes are particularly susceptible to reactive oxygen species and LPO, which can violate cell functions. This article describes the analysis of the influence of mycelia from the medicinal mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum on the enzymatic link of the antioxidant system in rat erythrocytes under streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress was strengthened in red blood cells of diabetic rats, as evidenced by decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, and by increased amounts of thiobarbituric acid-positive products, which are markers of LPO. Administration of A. brasiliensis and G. lucidum submerged cultivated mycelial powder to animals with streptozotocin-induced diabetes restored superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity and reduced the amounts of thiobarbituric acid-positive products to control values, but did not affect the activity of glutathione reductase.

Profiles of Little-Known Medicinal Polypores: Earliella scabrosa (Agaricomycetes)

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to comprehensively characterize a little-known polypore that has recently been found to possess anticancer activity and thus can also be used in targeted cancer therapy. Earliella scabrosa is a polypore with pantropical distribution and can be found in rainforests in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Some reports have described its antioxidant properties and free radical scavenging ability. Moreover, isocoumarin, which has been successfully used in targeted cancer therapy, was found in extracts of this fungus. We recommend further research of E. scabrosa so that more details of its health benefits could be used in mycotherapy.

Typification and Characterization of Trametes multicolor (Agaricomycetes), a Perspective Species of Medicinal Mushrooms.

Abstract: Nomenclature revision and enlarged taxonomical descriptions are still needed for some well-known species whose interpretation is complicated by many nomenclature or taxonomical problems. The polyporoid fungus widely known as Trametes ochracea (= Coriolus zonatus) belongs to such a problematic group. At the same time, recent data show that this species, like its sister species T. versicolor, seems to be a perspective subject for fungal biotechnology and pharmacology. This article is devoted to stabilizing the nomenclature of the species in question via lectotypification and epitypification of Boletus multicolor. It will clarify the name T. multicolor as applied to this species is nomenclaturally correct and useful, free of further problems. An expanded species description and cultural characterization of epitype materials are presented.