Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides/alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend as dressings for wound healing.

Macromolecules with antioxidant properties such as polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom (PAbs) are an excellent option for manufacturing wound dressings. Based on this, this study aimed to analyze preparation, physicochemical characterization, and assessment of the potential wound-healing activity of films based on sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol loaded with PAbs. PAbs did not significantly alter the cell viability of human neutrophils in a concentration range of 1-100 µg mL-1. The Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) indicates that the components present in the films (PAbs/Sodium Alginate (SA)/Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)) present an increase in hydrogen bonds due to the increase of hydroxyls present in the components. Thermogravimetry (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) characterizations indicate a good miscibility between the components where PAbs increasing the amorphous characteristics of the films and that the addition of SA increased the mobility of the chains PVA polymers. The addition of PAbs to films significantly improves properties such as mechanical, thickness, and water vapor permeation. The morphological study evidenced good miscibility between the polymers. The wound healing evaluation indicated that F100 film presented better results from the fourth day onward compared to the other groups. It favored the formation of a thicker dermis (476.8 ± 18.99 µm), with greater collagen deposition and a significant reduction in malondialdehyde and nitrite/nitrate, markers of oxidative stress. These results indicate that PAbs is a candidate for wound dressing.

Pentacyclic triterpene-loaded emulsion stabilized by Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides: Factorial design and cytoprotection study.

In this study, pentacyclic triterpene-loaded emulsions were stabilized by polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom (PAb). The drug-excipient compatibility results by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed the absence of physicochemical incompatibilities. The use of these biopolymers at 0.75 % led to obtaining emulsions with droplets smaller than 300 nm, moderate polydispersity, and ζ-potential >30 mV in modulus. The emulsions presented high encapsulation efficiency, suitable pH for topical application, and absence of macroscopic signs of instability during 45 days. Morphological analysis suggested the deposition of thin layers of PAb around the droplets. The encapsulation of pentacyclic triterpene in emulsions, stabilized by PAb, improved the cytocompatibility of this drug against PC12 and murine astrocyte cells. There was a reduction in cytotoxicity, which resulted in a lower accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and maintenance of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Based on these results, it is estimated that PAb are promising biopolymers for the emulsions' stabilization by improving their physicochemical and biological properties.

Agaricus blazei Murill extract-loaded in alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol) films prepared by Ca2+ cross-linking for wound healing applications.

This work aimed the development and evaluation of the wound healing activity of films based on sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Ca2+ loaded with Agaricus blazei Murill hydroalcoholic extract (AbE). Firstly, AbE was prepared using a previously standardized methodology. The films were prepared by casting technique and cross-linked with Ca2+ using CaCl2 as cross-linking agent. The physicochemical, morphological and water vapor barrier properties of the films were analyzed and the pre-clinical efficacy was investigated against the cutaneous wound model in mice. The films showed barrier properties to water vapor promising for wound healing. AbE showed physical and chemical interactions between both polymers, noticed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. The delivery of AbE in alginate/PVA films enhanced the antioxidant and wound healing properties of these polymers. Consequently, a reduction of malondialdehyde levels was observed, as well as an increase of the epidermis/dermis thickness and enhancement in collagen I deposition. Thus, these formulations are promising biomaterials for wound care and tissue repairing.

Gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from Agaricus blazei Murill against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The use of mushrooms in medicine is quite old and the first report about the use of genus Agaricus in treatment of ulcers occurred in Byzantine period. This mushroom is widely consumed as food, tea, food supplements, as well as nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications, being cultivated and appreciated in several countries such as Brazil, Korea, Japan and China. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to characterize the chemical profile and the potential gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract from Agaricus blazei Murill (HEAb). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract was chemically characterized by elemental analysis, UPLC-QTOF-MSE, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques to elucidate the metabolites present in the extract. The quantification of phenolic compounds and the in vitro antioxidant activities were performed and the gastroprotective effect of this extract was evaluated against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. HEAb was administered by gavage at 5, 25 and 50 mg kg-1 and N-acetylcysteine at 300 mg kg-1 (positive control). Furthermore, the pathways of nitric oxide (NO), Cyclic Guanylate Monophosphate (cGMP), prostaglandins (PGs) and the involvement of ATP-sensitive K+ Channels were modulated. RESULTS: Mannitol, malic acid, pyroglutamic acid, L-agaritine and L-valine were putatively identified by UPLC-QTOF-MSE in HEAb. In addition, it was possible to identify mannitol by the intense signals in the NMR spectra, being still quantified as the main compound in the extract by HPLC. The contents of total phenols and flavonoids corroborated with the good antioxidant activity of HEAb. This study observed that HEAb at 25 and 50 mg kg-1 had gastroprotection effect demonstrated by the reduction of histopathological parameters and the reduction of mastocytosis in the stomach of mice. CONCLUSIONS: In this study was possible to conclude that HEAb has gastroprotective effect related to the involvement of NO and PG pathways in the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in mice.

Antiherpetic activity of an Agaricus brasiliensis polysaccharide, its sulfated derivative and fractions.

Agaricus brasiliensis is an edible mushroom, traditionally used for the treatment of several diseases. In this paper, a polysaccharide (PLS) from A. brasiliensis, its carboxymethylated (CPLS) and sulfated (SPLS) derivatives, as well as, fractions (F1-F3) obtained from the PLS were investigated for their effect in the replication of herpes simplex virus and bovine herpes virus in HEp-2 cell cultures. The PLS, SPLS and F3 inhibited both virus strains similarly, in a dose-dependent curve. F1, F2 and CPLS did not show significant effect even at higher concentrations. All the compounds showed neither virucidal or viral adsorption inhibition activities nor effect when cells were treated prior to infection. Our study demonstrated that the extracts of A. brasiliensis, can be promising for future antiviral drug design and its biotechnological production is economically feasible.

In vivo growth-inhibition of Sarcoma 180 by an alpha-(1-->4)-glucan-beta-(1-->6)-glucan-protein complex polysaccharide obtained from Agaricus blazei Murill.

Agaricus blazei Murrill, a native mushroom of Brazil, has been widely consumed in different parts of the world due to its anticancer potential. This effect is generally attributed to its polysaccharides; however, the precise structure of these has not been fully characterized. To better understand the relationship between polysaccharide structures and antitumor activity, we investigated the effect of the intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally (p.o.) administered alpha-(1-->4)-glucan-beta-(1-->6)-glucan-protein complex polysaccharide from A. blazei alone or in association with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in tumor growth using Sarcoma 180 transplanted mice. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses were performed in order to evaluate the toxicological aspects of the polysaccharide treatment. The polysaccharide had no direct cytotoxic action on tumor cells in vitro. However, the polysaccharide showed strong in vivo antitumor effect. Thus, the tumor growth-inhibitory effect of the polysaccharide is apparently due to host-mediated mechanisms. The histopathological analysis suggests that the liver and the kidney were not affected by polysaccharide treatment. Neither enzymatic activity of transaminases (AST and ALT) nor urea levels were significantly altered. In hematological analysis, leucopeny was observed after 5-FU treatment, but this effect was prevented when the treatment was associated with the polysaccharide. In conclusion, this polysaccharide probably could explain the ethnopharmacological use of this mushroom in the treatment of cancer.