Anti-inflammatory potential of mushroom extracts and isolated metabolites

Background: In the recent years natural resources are being in focus due to their great potential to be exploited in the discovery/development of novel bioactive compounds and, among them, mushrooms can be highlighted as alternative sources of anti-inflammatory agents. Scope and approach: The present review reports the anti-inflammatory activity of mushroom extracts and of their bioactive metabolites involved in this bioactive action. Additionally the most common assays used to evaluate mushrooms anti-inflammatory activity were also reviewed, including in vitro studies in cell lines, as well as in animal models in vivo. Key findings and conclusions: The anti-inflammatory compounds identified in mushrooms include polysaccharides, terpenes, phenolic acids, steroids, fatty acids and other metabolites. Among them, polysaccharides, terpenoids and phenolic compounds seem to be the most important contributors to the anti-inflammatory activity of mushrooms as demonstrated by numerous studies. However, clinical trials need to be conducted in order to confirm the effectiveness of some of these mushroom compounds namely, inhibitors of NF-κB pathway and of cyclooxygenase related with the expression of many inflammatory mediators.

Biodiesel production from Jathropha curcas l. oil using chemical or enzymatic catalysts

Doutoramento em Engenharia dos Biossistemas - Instituto Superior de Agronomia - UL

Population genetics of Cerastoderma edule in Ria Formosa (southern Portugal): the challenge of understanding an intraspecific hotspot of genetic diversity

Coastal lagoons are highly variable environments that may act as hotspots of genetic diversity as a consequence of their ecological role as nursery habitats of marine species with both ecological and fisheries importance. The edible cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is a commercially important shellfish resource inhabiting coastal lagoons in Europe and their fisheries management urgently needs genetic studies to design appropriate strategies to promote the recovery of exploited populations. The aim of this study was to assess the C. edule genetic diversity and population structure at a small geographic scale, inside Ria Formosa coastal lagoon (southern Portugal) using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequences in six locations. Outcomes pointed to a common pattern of high haplotype diversity and non-significant genetic structuring inside the Ria Formosa lagoon. A high level of gene flow was detected between all localities and the presence of a single stock from a genetic point of view may be considered for fisheries management purposes. The existence of a high number of haplotypes and high values of haplotype diversity of C. edule in Ria Formosa lagoon could be consistent with the hypothesis that higher genetic diversity is expected in populations occurring in coastal lagoons, suggesting that lagoons could increase standing genetic variation and an adaptive potential of lagoon populations as an ecological response to a highly variable environment.

Study of new physiological characteristics as protein receptors (RP55) of light, color, heat, motion, smell, electric, vibration and position located in head, body and abdominal, found in mosquito larvae.

The main objective of the research is to demonstrate new physiological characteristics receptors in the presence of mosquito larvae. 100 larvae of different species were collected and studied for a week in periods of 8-24 hrs. Larvae stages I, II, III and IV have photo-thermo receptors of light and heat housed in the body is divided into head, thorax and abdomen, perceive hot or cold environments, and have fibers in chest or hairs lining your body or abdomen, and a pair of antennae on the head. Stages II and III are more developed than the initial stages. They are attracted by the dark green at the bottom, a pair of eyes that perceive light and color. Have receptors proteins (RP55) that capture motion at a speed the slightest movement of waves in the water. Its nose is not well developed but have chemoreceptors. They adapt to changes in pH in alkaline media, are sensitive to chemical, thermal and mechanical changes nociceptors have electroreceptors or galvanoreceptores sensitive to electrical stimuli, have mechanoreceptors that are sensitive to touch, pain, pressure, gravity, sound. They have a GPS position that seems the guides. It is precisely in the fibers, mushrooms or bristles are recipients along with the micro villi in head, thorax and abdomen.
RESUMEN El objetivo principal de la investigación es demostrar nuevas características fisiológicas como la presencia de receptores en las larvas de mosquitos. Se recolectaron 100 larvas de diferentes especies y se estudiaron por una semana en periodos de 8 a 24 hrs. Las larvas de los estadios I,II,III y IV tienen foto-termo receptores de luz y calor alojados en el cuerpo que se divide en cabeza, tórax y abdomen, perciben ambientes fríos o calientes, así como tienen fibras en tórax o pelos que recubren su cuerpo, y un par de antenas en la cabeza. Los estadios II y III son más desarrollados que las etapas iniciales. Tienen receptores proteicos RP55. Les atrae el color verde oscuro en el fondo, un par de ojos que perciben la luz y color con fotoreceptores. Tienen receptores RP55 de movimiento que captan a una velocidad el más mínimo movimiento de ondas en el agua. Su olfato no está muy desarrollado pero tienen quimioreceptores. Se adaptan a cambios de pH en medios alcalinos, tienen nociceptores sensibles a cambios químicos, térmicos y mecánicos, tienen galvanoreceptores o electroreceptores sensibles a estímulos eléctricos, tienen mecanoreceptores que son sensibles al tacto, dolor, presión gravedad, sonido. Tienen un GPS de posición que pareciera las orienta.

Lipid profile and glycemic response of rats fed on a semi-purified diet supplemented with Agaricus brasiliensis mushroom.

A busca por hábitos alimentares saudáveis tem incentivado o estudo de novas fontes alimentares. Destacam-se os cogumelos comestíveis, como os do gênero Agaricus. Este trabalho avaliou a influência da ração semi-purificada, suplementada com o cogumelo Agaricus brasiliensis no perfil de lipídios, em ratos. Foi realizado experimento com 28 ratos machos Wistar, em 32 dias. Os animais foram separados em quatro grupos de sete dos quais o primeiro recebeu dieta AIN-93 (CAS), o segundo recebeu dieta AIN-93 adicionada de 1% de colesterol (CAS + COL) e o terceiro e o quarto grupos foram alimentados com dieta AIN-93 suplementada com cogumelos sem (COG) e com (COG + COL) adição de colesterol a 1%, respectivamente. No 32.º dia, amostras foram coletadas para análises de colesterol, triglicerídeos, colesterol hepático da gordura hepática. O estudo mostrou que Agaricus brasiliensis influenciou o perfil lipídico, diminuindo o colesterol total (-16%) e os triglicérides (- 26,9%), além de aumentar o HDL (+ 60,2%). É possível afirmar que nutrientes contidos em Agaricus brasiliensis são moduladores do perfil lipídico de ratos, diminuindo a deposição de lipídios hepáticos e aumentando a sua eliminação fecal. A curva glicêmica mostrou declínio significativo entre quinze e sessenta minutos em ratos alimentados com dieta contendo o cogumelo.

Champignons et truffes.

Mode of access: Internet.

Les champignons d'après nature;

Mode of access: Internet.

Die essbaren schwämme des Oesterreichischen kaiserstaates.

Mode of access: Internet.

Eerst weten--dan eten. Een inleiding tot de studie der paddestoelen,

Title vignette.

D:r M. A. Lindblads Svampbok, bearb. af Lars Romell, jämte anvisningar om svampars insamling, förwring och anrättning,

Plates separate in case.

Tableaux synoptiques des champignons comestibles et vénéneux,

Mode of access: Internet.

Unsere giftpilze und ihre essbaren doppelgänger,

Descriptive text on versos facing plates.

Unsere speisepilze. Auswahl der häufigeren und wichtigeren markt- und liebhaberpilze,

Descriptive text on versos facing plates.

Die wichtigsten speisepilze, nach der natur gemalt und beschrieben,

Mode of access: Internet.

Avaliação do extrato do fungo caripia montagnei e de agonistas de PPAR - α no processo inflamatório

The mushrooms have been object of intense research in view of its potential raising of application in different sectors of the pharmacology and alimentary industry. Among diverse bioactive composites of polyssacharides nature that exist in the fungus the glucans are much searched. These are polymers of glucose and classified as the type of glicosidic linking [α, β]. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), ranscription factors belonging to the family of nuclear receptors that bind themselves o specific agonists, have shown their importance in controlling the inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to perform a chemical characterization of extract rom the mushroom Caripia montagnei, assess its antiinflammatory and antibacterial effect and determine if this effect occurs via PPAR. This mushroom is composed of carbohydrates (63.3±4.1%), lipids (21.4l±0.9%) and proteins (2.2± 0.3%). The aqueous solution resulting from the fractionation contained carbohydrates (98.7±3.3%) and protein (1.3±0.25%). Analyses of infrared spectrophotometry and of nuclear magnetic esonance demonstrated that the extract of mushroom C. montagnei is rich in β-glucans. In hioglycolate-induced peritonitis, the C. montagnei glucans (50 mg/kg) educed the inflammatory process in 65.5±5.2% and agonists, pharmacological igands, for PPAR: Wy-14643 (49.3±6.1%), PFOA (48.9±3.8%) and clofibrate in 45.2±3.2%. Sodium diclofenac showed a reduction of 81.65±0.6%. In the plantar edema, the glucans from C. montagnei (50 mg/kg) and L-NAME reduced the edema to a similar degree 91.4±0.3% and 92.8±0,5 %, respectively. In all the groups tested, nitric oxide (NO), an inflammation mediator, showed a significant reduction in the nitrate/nitrite levels when compared to the positive control (P<0.001). The C. montagnei glucans did not show cytotoxicity in the concentrations tested (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 and 40.0 µg/100 µL). Antibacterial activity demonstrated that, unlike total extract, there was no inhibition of bacterial growth. The C. montagnei glucans show great potential for antiinflammatory applications. This effect suggests that it is mediated by PPAR activation and by COX and iNOS inhibition