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Toxicol In Vitro 2020 Jun 26:104921. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Walther-Straub-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Goethestraße 33, 80336 Munich, Germany; Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.

Silibinin (Sil) is used as hepatoprotective drug and is approved for therapeutic use in amanitin poisoning. In our study we compared Sil-bis-succinate (Sil), a water-soluble drug approved for i.v. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2020 7;2020:8163839. Epub 2020 Jun 7.

Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is a highly metastatic and malignant cancer. Developing potential drugs with good efficacy and low toxicity for MM treatment is needed. Huaier, extracted from the mushroom Murr, has been widely used in clinical anticancer treatments in China. Read More

Int J Med Mushrooms 2020 ;22(4):379-388

Mycology and Plant Pathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura, India.

The present research documented the first evidence of Clitocybe brunneocaperata from Tripura, Northeast India. The main purposes of this study were identification of the mushroom and qualitative toxicity screening along with antibacterial and antioxidant activities of its methanolic extracts. The species has been recognized on the basis of the morphometric and molecular studies. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2020 Jun 3;260:113047. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been broadly used for health endorsement as well as longevity for over 2000 years in Asian countries. It is an example of an ancient remedy and known as immortality mushroom. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2020 Sep 22;736:139524. Epub 2020 May 22.

Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Universitaetsplatz 1, 8010 Graz, Austria. Electronic address:

The Violet Crown Cup, Sarcosphaera coronaria, is a rather inconspicuous mushroom, but with an interesting and unresolved mystery. In earlier days, the mushroom was considered edible, but several poisonings were reported in the early 20 century. The reason for the seemingly sporadic toxicity of S. Read More

An Acad Bras Cienc 2020 18;92(1):e20191121. Epub 2020 May 18.

College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Cadmium, present in the environment, accumulates in different organs of animals and humans, and has deleterious effects on the kidney. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of the methanolic extract of Pleurotus ostreatus in comparison with silymarin on renal function in cadmium-intoxicated rats for five days. Rats intraperitoneally injected with cadmium chloride (1 mg/kg). Read More

Animals (Basel) 2020 May 6;10(5). Epub 2020 May 6.

Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.

As probiotics, fungi enhance animal health and are suitable animal feed additives. In addition to brewing fungi, there are also edible and medicinal fungi. Common fungi utilized in feeding programs include , spp. Read More

Environ Toxicol Chem 2020 May 4. Epub 2020 May 4.

Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Basidiomycetes (phylum Basidiomycota) are filamentous fungi characterized by the exogenous formation of spores on a club-shaped cell called a basidium that are often formed on complex fruiting bodies (mushrooms). Many basidiomycetes serve an important role in recycling lignocellulosic material to higher trophic levels, and some show symbiotic relationships with plants. All known bioluminescent fungi are mushroom-forming basidiomycetes in the order Agaricales. Read More

Food Sci Nutr 2020 Apr 3;8(4):1864-1873. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Biotech Research Institute Grape King Bio Ltd Taoyuan Taiwan.

, also known as the sanghuang mushroom, is a medicinal mushroom that has been recognized as beneficial to health for more thousands of years. Among its diverse valuable secondary metabolites, the yellow-brown styrylpyrone pigment hispidin has garnered significant attention due to its various pharmacological effects. However, recently after detailed morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, the correct scientific name of the true sanghuang strains was shown not to be but . Read More

Chemosphere 2020 Aug 31;253:126629. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Center for Health and the Environment, USA; Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. Electronic address:

Recent reports demonstrate that octopamine receptor (OR) agonists such as formamidine pesticides cause reproductive and developmental toxicity through endocrine disrupting effects in both humans and animals. Herein, we studied the effects of different sublethal concentrations of OR agonists, Amitraz and Chlordimeform, on growth, development, and reproduction of D. melanogaster from a genotype perspective view. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020 Jun 31;196:110538. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, China.

The use of phytoremediation was an efficient strategy for the restoration of mine slag and the addition of modifier was favorable for improving the phytoremediation efficiency. Herein, spent mushroom compost (SMC) was added in manganese (Mn) slag to reveal the phytoremediation potential of Paulownia fortunei seedlings. The transportation, subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Mn in P. Read More

Life Sci 2020 Jun 30;250:117602. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India; Nyro Research India, Kochi, Kerala, India. Electronic address:

Aims: Extrinsic ageing or photoageing relates to the onset of age-linked phenotypes such as skin hyperpigmentation due to UV exposure. UV induced upregulated production of tyrosinase enzyme, which catalyses the vital biochemical reactions of melanin synthesis is responsible for the inception of skin hyperpigmentation. We aimed to generate a validated QSAR model with a dataset consisting of 69 thio-semicarbazone derivatives to elucidate the physicochemical properties of compounds essential for tyrosinase inhibition and to identify novel lead molecules with enhanced tyrosinase inhibitory activity and bioavailability. Read More

J Biol Chem 2020 May 30;295(18):6120-6137. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Molecular and Cell Biology Department, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, California 95343

The developing nervous system is remarkably sensitive to environmental signals, including disruptive toxins, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are an environmentally pervasive class of brominated flame retardants whose neurodevelopmental toxicity mechanisms remain largely unclear. Using dissociated cortical neurons from embryonic , we found here that chronic exposure to 6-OH-BDE-47, one of the most prevalent hydroxylated PBDE metabolites, suppresses both spontaneous and evoked neuronal electrical activity. Read More

Antioxidants (Basel) 2020 Mar 26;9(4). Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-Do 16227, Korea.

Various cosmetics having a single function are increasingly being used, but cosmetics having multifunctional activities remain limited. We aimed to develop a multifunctional cosmetic cream having antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, anti-aging and antimicrobial activities. Antimicrobial activities were performed by disc-diffusion method. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 Jun 28;27(16):19754-19763. Epub 2020 Mar 28.

Department of Zoology, Cell Biology and Genetics Unit, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Exposure to lead (Pb) is a major risk factor in reproductive toxicity, somatic, and germ cell genotoxicity. Exposure via deteriorating Pb paints and contaminated air, soil, and water had been the primary routes. However, with increasing reports of Pb accumulation in mushrooms and other food items may increase the etiology of Pb poisoning. Read More

Nat Commun 2020 03 20;11(1):1509. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, UMR9020-UMR-S 1277, CANTHER - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000, Lille, France.

Nonsense mutations cause about 10% of genetic disease cases, and no treatments are available. Nonsense mutations can be corrected by molecules with nonsense mutation readthrough activity. An extract of the mushroom Lepista inversa has recently shown high-efficiency correction of UGA and UAA nonsense mutations. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2020 28;11:168. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Background: Diabetic complications seriously endanger the health of most diabetic patients around the world. Most chemical hypoglycemic agents have adverse effects and are unable to improve the progression of diabetic complications. In recent years, a number of medicinal herbs have become increasingly popular for the treatment of diabetic complications due to their relative safety. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020 May 10;27(14):17303-17313. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Department of Agronomic Engineering, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, SE, 49035-660, Brazil.

Leaf-cutting ants have great potential for damage to agricultural and forest crops. Although chemical control is the most used method for the management of this pest, more friendly alternative methods have been investigated. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal and antifungal potential of essential oils obtained from Aristolochia trilobata, as well as the potential of two chemotypes of Myrcia lundiana and their major compounds (isopulegol and citral) on Acromyrmex balzani and its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Read More

Proc Biol Sci 2020 03 4;287(1922):20192442. Epub 2020 Mar 4.

Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK.

For social bees, an understudied step in evaluating pesticide risk is how contaminated food entering colonies affects residing offspring development and maturation. For instance, neurotoxic insecticide compounds in food could affect central nervous system development predisposing individuals to become poorer task performers later-in-life. Studying bumblebee colonies provisioned with neonicotinoid spiked nectar substitute, we measured brain volume and learning behaviour of 3 or 12-day old adults that had experienced in-hive exposure during brood and/or early-stage adult development. Read More

PLoS One 2020 21;15(2):e0229067. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

Department of Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, São Paulo, Brazil.

Psilocybin, a substance mainly found in mushrooms of the genus psilocybe, has been historically used for ritualistic, recreational and, more recently, medicinal purposes. The scientific literature suggests low toxicity, low risk of addiction, overdose, or other causes of injury commonly caused by substances of abuse, with growing interest in the use of this substance for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression. However, the presence of negative outcomes linked to psilocybin use is not clear yet. Read More

Food Sci Nutr 2020 Jan 12;8(1):410-418. Epub 2019 Dec 12.

Department of Mushroom Science and Forest Microbiology Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute Tsukuba Japan.

Component analysis of a novel white-colored truffle native to Japan, , was performed to determine its characteristic features. The analysis of odor-active volatile compound showed a high contribution of 1-octen-3-ol and 3-methyl-2,4-dithiapentane to the odor of . Although 2,4-dithiapentane is a key odorant of well-known white truffle , 3-methyl-2,4-dithiapentane was detected from the ripe . Read More

Acute Med Surg 2020 Jan-Dec;7(1):e460. Epub 2019 Sep 27.

Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Hiratsuka City Hospital Hiratsuka Japan.

Background: Sclerodermataceae are known to be poisonous mushrooms; current published reports regarding the toxicity and treatment for Sclerodermataceae poisoning are limited.

Case Presentation: A 66-year-old man was transferred to our hospital with complaints of visual disturbance, lightheadedness, bradycardia, and shock. The patient's medical history included cerebral hemorrhage and alcoholic hepatitis. Read More

J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2020 Jan 11. Epub 2020 Jan 11.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Pleurotus tuber regium, a wild edible mushroom can reduce free radical-mediated injury and oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) via improvement of antioxidant capacity. This work evaluates the protective effects of this mushroom against the metabolic and hematological toxicity induced by CCl4. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six groups (n = 10). Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jan 2;21(1). Epub 2020 Jan 2.

Department of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea.

Fisetin is found in many fruits and plants such as grapes and onions, and exerts anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anticancer activity. However, whether fisetin regulates melanogenesis has been rarely studied. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of fisetin on melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cell and zebrafish larvae. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020 Mar 19;190:110058. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Program of Fungi, Ula Ali Kocman Vocational School, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, 48100, Ula-Mugla, Turkey.

Worldwide, among the forest products, wild edible mushrooms constitute an important part because they represent food source as well as income source for many local communities. Thirteen essential elements (Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn and Zn) and non-essential elements (Al, Cd, Ni and Pb) in wild edible mushrooms from six families (Agaricaceae, Auriculariaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Russulaceae, Suillaceae, and Tricholomataceae) originated from the Mediterranean region of Turkey were determined. Major element was K, followed by Ca, Mg, Fe and Al. Read More

Med Chem 2019 Dec 17. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Mushroom Research Centre, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia.

Background: Microglia are associated with neuroinflammation, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. It has been reported that some quinazolines and quinazolinones possess anti-inflammatory properties. However, the pharmacological properties of certain quinazoline derivatives are still unknown. Read More

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020 Mar 6;59(14):5500-5504. Epub 2020 Feb 6.

Institute of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 124, 10623, Berlin, Germany.

The toxic bicyclic octapeptide α-amanitin is mostly found in different species of the mushroom genus Amanita, with the death cap (Amanita phalloides) as one of the most prominent members. Due to its high selective inhibition of RNA polymerase II, which is directly linked to its high toxicity, particularly to hepatocytes, α-amanitin received an increased attention as a toxin-component of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) in cancer research. Furthermore, the isolation of α-amanitin from mushrooms as the sole source severely restricts compound supply as well as further investigations, as structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. Read More

Med Glas (Zenica) 2020 Feb 1;17(1). Epub 2020 Feb 1.

Orthopedic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

Aim Wild mushroom intoxication is a public health problem, which causes a wide range of symptoms: from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to multiple organ failure and death. The present study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of mushroom intoxication in 4-year admissions of Razi Hospital, Qaemshahr, Mazandaran, Iran. Methods Medical records of all identified cases of mushroom poisoning admitted during the period between 2015 and 2018 were extracted and patients' demographic data including age, sex, latency period, season of poisoning, clinical presentations, laboratory findings, prognosis, duration of hospitalization and therapeutic interventions were recorded. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2020 Feb 10;189:110040. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Ciências da Natureza, Matemática e Educação, Grupo de Abelhas e Serviços Ambientais, Campus Araras, SP, Brazil.

Bees are important pollinators that help to maintain the biodiversity of wild and cultivated plants. However, the increased and inappropriate use of agrochemicals has caused an imbalance in the populations of these insects visiting flowers for pollen and nectar collection. Therefore, new research methods for understanding the mechanisms of action of pesticides and their impacts on the brains of bees, such as neurotoxicity and cellular changes, in response to different active characteristics and dosages of insecticides are necessary. Read More

Bioorg Chem 2020 Jan 22;94:103445. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

College of Natural Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, South Korea. Electronic address:

In the current research work, different N-(substituted-phenyl)-4-{(4-[(E)-3-phenyl-2-propenyl]-1-piperazinyl}butanamides have been synthesized according to the protocol described in scheme 1. The synthesis was initiated by reacting various substituted anilines (1a-e) with 4-chlorobutanoyl chloride (2) in aqueous basic medium to give various electrophiles, 4-chloro-N-(substituted-phenyl)butanamides (3a-e). These electrophiles were then coupled with 1-[(E)-3-phenyl-2-propenyl]piperazine (4) in polar aprotic medium to attain the targeted N-(substituted-phenyl)-4-{(4-[(E)-3-phenyl-2-propenyl]-1-piperazinyl}butanamides (5a-e). Read More

Carbohydr Polym 2020 Feb 24;229:115521. Epub 2019 Oct 24.

Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, CEP 80240-020, Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, CEP 80230-020, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address:

A polysaccharide-enriched extract obtained from Lentinula edodes was submitted to several purification steps to separate three different D-glucans with β-(1→6), β-(1→3),(1→6) and α-(1→3) linkages, being characterized through GC-MS, FT-IR, NMR, SEC and colorimetric/fluorimetric determinations. Moreover, in vitro hypocholesterolemic, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities were also tested. Isolated glucans exerted HMGCR inhibitory activity, but only β-(1→6) and β-(1→3),(1→6) fractions showed DPPH scavenging capacity. Read More

BMC Complement Altern Med 2019 Dec 5;19(1):351. Epub 2019 Dec 5.

Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.

Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). HIV-1 protease (HIV-1 PR) is an essential enzyme for the HIV replication, and therefore, it is an important target for antiretroviral drugs development, particularly from natural products. Auricularia polytricha (AP) is an edible mushroom with several important therapeutic properties. Read More

Molecules 2019 Nov 20;24(23). Epub 2019 Nov 20.

Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

lectin (CNL) is present in fruiting bodies of clouded agaric along with several similar isolectins that are all small and stable proteins. It is a beta-trefoil type lectin forming homodimers that are essential for its functionality. It binds specifically ,'-diacetyllactosediamine (GalNAcβ1-4GlcNAc, LacDiNac) and human blood group A determinant-containing glycan epitopes. Read More

Water Res 2020 Mar 5;170:115274. Epub 2019 Nov 5.

Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 12801, Prague 2, Czech Republic; Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 14220, Prague 4, Czech Republic. Electronic address:

Due to their persistence, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) represent a group of important environmental pollutants, but conventional physicochemical decontamination techniques for their removal are usually expensive. The main aim of this work was to develop a cost-effective method for PCB bioremediation, focusing on contaminated water and utilizing the well-known degradation capability of Pleurotus ostreatus (the oyster mushroom). For this purpose, the conditions of several laboratory-scale reactors (working volume 1 L) were optimized. Read More

Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020 01 24;30(1):126722. Epub 2019 Oct 24.

Institute for Molecular Biosciences (IMB), The University of Queensland (UQ), St Lucia 4072, Qld, Australia. Electronic address:

The inhibition of tyrosinase is an established strategy for treating hyperpigmentation. Our previous findings demonstrated that cinnamic acid and benzoic acid scaffolds can be effective tyrosinase inhibitors with low toxicity. The hydroxyl substituted benzoic and cinnamic acid moieties of these precursors were incorporated into new chemotypes that displayed in vitro inhibitory effect against mushroom tyrosinase. Read More

Food Chem 2020 Mar 19;309:125702. Epub 2019 Oct 19.

College of Food Science and Engineering/Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Grain Circulation and Safety, Nanjing University of Finance & Economics, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China. Electronic address:

Our previous study indicated that nanocomposite packaging material (Nano-PM) containing nano-Ag, nano-TiO, nano-SiO and nanoattapulgite alleviated postharvest senescence of Flammulina velutipes by regulating respiration and energy metabolism. In this study, extracellular ATP (eATP) and programmed cell death (PCD) were employed as critical factors to further investigate the senescence mechanism of postharvest F. velutipes. Read More

Int J Med Mushrooms 2019 ;21(7):725-734

Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai 600 034, Tamil Nadu, India; International Scientific Partnership, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The aim of the present study was to screen for mosquito larvicidal activity of methanol extract of a wild mushroom Psathyrella candolleana against Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Anopheles stephensi. Larvae and eggs were exposed to four different concentrations (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 ppm) and mortality was assessed 24 and 120 h after treatment. Read More

Int J Med Mushrooms 2019 ;21(8):805-816

Department of Internal Medicine, Ji'ning No.1 People's Hospital, Ji'ning, Shandong, 272000, China.

The chaga medicinal mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) was traditionally used to treat various ailments. To establish the pharmacological properties of I. obliquus, studies were performed to show the antiulcer activity of the ethanolic extract. Read More

Biomolecules 2019 10 11;9(10). Epub 2019 Oct 11.

Department of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea.

Flumequine is a well-known second generation quinolone antibiotic that induces phototoxicity. However, the effect of flumequine on skin melanogenesis is unclear. Therefore, we, for the first time, investigated whether flumequine regulates melanogenesis. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Dec 7;186:109741. Epub 2019 Oct 7.

Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector 125, Noida, 201313, India; ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research, Chambaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173213, India. Electronic address:

Piriformospora indica is known for plant growth promotion and abiotic stress alleviation potential in several agricultural crops. However, a systemic analysis is warranted to explore potential application of this important fungus to augment heavy metal tolerance in rice. The present study explores potential of P. Read More

Mutat Res 2019 09 1;845:403078. Epub 2019 Aug 1.

Center for Biological Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.

Immune Assist (IA) is produced from extract of six species of medical mushrooms: Agaricus blazei - Cordyceps sinensis - Grifola frondosa - Ganoderma lucidum - Coriolus versicolor - Lentinula edodes. The genoprotective potential of IA was evaluated for the first time. Significant antigenotoxic effects were detected in human peripheral blood cells against HO induced DNA damage, in the pretreatment and in the posttreatment. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 09 26;16(19). Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Department of Food Biotechnology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland.

The aims of this study were to determine Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn content in wild mushrooms collected from unpolluted areas of the eastern Green Lungs of Poland (GLP) territory, to compare them to some popular species of cultivated mushrooms, evaluate mushroom contribution to the daily intake of the studied bioelements, and to determine their possible toxic effect resulting from potentially excessive mushroom consumption from areas recognized as ecologically uncontaminated. Bioelements were determined in 21 species of edible mushrooms: eighteen species of wild mushrooms and three species of popular cultivated mushrooms. The mean Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn content (in µg/g, dry mass DM) ranged from 10. Read More

Chemosphere 2020 Feb 19;240:124914. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala, 147004, Punjab, India. Electronic address:

Arsenic (As) contamination is one of the most daunting environmental problem bothering the whole world. Exploring a suitable bioremediation technique is an urgent need of the hour. The present study focusses on scrutinizing the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus for its potential role in As detoxification and understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for its tolerance. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2019 Aug;7(16):2330-2335

Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11219, United States.

Background: Mushroom exposure is a global health issue. The manifestations of mushroom poisoning (MP) may vary. Some species have been reported as rhabdomyolytic, hallucinogenic, or gastrointestinal poisons. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Nov 10;184:109623. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address:

This study provides information on mercury (Hg) localization, speciation and ligand environment in edible mushrooms: Boletus edulis, B. aereus and Scutiger pes-caprae collected at non-polluted and Hg polluted sites, by LA-ICP-MS, SR-μ-XRF and Hg L-edge XANES and EXAFS. Mushrooms (especially young ones) collected at Hg polluted sites can contain more than 100 μg Hg g of dry mass. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Sep 2;11(9). Epub 2019 Sep 2.

Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan.

Our previous study showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production is inhibited by acute exhaustive exercise in mice, leading to transient immunodepression after exercise. (SC), an edible mushroom, has immunopotentiative properties. This study aimed to clarify the effects of SC intake on reduced LPS-induced TNF-α production upon exhaustive exercise in mice. Read More

Appl Environ Microbiol 2019 11 16;85(21). Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

Fungi produce various defense proteins against antagonists, including ribotoxins. These toxins cleave a single phosphodiester bond within the universally conserved sarcin-ricin loop of ribosomes and inhibit protein biosynthesis. Here, we report on the structure and function of ageritin, a previously reported ribotoxin from the edible mushroom The amino acid sequence of ageritin was derived from cDNA isolated from the dikaryon AAE-3 and lacks, according to prediction, a signal peptide for classical secretion, predicting a cytoplasmic localization of the protein. Read More

Food Funct 2019 Oct;10(10):6342-6350

Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (DiSTABiF), University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', Via Vivaldi 43, 81100-Caserta, Italy.

Ageritin is the first reported ribotoxin-like protein from basidiomycetes fungi. It can induce ribosomal integrity damage and translation block, and interferes with mitochondrial redox activity of some glioma and neuroblastoma cell lines. Herein, Ageritin has been investigated as a valuable neurotoxin towards either undifferentiated or retinoic acid (RA)-differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells showing a selective cell toxicity against undifferentiated cells. Read More

Carbohydr Polym 2019 Nov 13;223:115078. Epub 2019 Jul 13.

Department of Drug Technology and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address:

We hypothesized that selenium(Se)-enriched polysaccharides would possess superior biological activity when compared to those non-enriched. To verify this hypothesis, we obtained by biotechnological methods a Se-enriched analog of Japanese anticancer drug lentinan and, as a reference, the non-Se-enriched fraction. We tested the effects of the obtained fractions on the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 Nov 9;244:112151. Epub 2019 Aug 9.

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, 32 Tržaška Cesta, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The Norse berserkers were wild warriors of Scandinavia known to enter a trance-like state that allowed them to fight with increased strength and a rage that granted them immunity to many forms of harm in battle. Though many theories have been advanced as to the cause of this state, the most widely believed is that the intoxicating mushroom Amanita muscaria was used.

Aim Of The Study: The following article underlines the issues with this theory and provides an alternate intoxicant that fits with the reports of berserker behaviour much better: Hyoscyamus niger. Read More