Immunomodulatory and Antitumoral Properties of Ganoderma lucidum and Agaricus brasiliensis (Agaricomycetes) Medicinal Mushrooms.

Medicinal mushrooms are used in popular medicine largely as health promoters, mainly because of their antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi or reishi) and Agaricus brasiliensis are mushrooms that have long been used for medicinal purposes. This study evaluated their immunomodulatory and antitumor effects on mice fed a diet supplemented with G. lucidum and A. brasiliensis mycelia obtained from solid-state fermentation. For 14 weeks the mice were fed chow containing 50% A. brasiliensis and G. lucidum mycelia, using ground wheat as an excipient. The consumption of the supplemented diet inhibited Sarcoma 180 tumor growth and caused important changes in the immune system. The pattern of immune response shifted, increasing CD4+ and CD8+ and decreasing CD19+ cell populations. The restoration of a proper balance between cellular and humoral immunity is an essential process for restraining tumor growth. These results suggest that polysaccharides, such as ß-glucans and other mushroom metabolites, possibly promote the T-cell dominance that is imperative to restrain tumor growth.

Effects of Cordyceps sinensis on macrophage function in high-fat diet fed rats and its anti-proliferative effects on IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells.

Macrophages have been considered an elusive yet emerging therapeutic target in tumor development since they are an important component in tumor microenvironment. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of C. sinensis on macrophage function (a component of tumor microenvironment which can alter the virulence of cancer) in high-fat diet fed rats. IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cell cytotoxicity was also investigated. The following parameters were observed to evaluate macrophage function: superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, lysosomal volume and phagocytic capacity. High fat diet (HFD) plus C. sinensis supplementation promoted a decreased superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide levels as well as lysosomal volume and phagocytic capacity. Nitric oxide was increased in the same group. In summary, C. sinensis offered an important anti-tumoral perspective from the standpoint of the tumor microenvironment and in vitro IMR-32 cytotoxicity.

Pharmacological Properties of Biocompounds from Spores of the Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes): A Review.

Ganoderma lucidum is a well-known representative of mushrooms that have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. New discoveries related to this medicinal mushroom and its biological properties are frequently reported. However, only recently have scientists started to pay special attention to G. lucidum spores. This is in part because of the recent development of methods for breaking the spore wall and extracting biocompounds from the spore. Although some research groups are working with G. lucidum spores, data in the literature are still limited, and the methods used have not been systematized. This review therefore describes the main advances in techniques for breaking the spore wall and extracting biocompounds from the spore. In addition, the major active components identified and their biological properties, such as neurological activity and antiaging and cell-protective effects, are investigated because these are of importance for potential drug development.

Cordyceps sinensis biomass produced by submerged fermentation in high-fat diet feed rats normalizes the blood lipid and the low testosterone induced by diet.

This study investigated the effect of Cordyceps sinensis biomass supplementation obtained from submerged fermentation on blood lipid and low testosterone induced by high-fat diet (HFD). The experiments were carried out using a long-term intake of HFD and HFD plus Simvastatin or C. sinensis (4 months). Our results show that plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL were decreased by Cordyceps sinensis biomass supplementation (CSBS). A long-term intake of HFD caused a significant liver damage which has been reverted by CSBS. CSBS normalized decreasing testosterone levels observed in high-fat diet feed rats. All these findings lead us to suggest that C. sinensis was able to decrease blood lipid concentration, increase hepatoprotective activity and normalize testosterone levels.

Production biomolecule with inhibitory activity against Gram-negative bacteria isolated from faeces of broilers and swine

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of lactic acid bacteria, bacilli and yeasts isolates to produce antimicrobial substances, especially against Gram-negative bacteria isolated from the animal faeces, searching for a new alternative to control the enteritis diseases in animal health. Evaluations were performed by microdilution in broth using crude extract obtained from the cultivation of 272 strains against Escherichia coli, S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thirty-five lactic acid bacteria presented some antimicrobial action. One Lactobacillus isolate, named FLPB-1, was selected to studies the kinetics of the production. An important increase in the production was obtained when the producer strain had cell-to-cell contact with a Gram-positive inducer culture. Maximal production of antimicrobial compounds was obtained in the beginning of stationary phase and the addition of urea in the medium increased the inhibition rate.

Medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss: Fr) Karst. triggers immunomodulatory effects and reduces nitric oxide synthesis in mice.

This study investigated the effect of Ganoderma lucidum supplementation on lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages from mice. Our results show that G. lucidum in vivo was able to increase interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) concentration but reduced CD3(+) and CD8(+) spleen lymphocytes. Ex vivo, IFN-gamma; and interleukin-10 levels were increased and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level was reduced by peritoneal macrophages from mice fed with G. lucidum. In the absence of stimuli nitric oxide production was reduced in mice fed with G. lucidum, and with lipopolysaccharide stimulation nitric oxide production was increased but was lower than control values (P < .05). G. lucidum was grown by solid-state culture in wheat grain, and a chow containing 10% G. lucidum mycelium was formulated (G10). Swiss male mice were divided into two groups, termed G10 and control groups according to the diet, and were fed for 3 months. Peritoneal macrophages were obtained and investigated with regard to phagocytosis, lysosomal volume, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, and cytokines ex vivo. In the plasma we investigated concentrations of cytokines, and in the spleen we determined subsets of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD19(+) lymphocytes.

Adesinas, hemolisinas e hemaglutininas em amostras uropatogênicas de Escherichia coli / Adhesins, hemolysins and hemagglutinins in Escherichia coli urophatogenic samples

Foram analisadas 30 amostras de Escherichia coli uropatogênicas, isoladas de pacientes do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, com sintomas de infecçäo urinária. Nessas amostras foram pesquisados três fatores de virulência: expressäo de hemaglutininas, expressäo de hemolisinas e adesäo celular a células epiteliais. A pesquisa de hemaglutininas revelou a seguinte expressäo fenotípica entre os isolados clínicos: 40 porcento aglutinaram eritrócitos de cobaia na ausência de D-manose (amostras manose-sensíveis - MS); 13,3 porcento aglutinaram eritrócitos humanos na presença de D-manose (amostras manose-resistentes - MR); 30 porcento das amostras apresentaram os dois padröes de hemaglutinaçäo (amostras MR MS) e 16,6 porcento das amostras näo expressaram as hemaglutininas pesquisadas. A produçäo de hemolisina ocorreu em 26,6 porcento das amostras e sempre foi acompanhada da expressäo de hemaglutininas MS. Todas as amostras com fenótipo MR MS aderiram à linhagem celular, enquanto que amostras MS e amostras MR aderiram em menor grau, e as amostras näo hemaglutinantes, praticamente, näo aderiram. Esses resultados sugerem uma possível relaçäo entre hemaglutinaçäo e virulência bacteriana.

Isolation and identification of Clostridium perfringens in the venom and fangs of Loxosceles intermedia (brown spider): enhancement of the dermonecrotic lesion in loxoscelism.

Loxoscelism or the envenoming by the brown spiders (Loxosceles genus spiders), may produce extensive dermonecrosis and hemorrhage at the bite site and, eventually, systemic reactions that may be lethal. Isolation and identification of many different bacteria, among them Clostridium perfringens, of great medical importance due to its involvement in dermonecrotizing and systemic conditions, was carried out from the venomous apparatus (fangs and venom) of spiders obtained directly from nature, through microbiological cultures in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Working with Loxosceles intermedia venom (alone) and with the venom conjugated with Clostridium perfringens using rabbits as experimental models for dermonecrosis, allowed for the observation that venom and anaerobic bacteria conjugated resulted in a striking increase of the dermonecrotic picture when compared to venom alone, suggesting a role for Clostridium perfringens in the severe dermonecrotic picture of these patients and opening the possibility for the association of antibiotic therapy in treating loxoscelism.