Proximal Composition, Nutraceutical Properties, and Acute Toxicity Study of Culinary-Medicinal Oyster Mushroom Powder, Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes).

A compositional study was performed on fruiting-body powder of the culinary-medicinal oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus for applications as a nutraceutical/functional food. Carbohydrates (55 g/100 g dry weight [dw]) and proteins (27.45 g/100 g dw, with an in vitro digestibility of 75%) appear to be the major components, but fat content was low (4 g/100 g dw). Pleurotus powder has important micronutrients such as minerals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mg, and Co) and ascorbic acid, as well as nonnutrients (i.e., phenolics) with antioxidant potential. A powder-derived aqueous extract had a phenolic compound content of 138 mg/100 g that showed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and inhibition of membrane-lipid peroxidation activities of 58.3% and 61.4%, respectively. The presence of ß-1,3-1,6-D-glucans was also demonstrated (1.54 g/100 g). An acute toxicity test proved that Pleurotus powder was safe after oral administration to both male and female mice at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. The combination of rich nutritional composition, bioactivity, and safety in P. ostreatus fruiting-body powder highlights its potential as a nutraceutical agent promoting health and life quality.

Oral administration of an aqueous extract from the oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus enhances the immunonutritional recovery of malnourished mice.

Mushroom nutriceutical components have lately attracted interest for developing immunonutritional support. However, there is relatively little information pertaining to the use of mushroom preparations for modulating the metabolic and immunological disorders associated to malnutrition. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of oral administration of an aqueous extract (CW-P) from Pleurotus ostreatus on the recovery of biochemical and immunological functions of malnourished mice. 8-week old female BALB/c mice were starved for 3days and then refed with commercial diet supplemented with or without CW-P (100mg/kg) for 8days. Regardless of the diet used during refeeding, animal body weights and serum protein concentrations did not differ between groups. Oral treatment with CW-P normalized haemoglobin levels, liver arginase and gut mucosal weight. CW-P increased total liver proteins and also DNA and protein contents in gut mucosa. Pleurotus extract provided benefits in terms of macrophages activation as well as in haemopoiesis, as judged by the recovery of bone marrow cells and leukocyte counts. Moreover, CW-P stimulated humoral immunity (T-dependent and T non-dependent antibodies responses) compared to non-supplemented mice. CW-P extract from the oyster mushroom can be used to develop specific food or nutritional supplement formulations with potential clinical applications in the immunotherapy.

In vitro anti-proliferative effects on NB4 human leukemia cells and physicochemical screening of Pleurotus sp. (higher Basidiomycetes) mycelia from Cuba.

This study examined the phytochemical profile and the in vitro anti-proliferative effects of a hot water mycelial extract from the edible mushroom Pleurotus sp. on NB4 human leukemia cells. Flow-cytometry analyses were used to measure cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis in cells incubated 24 h with the extract at doses of 100 and 200 µg/mL. Pleurotus sp. extract reduced cell viability, particularly at the concentration of 200 µg/mL to 82% compared to control cells, and induced apoptosis demonstrated by an increase in the number of annexin V-FITC+ cells (25% at 200 µg/mL). The NB4 cells were arrested in the G2/M phase thus supporting a cell-cycle dependent anticancer mechanism. Although carbohydrates (76.8%, w/w) appear to be the most important antitumor compound, secondary metabolites-like phenolics would also contribute to the anti-proliferative activity. The results indicate that Pleurotus sp. mycelia obtained by submerged fermentation may be an interesting renewable resource for developing functional foods and new antitumor therapeutic agents.

Ethnopharmacological evaluation of Trichilia hirta L. as anticancer source in traditional medicine of Santiago de Cuba

Trichilia hirta L. (Meliaceae) is traditionally used as antitumor source in Santiago de Cuba. Therefore, the aim of this study was to document and analyze the traditional medicinal use of this plant by cancer patients in Santiago de Cuba and to evaluate its antiproliferative activity on human normal and cancer cells. Cancer patients consuming Trichilia hirta extracts (Jubabán) were randomly selected and interviewed. The antiproliferative activity of a polysaccharide-rich fraction from leaves was evaluated against normal (MRC-5) and cancer cells (A-549, HeLa and Hep-2) by MTT assay. The study revealed that Trichilia hirta extracts are mainly used as anticancer source (46 percent). Moreover, the majority of cancer patients consuming Trichilia hirta extracts had carcinoma (86 percent). In particular, the most frequent were lung (26 percent) and prostate (18 percent) carcinoma. The majority (90 percent) of patients were consuming the extracts simultaneously, or after the chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. The polysaccharide-rich fraction showed antiproliferative activity against human lung cancer cells (A-549) and human cervix carcinoma (HeLa) cancer cells. However, no toxicity was observed in human normal fibroblasts (MRC-5). These results suggest that polysaccharide-rich fraction from Trichilia hirta contribute to the antitumor properties of this specie(AU)

Trichilia hirta L. (Meliaceae) es tradicionalmente usada como recurso antitumoral en Santiago de Cuba. Por lo que, el objetivo de este estudio fue documentar y analizar el uso tradicional de esta planta por pacientes con cáncer en Santiago de Cuba y evaluar su actividad antiproliferativa sobre células humanas normales y tumorales. Pacientes con cáncer consumiendo los extractos de Trichilia hirta (jubabán) fueron aleatoriamente seleccionados y entrevistados. La actividad antiproliferativa de la fracción rica en polisacáridos de hojas fue evaluada en células normales (MRC-5) y en células tumorales (A-549, HeLa y Hep-2) a través del ensayo con MTT. El estudio reveló que los extractos de Trichilia hirta eran usados mayoritariamente como recurso antitumoral (46 por ciento). Además, la mayoría de los pacientes consumiendo extractos de Trichilia hirta presentaron carcinoma (86 por ciento). En particular, los más frecuentes fueron carcinomas de pulmón (26 por ciento) y próstata (18 por ciento). También la mayoría de los pacientes (90 por ciento) consumieron los extractos simultáneamente o después de tratamientos con quimioterapia y radioterapia. La fracción rica en polisacáridos mostró actividad antiproliferativa contra las células de cáncer de pulmón humano (A-549) y carcinoma de cerviz humano (HeLa). Sin embargo, no se observó toxicidad en fibroblastos humanos normales (MRC-5). Estos resultados sugieren que la fracción rica en polisacáridos de hojas de Trichilia hirta contribuye a la actividad antitumoral de esta especie

Ethnopharmacological evaluation of Trichilia hirta L. as anticancer source in traditional medicine of Santiago de Cuba / Evaluación etnofarmacológica de Trichilia hirta como una fuente anticancer en la medicina tradicional de Santiago de Cuba

Trichilia hirta L. (Meliaceae) is traditionally used as antitumor source in Santiago de Cuba. Therefore, the aim of this study was to document and analyze the traditional medicinal use of this plant by cancer patients in Santiago de Cuba and to evaluate its antiproliferative activity on human normal and cancer cells. Cancer patients consuming Trichilia hirta extracts (Jubabán) were randomly selected and interviewed. The antiproliferative activity of a polysaccharide-rich fraction from leaves was evaluated against normal (MRC-5) and cancer cells (A-549, HeLa and Hep-2) by MTT assay. The study revealed that Trichilia hirta extracts are mainly used as anticancer source (46 percent. Moreover, the majority of cancer patients consuming Trichilia hirta extracts had carcinoma (86 percent). In particular, the most frequent were lung (26 percent) and prostate (18 percent) carcinoma. The majority (90 percent) of patients were consuming the extracts simultaneously, or after the chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. The polysaccharide-rich fraction showed antiproliferative activity against human lung cancer cells (A-549) and human cervix carcinoma (HeLa) cancer cells. However, no toxicity was observed in human normal fibroblasts (MRC-5). These results suggest that polysaccharide-rich fraction from Trichilia hirta contribute to the antitumor properties of this specie.

Trichilia hirta L. (Meliaceae) es tradicionalmente usada como recurso antitumoral en Santiago de Cuba. Por lo que, el objetivo de este estudio fue documentar y analizar el uso tradicional de esta planta por pacientes con cáncer en Santiago de Cuba y evaluar su actividad antiproliferativa sobre células humanas normales y tumorales. Pacientes con cáncer consumiendo los extractos de Trichilia hirta (jubabán) fueron aleatoriamente seleccionados y entrevistados. La actividad antiproliferativa de la fracción rica en polisacáridos de hojas fue evaluada en células normales (MRC-5) y en células tumorales (A-549, HeLa y Hep-2) a través del ensayo con MTT. El estudio reveló que los extractos de Trichilia hirta eran usados mayoritariamente como recurso antitumoral (46 por ciento). Además, la mayoría de los pacientes consumiendo extractos de Trichilia hirta presentaron carcinoma (86 por ciento). En particular, los más frecuentes fueron carcinomas de pulmón (26 por ciento) y próstata (18 por ciento). También la mayoría de los pacientes (90 por ciento) consumieron los extractos simultáneamente o después de tratamientos con quimioterapia y radioterapia. La fracción rica en polisacáridos mostró actividad antiproliferativa contra las células de cáncer de pulmón humano (A-549) y carcinoma de cerviz humano (HeLa). Sin embargo, no se observó toxicidad en fibroblastos humanos normales (MRC-5). Estos resultados sugieren que la fracción rica en polisacáridos de hojas de Trichilia hirta contribuye a la actividad antitumoral de esta especie.

Oral administration of an enzymatic protein hydrolysate from the green microalga Chlorella vulgaris enhances the nutritional recovery of malnourished mice.

This study examined the effects of oral administration of an enzymatic protein hydrolysate from green microalga Chlorella vulgaris (Cv-PH) on the nutritional recovery of malnourished Balb/c mice after a 3-day fasting period. Mice were refed with commercial diet supplemented or not supplemented with Cv-PH (500 mg/kg) for 8 days. Regardless of the diet used during refeeding, animal body weights and serum protein concentrations did not differ between groups. Mice given Cv-PH had a significant increase in hemoglobin concentrations. Most serum amino acid levels were similar in the control and Cv-PH animals. Starved mice refed with Cv-PH showed normal liver functions, as judged by liver weight, protein concentration, and the enzymatic activities of cholinesterase and arginase. Cv-PH increased DNA, protein content, and gut-mucosal weight. In addition, brush-border oligosaccharidase activities were also higher in the Cv-PH group. These findings suggest that Chlorella protein hydrolysate can be used to develop specific formulations suitable for pharmacologic nutrition.

Effect of starvation and refeeding on biochemical and immunological status of Balb/c mice: an experimental model of malnutrition.

CONTEXT: Although new methods for the induction of malnutrition disorders in laboratory animals have been developed, the bulk of the models described in the literature are essentially based on dietary restriction/starvation principle. In this context, little data are available about the metabolic and the immune system parameters of Balb/c mice under starvation/refeeding. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of starvation and refeeding on the biochemical and immunological status of undernourished Balb/c mice. METHODS: Female Balb/c mice, weighing 20 g, were starved for 3 days and then refed with commercial pelleted diet for 8 days. The variables considered were as follows: body weight; serum protein and amino acid concentrations; liver protein content, and cholinesterase and arginase activities; jejunal protein and DNA contents as well as oligosaccharidase levels; hematological parameters (bone marrow and peripheral blood cellularity); peritoneal macrophage activation; and humoral and cell-mediated immune functions. RESULTS: Profound alterations in both biochemical and immunological conditions appeared after the starvation period. Refeeding resulted in the normalization of serum albumin levels, the intestinal DNA content and the gut-mucosal associated enzymatic activities, the blood lymphocyte counts, and the number of peritoneal macrophages. The markers of liver metabolic function (cholinesterase and arginase activities), and those of bone marrow hemopoiesis and the adaptive immune response (T-dependent antibody titres and delayed-type hypersensitivity response) remained altered after refeeding compared with control mice. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that fasted mice can be used as an animal model of acute starvation that might prove useful in evaluating the effectiveness of nutritional and immunopharmacological interventions.

Utilisation of Chlorella vulgaris cell biomass for the production of enzymatic protein hydrolysates.

Studies on enzymatic hydrolysis of cell proteins in green microalgae Chlorella vulgaris 87/1 are described. Different proteases can be used for production of hydrolysates from ethanol extracted algae. The influence of reaction parameters on hydrolysis of extracted biomass with pancreatin was considered, and the composition of hydrolysates (Cv-PH) was investigated in relation to the starting materials. Significant changes in the degree of hydrolysis were observed only during the first 2h and it remained constant throughout the process. An enzyme-substrate ratio of 30-45 units/g algae, an algae concentration of 10-15% and pH values of 7.5-8.0 could be recommended. Differences in the chromatographic patterns of Cv-PH and a hot-extract from Chlorella biomass were observed. Adequate amounts of essential amino acids (44.7%) in relation to the reference pattern of FAO for human nutrition were found, except for sulfur amino acids. Cv-PH could be considered as a potential ingredient in the food industry.