Anxiolytic Effects of Royal Sun Medicinal Mushroom, Agaricus brasiliensis (Higher Basidiomycetes) on Ischemia-Induced Anxiety in Rats.

We investigated the anxiolytic effects Agaricus brasiliensis extract (AbSE) on ischemia-induced anxiety using the plus-maze test and the social interaction test. The animals were treated orally with AbSE (4, 8, and 10 mg/kg/d, respectively) for 30 d, followed by middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced cerebral ischemia. Levels of noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin in the cerebral cortex of rats, as well as oxidative stress and plasma corticosterone levels were analyzed, respectively. The rota-rod test was carried out to exclude any false positive results in experimental procedures related to anxiety disorders, and the catalepsy test was carried out to investigate whether AbSE induces catalepsy. Our results demonstrate that oral administration of AbSE presented anxiolytic-like effects in the elevated plus-maze test and the social interaction test. Furthermore, AbSE did not induce extrapyramidal symptoms in the catalepsy test. The mechanism underlying the anxiolytic effect of AbSE might be increased brain monoamine levels and plasma corticosterone levels and decreased oxidative stress in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats.

Estimation of trace elements in mace (Myristica fragrans Houtt) and their effect on uterine cervix cancer induced by methylcholanthrene.

In the present work, trace elemental analysis of mace (Myristica fragrans Houtt) was carried out by the atomic absorption spectrometry technique. The concentrations of various elements analyzed in this medicine were ranked in decreasing order: selenium (Se) > zinc (Zn) > magnesium (Mg) > iron (Fe) > calcium (Ca) > manganese (Mn) > lead (Pb). The concentrations of Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca, and Se were significantly decreased in serum of methylcholanthrene tumor models (P < 0.001) compared with the control and mace groups. It is consistent with the result of tumor incidence. These trace elements could be directly or indirectly responsible for the antitumor activity of mace. The inorganic elements in this folk remedy can partly account for the antitumor.

Optimization of cultivation conditions of fermented shaggy ink cap culinary-medicinal mushroom, Coprinus comatus (O.Mull.:Fr.) Pers. (higher Basidiomycetes) rich in Vanadium.

The present paper is mainly aimed at optimization of cultivation conditions of fermented mushrooms of Coprinus comatus rich in vanadium (CCRV). Initial screening of effects of carbon source, temperature, pH, and inoculum size were done by using a one-factor-at-a-time method. The results obtained in that study showed that the optimal medium composition was 30 g glucose/Lin YEPG medium, initial pH 6.0, inoculum volume 10%, and incubation time 120 h. Then the medium was subjected to screening of the most significant parameters using the L9 orthogonal array to solve multivariable equations simultaneously. The results obtained in this study showed that the optimal medium composition was 0.4% V and 30 g glucose/Lin YEPG medium, initial pH 5.0, inoculum volume 15%, and incubation time 120 h. At this medium composition, the mycelial biomass and V content were 7.18 ± 0.24 g/L and 3786.0 ± 17 µg/g, respectively. The anti-diabetic potential of CCRV produced with the optimal level was tested in alloxan-induced diabetes. After the mice were administered (i.g.) with CCRV, the level of blood sugar in the CCRV group was very close to that of the control group. These findings suggested that CCRV produced with the optimal level is useful in the control of diabetes mellitus.