Antioxidant Activity of Water Extract from Fermented Mycelia of Cordyceps sobolifera (Ascomycetes) in Caenorhabditis elegans.

This research aimed to evaluate the potential of Cordyceps sobolifera in mycelial biomass production via liquid culture and to assay the safety and determine the antioxidative and antiaging activities of Caenorhabditis elegans. A C. sobolifera isolate was cultured using the one-factor-at-a-time method to illustrate its carbon and nitrogen requirements. To assess safety, we determined the lethality, locomotion behavior, and reproduction of C. elegans cultured on a mycelial water extract (MWE) containing nematode growth medium (NGM). To investigate antiaging activity, C. elegans treated with MWE was incubated on NGM plates. The lethality was recorded throughout the whole life cycle. To identify antioxidant activity, C. elegans treated with MWE was exposed to paraquat, causing superoxide conditions. The results showed that C. sobolifera was favored by glucose and peptone as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. MWE was considered to be safe, as no abnormal behaviors were observed in C. elegans. Compared with nematodes pretreated with no MWE but with water instead, MWE at 1.0 mg/mL significantly prolonged the mean lifespan of C. elegans by 24%. We observed an obvious dose-effect relation between concentration and mean lifespan. The effective antioxidant activity was recorded at the high concentration of MWE. These findings demonstrate the potential antiaging and antioxidant properties of C. sobolifera as functional food and dietary supplement.

[Study on biological characteristics of Cordyceps ramosa mycelia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biological characteristics of Cordyceps ramosa mycelia. METHODS: The effects of temperature, pH, carbon source, nitrogen source and C/N ratio on the mycelial growth of Cordyceps ramosa were investigated. RESULTS: The optimum temperature, pH, carbon source, nitrogen source and C/N ratio for the mycelial growth were 25 degrees C, 5.0-7.0, soluble starch, yeast extract and 24:1, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results provide a reference for cultivation of Cordyceps ramosa.

Safety assessment of Cordyceps guangdongensis.

Cordyceps guangdongensis as a kind of fungus, has been discovered and cultivated successfully in recent years. However, its safety assessments have not been studied. In this report, a serial of tests for toxicological safety assessments were depicted in details. These tests included bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) study, bone marrow cell micronucleus test in mice, sperm aberration test in mice, teratogenicaction test in rats, acute toxicity test and 13-week oral toxicity study in rats. After a profound analysis of these tests, it clearly demonstrated that C. guangdongensis did not have any mutagenic, clastogenic nor genotoxic effects; the oral LD50 of the biomass in rats was greater than 15 g/kg body weight; the no-observed adverse-effect-levels (NOAEL) was 5.33 g/kg body weight according to the 13-week oral toxicity analysis. Therefore, a conclusion can be drawn that C. guangdongensis is considered safe for long term consumption.

[Transbronchoscopic balloon detection and selective bronchial occlusion for intractable pneumothorax].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect, complications and safety of transbronchoscopic balloon detection (TBD) and selective bronchus occlusion (SBO) for intractable pneumothorax. METHODS: Forty cases of pneumothorax from 5 teaching hospitals in Fujian province were included for this study. TBD was performed in all the 40 cases for whom chest tube drainage had lasted for more than 7days but failed to close the pleura fistulae. Bronchi leading to pleura fistulae (the target bronchus) were detected by balloon-catheter (Olympus B7-2C) through bronchoscope. After the target bronchus was located, SBO procedures were performed. Autologous blood (20 ml to 30 ml) was injected into the target bronchus and followed by thrombin solution (1000 U) through balloon-catheter. In 10 cases, oxygenation and pulse rate were recorded by pulse-oximeter (Healthdyne 920M) during TBD and SBO. Another 10 cases undergoing bronchoscope without performing TBD and SBO served as the controls. Thorax CT, white blood cell count, neutrophil count and body temperature were measured after SBO. RESULTS: Bronchi leading to pleura fistulae were located by TBD in 34 out of the 40 cases. Air leakage was stopped after the first occlusion in 30 cases, but 5 of which underwent a second occlusion because of recurrence in 72 h. Of the 5 cases, air leakage was stopped in 3, and surgery was required in 2. Taken together, 28 of the 34 cases were cured by SBO and 6 failed. There were no statistically differences between the treatment group and the control group in oxygenation changes during TBD and SBO procedures. In 10 cases thorax CT scan was followed up in 7 days after SBO, and no obstructive atelectasis was found. In 20 cases peripheral white blood cell count was followed up 72 hours after SBO. Leukocytosis (> 10.0 x 10(9)/L) was found in 3, in which pulmonary infection was diagnosed, and leukocytosis was present in 2 cases before the procedure. Five patients (5/34) experienced mild to moderate fever, which resolved quickly. CONCLUSION: TBD/SBO are safe and effective procedures for intractable pneumothorax.