Nutritional value, bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of three edible mushrooms from Poland

Mushrooms contain a multitude of biomolecules with nutritional and/or biological activity. Among the bioactive molecules, phenolic compounds and tocopherols are the most responsible for their antioxidant activity. In the present work, Boletus edulis, Lentinus edodes and Xerocomus badius, three edible mushroom species originated from Poland, were analyzed for their chemical composition and antioxidant activity. Carbohydrates were the most abundant macronutrients, followed by proteins and ash. Fructose, mannitol and trehalose were the prevalent sugars, but glucose was only found in B. edulis. Polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated over mono and saturated fatty acids. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids were abundant in the three samples. α- and β- Tocopherols were quantified in all the samples, but γ-tocopherol was only identified in X. badius. Oxalic and fumaric acids were quantified in the three samples; quinic acid was only present in L. edodes, and malic and citric acids were only found in X. badius. p-Hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic and cinnamic acids were quantified in all the species, while p-coumaric acid was only found in B. edulis. This species and X. badius revealed the highest antioxidant properties, being B. edulis more effective in radicals scavenging activity and reducing power, and X. badius in lipid peroxidation inhibition, which is related with the highest amounts in phenolic compounds and tocopherols, respectively.

Contents of folates in edible mushrooms commercialised in the city of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

In this study, folates were evaluated in the main species of mushroom cultivated in Brazil. The species analysed were Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom), Lentinula edodes (shiitake) and Pleorotus ostreatus (shimeji). The five main forms of folate found in foods were determined: tetrahydrofolic acid (THFA), 10-methyl folic acid (10MFA), 5-methyl tetrahydrofolic acid (5MTHFA), 10-formyl folic acid (10FFA) and 5-formy tetrahydrofolic acid (5FTHFA). The methodology employed used extraction with phosphate buffer, clean up with trichloroacetic acid and separation of the vitamins by high-performance liquid chromatography, with simultaneous ultraviolet and fluorescence detection. The results obtained for total folate were 551 to 1404 µg.100 g -1 for the button mushroom, 606 to 727 µg.100 g -1 for shiitake and 460 to 1325 µg.100 g-1 for shimeji. The data showed that mushrooms could be considered as sources of folates and that their contribution of these vitamins to the diet was meaningful.

Artificial and natural radioactivity in edible mushrooms from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Environmental biomonitoring has demonstrated that organisms such as crustaceans, fish and mushrooms are useful to evaluate and monitor both ecosystem contamination and quality. Particularly, some mushroom species have a high capacity to retain radionuclides and some toxic elements from the soil and the air. The potential of mushrooms to accumulate radionuclides in their fruit-bodies has been well documented. However, there are no studies that determine natural and artificial radionuclide composition in edible mushrooms, in Brazil. Artificial (Cs-137) and natural radioactivity (K-40. Ra-226. Ra-228) were determined in 17 mushroom samples from 3 commercialized edible mushroom species. The edible mushrooms collected were Agaricus sp., Pleurotus sp. and Lentinula sp. species. The activity measurements were carried out by gamma spectrometry. The levels of Cs-137 varied from 1.45 +/- 0.04 to 10.6 +/- 0.3 Bq kg(-1), K-40 levels varied from 461 +/- 2 to 1535 +/- 10 Bq kg(-1), Ra-226 levels varied from 14 +/- 3 to 66 +/- 12 Bq kg(-1) and Ra-228 levels varied from 6.2 +/- 0.2 to 54.2 +/- 1.7 Bq kg(-1). Cs-137 levels in Brazilian mushrooms are in accordance with the radioactive fallout in the Southern Hemisphere. The artificial and natural activities determined in this study were found to be below the maximum permissible levels as established by national legislation. Thus, these mushroom species can be normally consumed by the population without any apparent risks to human health.

Twelve edible mushrooms of the United States, illustrated with twelve colored types. How to select and prepare for the table.

A reprint from the Annual report of the U. S. Department of agriculture, 1885.

The contribution of phenolic acids to the anti-inflammatory activity of mushrooms: Screening in phenolic extracts, individual parent molecules and synthesized glucuronated and methylated derivatives

In the present study, the ethanolic extracts of fourteen edible mushrooms were investigated for their anti-inflammatory potential in LPS (lipopolysaccharide) activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore the extracts were chemically characterized in terms of phenolic acids and related compounds. The identified molecules (p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids) and their glucuronated and methylated derivatives obtained by chemical synthesis were also evaluated for the same bioactivity, in order to establish structure-activity relationships and to comprehend the effects of in vivo metabolism reactions in the activity of the compounds. The extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus, Macrolepiota procera, Boletus impolitus and Agaricus bisporus revealed the strongest anti-inflammatory potential (EC50 values 96 ± 1 to 190 ± 6 µg/mL, and also the highest concentration of cinnamic acid (656 to 156 µg/g), which was also the individual compound with the highest anti-inflammatory activity. The derivatives of p-coumaric acid revealed the strongest properties, specially the derivative methylated in the carboxylic group (CoA-M1) that exhibited similar activity to the one showed by dexamethaxone used as anti-inflammatory standard; by contrast, the derivatives of p-hydroxybenzoic revealed the lowest inhibition of NO production. All in all, whereas the conjugation reactions change the chemical structure of phenolic acids and may increase or decrease their activity, the glucuronated and methylated derivatives of the studied compounds are still displaying anti-inflammatory activity.

Occurrence of inorganic arsenic in edible Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) products

The present study reports arsenic speciation analysis in edible Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) products. The study focused on the extraction, and accurate quantification of inorganic arsenic (iAs), the most toxic form of arsenic, which was selectively separated and determined using anion exchange LC-ICPMS. A wide variety of edible Shiitake products (fresh mushrooms, food supplements, canned and dehydrated) were purchased and analysed. A cultivated Shiitake grown under controlled conditions was also analysed. The extraction method showed satisfactory extraction efficiencies (>90%) and column recoveries (>85%) for all samples. Arsenic speciation revealed that iAs was the major As compound up to 1.38 mg As per kg dm (with a mean percentage of 84% of the total arsenic) and other organoarsenicals were found as minor species. Shiitake products had high proportions of iAs and therefore should not be ignored as potential contributors to dietary iAs exposure in populations with a high intake of Shiitake products.

Enrichment of Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms with selenium in coffee husks

Pleurotus ostreatus fungus forms an edible mushroom that possesses important nutritional and medicinal properties. Selenium (Se) is essential to human diets and it is in low concentration in the soil, and consequently in food. P. ostreatus was grown in coffee husks enriched with various concentrations of sodium selenite. The biological efficiency of P. ostreatus was affected by the addition of high concentrations of Se. The highest level of Se absorption was obtained by adding 51 mg kg(1) of sodium selenite. The mushrooms from first flush contained more Se than the further flushes. These results demonstrate the great potential of coffee husks in the production of Se-enriched mushrooms and show the ability of this fungus to absorb and biomagnify Se. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

One thousand American Fungi : how to select and cook the edible : how to distinguish and avoid the poisonous : giving full botanic descriptions : made easy for reader and student /

Half title: American fungi.

Study of antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties of wild mushrooms from the Northeast of Portugal

Mushrooms are known as a powerful source of bioactive compounds including antioxidants, inhibitors of human tumour cell lines growth, inducers of apoptosis and enhancers of immunity. Indeed, many pre-clinical studies have been conducted in human tumour cell lines and in some cases a number of compounds isolated from mushrooms have followed to clinical trials. The Northeast of Portugal is one of the European regions with higher wild mushrooms diversity. However, to our knowledge, no studies had been conducted so far to verify their bioactivities. The main aim of this work was the evaluation of the bioactive properties (antioxidant properties and growth inhibitory potential on human tumour cell lines) of wild edible mushrooms collected in the Northeast of Portugal. Once properly identified, methanolic, ethanolic and boiling water extracts were prepared from thirty eight wild mushroom species collected in that region. Chemical characterization was obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a photodiode array detector (DAD) or to a refraction index detector (RI). Antioxidant activity assays were carried out in those extracts, including evaluation of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals scavenging capacity, reducing power and inhibition of β-carotene bleaching. Extract-induced cell growth inhibition was assessed with the sulforhodamine B assay in four human tumour cell lines (NCI-H460 - lung cancer, MCF-7 -breast cancer, HCT-15 -colon cancer and AGS - gastric cancer). The effects on cell cycle profile and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry and the effect on the expression levels of proteins related to cell cycle and apoptosis was further investigated by Western blotting. Three wild edible mushroom species revealed growth inhibitory activity in the studied human tumour cell lines: Clitocybe alexandri ethanolic extract, Lepista inversa methanolic extract and Suillus collinitus methanolic extract. C. alexandri ethanolic extract induced an S-phase cell cycle arrest and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells, in the NCI-H460 cell line. The analysed mushroom species also provided interesting antioxidant potential, mainly the boiling water extract of L. inversa which showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power and β-carotene bleaching inhibition. S. collinitus methanolic extract induced a slight increase in the number of cells in G1, with a concomitant decrease in the percentage of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle and an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells, in the MCF-7 cell line. The combined use of the S. collinitus methanolic extract and etoposide caused a greater decrease in the percentage of cell growth, when compared to either of them used individually, indicating the potential benefit of this combination. The tested extracts were chemically characterized and protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric and cinnamic acids were the main compounds identified on the phenolic (methanolic and ethanolic) extracts, while mannitol, trehalose and arabinose were the main sugars found in the polysaccharidic (boiling water) extracts after hydrolysis. The individual compounds identified in the extracts were submitted to a screening of tumour cells growth inhibitory activity, but only the phenolic acids and a related compound, cinnamic acid, presented activity. This compound was found to be the most potent one regarding cell growth inhibition in the NCI-H460 cell line. The effect of the individual and combined treatment with the identified compounds was also evaluated. Cinnamic and protochatequic acids caused a statistically significantly reduction in the number of viable cells. In addition, p-hydroxybenzoic acid did not show any significantly reduction in the viable cell number. Nevertheless, it was verified that the concomitant use of the three compounds provided the strongest decrease in the viable cell number, suggesting a possible concomitant effect of those compounds. Overall, the present work has contributed to further understand the bioactive potential of wild edible mushrooms from the Northeast of Portugal. This study allowed to identify some species with antioxidant or tumour cell growth inhibitory potential.

Protein-Polysaccharides of trametes versocolor: production and biological activities

Extracellular-(E-PPS) and intracellular-protein-polysaccharides (I-PPS) complexes were produced by Trametes versicolor in submerged cultures with different carbon sources. The highest extracellular-(EPS) and intracellular-polysaccharide (IPS) concentration in the complexes was obtained with tomato pomace culture. DPPH radical scavenging for E-PPS and I-PPS produced by liter of culture was equivallent to 2.115 +/- A 0.227 and 1.374 +/- A 0.364 g of ascorbic acid, respectively. These complexes showed a protector effect in the oxidation of erythrocyte membranes and had ability to inhibit the hemolysis and methemoglobin synthesis in stressed erythrocytes. These results suggest that extracellular- and intracellular- polysaccharides produced are important bioactive compounds with medicinal potential.

Ethanol Production From Spent Substrate Of Pleurotus Eous

Spent substrate, the residual material of mushroom cultivation, causes disposal problems for cultivators. Currently the spent substrate of different mushrooms is used mainly for composting. Edible mushrooms of Pleurotus sp. can grow on a wide range of lignocellulosic substrates. In the present study, Pleurotus eous was grown on paddy straw and the spent substrate was used for the production of ethanol. Lignocellulosic biomass cannot be saccharified by enzymes to high yield of ethanol without pretreatment. The root cause for the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass such as paddy straw is the presence of lignin and hemicelluloses on the surface of cellulose. They form a barrier and prevent cellulase from accessing the cellulose in the substrate. In the untreated paddy straw, the amount of hemicelluloses and lignin (in % dry weight) were 20.30 and 20.34 respectively and the total reducing sugar was estimated to be 5.40 mg/g. Extracellular xylanase and ligninases of P. eous could reduce the amount of hemicelluloses and lignin to 16 and 11(% dry weight) respectively, by 21st day of cultivation. Growth of mushroom brought a seven fold increase in the total reducing sugar yield (39.20 mg/g) and six fold increase in the production of ethanol (6.48 g/L) after 48hrs of fermentation, when compared to untreated paddy straw

Pretreatment Of Agricultural Waste With Pleurotus Sp. For Ethanol Production

Bioethanol is a liquid fuel obtained from fermentation of sugar/starch crops. Lignocellulosic biomass being less expensive is considered a future alternative for the food crops. One of the main challenges for the use of lignocellulosics is the development of an efficient pre-treatment process. Pretreatments are classified into three - physical, chemical, and biological pretreatment. Chemical process has not been proven suitable so far, due to high costs and production of undesired by-products. Biologically, hydrolysis can be enhanced by microbial or enzymatic pretreatment. Studies show that the edible mushrooms of Pleurotus sp. produce several extracellular enzymes which reduce the structural and chemical complexity of fibre. In the present study, P. ostreatus and P. eous were cultivated on paddy straw. Spent substrate left after mushroom cultivation was powdered and used for ethanol production. Saccharomyces sp. was used for fermentation studies. Untreated paddy straw was used as control. Production of ethanol from P. ostreatus substrate was 5.5 times more when compared to untreated paddy straw, while the spent substrate of P. eous gave 5 times increase in ethanol yield. Assays showed the presence of several extracellular enzymes in the spent substrate of both species, which together contributed to the increase in ethanol yield

Occurrence and characterization of injuries caused by Mycotretus apicalis Lacordaire, 1842 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) on cultivation of Pleurotus sajor-caju

When carrying out experiments on the production of the edible mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju in the Laboratory of Edible Mushrooms, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Brazil, in the second half of 2007, the presence of beetles later identified as belonging to the species Mycotretus apicalis was verified. This is the first recorded instance of this insect in cultures of P. sajor-caju in Brazil. The larvae and adults of this insect feed on the fruiting bodies of commercial harvests, resulting in reduction in mushroom quality. To provide evaluation of the injuries caused by these insects, substrates colonized by P. sajor-caju were infested with 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 insects per block of substrate being the qualitative and quantitative losses then noted. Despite the lack of an observed decrease in biological efficiency, the injuries caused by these insects affected the commercial quality of the mushrooms, which may result in economic losses. The results showed that infestations of 32 insects per 0.8 kg of substrate led to a depreciation in the prices of mushrooms meant to be sold.