Search Results (26)

The aim of this study was to develop a novel functional ingredient—goat’s skim milk enriched with Agrocybe aegerita (V. Brig.) Vizzini mushroom extract (ME/M)—using Central Composite Design (CCD). The optimized ME/M ingredient was evaluated for its physico-chemical, techno-functional, biological, and antimicrobial properties. Physico-chemical properties were analyzed using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The ingredient exhibited a polymodal particle size distribution and contained glucans, along with a newly formed polypeptide resulting from the selective cleavage of goat milk proteins. A 0.1% ME/M solution demonstrated good emulsifying and foaming properties. Additionally, ME/M showed strong antiproliferative effects on human cancer cell lines, particularly Caco-2 (colorectal) and MCF7 (breast) cancer cells. The ingredient also promoted HaCaT cell growth without cytotoxic effects, suggesting its safety and potential wound-healing properties. Furthermore, the addition of ME/M to HaCaT cells inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus resulted in reduced IL-6 levels compared to the control (without ME/M), indicating a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect. The optimized ME/M ingredient also exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, anticandidal, and antibiofilm activity in one-fourth of MIC. These findings suggest that the formulated ME/M ingredient has strong potential for use in the development of functional foods offering both desirable techno-functional properties and bioactive benefits. Full article

The extraction process of crude polysaccharides from Agrocybe aegerita was optimized, and the antioxidant and anti-aging effects of the crude polysaccharides were evaluated. The optimal extraction parameters for the polysaccharide were identified using the response surface methodology. The DPPH, hydroxy radical, and superoxide anion radical scavenging capacities were evaluated to determine the antioxidant properties of the AAPs. The effects of the AAPs on the lifespan, head-swing frequency, swallowing frequency, body-bending frequency, and stress resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans were determined. The optimal extraction conditions included a solid-to-liquid ratio that resulted in an extraction solution concentration of 0.034 g/mL, an extraction temperature of 92.64 °C, and an extraction time of 2.82 h. Under these conditions, the yield of the AAPs was 11.325% ± 0.996%. The IC50 of the AAPs for superoxide anion radical scavenging was 4.693 mg/mL. The AAPs reached their maximum activity at concentrations of about 2 mg/mL for DPPH and 5 mg/mL for the hydroxyl radical. The AAPs could prolong the lifespan and improve locomotion and the stress resistance of C. elegans. Our findings illustrate the potential of AAPs as an anti-aging and antioxidant agent, highlighting the use of this natural compound in the fields of food and pharmacology. Full article

Herein we describe the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing potential of aqueous and polysaccharide extracts from three widely appreciated mushrooms: Agrocybe aegerita, Laetiporus sulphureus and Agaricus bisporus. Moreover, we present their detailed phenolic, polysaccharide and protein profiles and ATR-FTIR spectra. The study found that polysaccharide extracts (PEs) from mushrooms had higher total and β-glucan levels than aqueous extracts (AEs), with A. aegerita showing the highest content. L. sulphureus had a higher total protein content, and A. aegerita AE had the highest phenolic content. Our results indicate that all the tested extracts have high potential regarding their bioactive properties, with A. aegerita being the most promising one. Namely, the antibacterial activity assay showed that the development of the skin-infection-causing agent, Staphylococcus aureus, was inhibited with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 4.00 mg/mL and minimal bactericidal concentration of 8.00 mg/mL, while the results regarding wound healing showed that, over the course of 24 h, the A. aegerita extract actively promoted wound closure in the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line model. The anti-inflammatory activity results clearly showed that when we used S. aureus as an inflammation-inducing agent and the A. aegerita aqueous extract in treatment, IL-6 levels reduced to the level of 4.56 pg/mL. The obtained data suggest that the tested mushroom extracts may serve as a source of bioactive compounds, with potential applications in the cosmeceutical, pharmaceutical and food industries. Furthermore, potential skin preparations carefully crafted with mushroom extract may help restore the skin’s barrier function, decrease the probability of staph infections and minimize skin irritation. Full article

Residual pesticides in Agrocybe aegerita mushroom have emerged as a significant concern and bring much uncertainty due to processing procedures. In this study, a modified QuEChERS sample preparation procedure and UPLC-MS/MS were used to analyze the residual levels of four commonly used pesticides in A. aegerita from field to product processing. The field results showed that dissipation of these targeted chemicals was consistent with the first-order kinetics, and the half-life time ranged from 20.4 h to 47.6 h. The terminal residues of the four pesticides at harvest time ranged from 9.81 to 4412.56 μg/kg in raw mushroom. The processing factors (PFs) of clothianidin, diflubenzuron, chlorbenzuron, and pyridaben ranged from 0.119 to 0.808 for the drying process and from 0.191 to 1 for the washing process. By integrating the data from the field trials, the PFs, and the consumption survey, the chronic dietary risks of the target chemicals via A. aegerita intake ranged from 2.41 × 10⁻⁵ to 5.69 × 10⁻² for children and from 6.34 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.88 × 10⁻² for adults, which are considerably below the threshold of 1, indicating no unacceptable risk to consumers in the Fujian province of China. This research offers foundational data for appropriate use and the maximum residue limit (MRL) establishment for these four insecticides in A. aegerita. Full article

This investigation aimed to ascertain the efficacy of korshinsk peashrub as a viable substitute for cottonseed hull in the cultivation substrate of Agrocybe aegerita. The study incorporated korshinsk peashrub into the growth medium at incremental concentrations of 20%, 40%, and 60%, and subjected these blends to both fermentation and non-fermentation processes. Through rigorous assessment of yield of fruiting bodies, biological efficiency, nutrient profile, amino acid composition, and the integration of ecological and socio-economic advantages, an optimal substrate formulation was discerned. The findings revealed that the fermentation substrate FT2, with 40% korshinsk peashrub supplanting cottonseed hull, emerged as the superior blend following a comprehensive analysis. This formula notably yielded the highest crude protein and polysaccharide contents at 26.60% and 4.46%, respectively—an increase of 4.51% and 12.34% over the control. Consequently, these results suggest that korshinsk peashrub is a promising, cost-effective, and efficacious additive, capable of enhancing the yield and quality of A. aegerita and potentially replacing cottonseed hull extensively. Full article

The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of the combing of Agrocybe aegerita polysaccharides (AAPS) with Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 (Bb-12) on antioxidant activity, anti-aging properties, and modulation of gut microbiota. The results demonstrated that the AAPS and Bb-12 complex significantly increased the average lifespan of male and female Drosophila melanogaster under natural aging conditions (p < 0.05), with an improvement of 8.42% and 9.79%, respectively. Additionally, the complex enhanced their climbing ability and increased antioxidant enzyme activity, protecting them from oxidative damage induced by H₂O₂. In D-galactose induced aging mice, the addition of AAPS and Bb-12 resulted in significantly increase in antioxidant enzyme activity, regulation of aging-related biomarker levels, changed gut microbiota diversity, restoration of microbial structure, and increased abundance of beneficial bacteria, particularly lactobacilli, in the intestines. These findings suggested that the complex of AAPS and Bb-12 had the potential to serve as a dietary supplement against organism aging and oxidative stress. Full article

In the present study, ethanol extract obtained from the mycelial culture of Agrocybe aegerita was evaluated for its antioxidant activity as well for its potential to inhibit the virulence factor responsible for quorum-sensing activity and antibiofilm activity of pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain. The extract of mushroom at different concentrations showed percentage inhibition in a dose-dependent manner for DPPH and nitric oxide assays with the lowest as 38.56 ± 0.11% and 38.87 ± 0.04% at 50 µg/mL and the highest as 85.63 ± 0.12% and 82.34 ± 0.12% at 200 µg/mL. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of functional group -OH, O-H bending bonds, C=C stretching, pyranose ring, and H-C-H stretch, confirming the presence of phenol, carotenoid, and ascorbic acid. HPLC analysis revealed that the concentration of gallic acid present in the extract is 27.94 mg/100 g which is significantly (p < 0.05) more than the concentration of rutin (i.e., 7.35 mg/100 g). GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 5-methyl-1-heptanol, 2-heptadecenal, phthalic acid, butyl hept-4-yl ester, 2-dodecanol, benzoic acid, TMS derivative. The extract showed significantly (p < 0.05) more inhibition of pyocyanin (61.32%) and pyoverdine (54.02%). At higher concentrations of mushroom extract, there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction (56.32%) in the swarming motility of the test organism. The extract showed 72.35% inhibition in biofilm formation. Therefore, it has been concluded from the present study that mushroom extract, which is rich in phenolic compounds interferes with the virulence factor responsible for quorum sensing, thereby inhibiting biofilm formation, and can be utilized as therapeutic agents against multi-drug resistant pathogenic microorganisms. Full article

Mushrooms are capable of bioconverting organic residues into food. Understanding the relationship between high-quality yields and substrate biomass from these residues is critical for mushroom farms when choosing new strains. The objective of this exploratory study was, therefore, to analyze whether exotic mushrooms, namely, Pleurotus eryngii, Flammulina velutipes, and Agrocybe aegerita, could biologically convert the substrate into edible mushrooms as effectively as Lentinula edodes (baseline). Five experiments were carried out. Biological efficiency, biodegradability coefficient, mass balance and chemical characterization of the substrate were evaluated. Strategically hydrating the sawdust enabled L. edodes to achieve the greatest biodegradability and biological efficiency of 0.5 and 94.2 kg dt⁻¹, respectively. The values for L. edodes on wheat straw without hydration were 0.2 and 68.8 kg dt⁻¹, respectively. From 1000 kg of fresh substrate, P. eryngii produced 150.1 kg of edible mushrooms, making it technically competitive with L. edodes on wheat straw (195.9 kg). Hence, P. eryngii was the most reliable option for scaling among the exotic mushrooms. The analytical insights from our study provide further knowledge to advance the field’s prominence in high-throughput mushroom-producing systems, particularly for exotic mushrooms. Full article

Aromatic aldehydes are important aromatic compounds for the flavour and fragrance industry. In this study, a parallel cascade combining aryl alcohol oxidase from Pleurotus eryngii (PeAAOx) and unspecific peroxygenase from the basidiomycete Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) to convert aromatic primary alcohols into high-value aromatic aldehydes is proposed. Key influencing factors in the process of enzyme cascade catalysis, such as enzyme dosage, pH and temperature, were investigated. The universality of PeAAOx coupled with AaeUPO cascade catalysis for the synthesis of aromatic aldehyde flavour compounds from aromatic primary alcohols was evaluated. In a partially optimised system (comprising 30 μM PeAAOx, 2 μM AaeUPO at pH 7 and 40 °C) up to 84% conversion of 50 mM veratryl alcohol into veratryl aldehyde was achieved in a self-sufficient aerobic reaction. Promising turnover numbers of 2800 and 21,000 for PeAAOx and AaeUPO, respectively, point towards practical applicability. Full article

Tannins are well-known to protect plants from bacteria and fungi, but nothing is known about its effects on microorganisms once they are copolymerized. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a tannin–furanic polymer in comparison with industrial mimosa tannin extract on the in vitro growth of two strains of bacteria, Bacillaceae and Pseudomanadaceae, and two white-rot fungi, Trametes versicolor and Agrocybe aegerita. Results have highlighted that the tannin polymer did not inhibit the growth of tested bacteria and even favored the growth of Bacillaceae without extra glucose. The growth of both fungi was enhanced by mimosa tannin and its polymer at low concentrations (<1%), while concentrations above 10% had a growth-inhibiting effect, which was slightly less strong for the polymer compared to the tannin against Trametes versicolor. These findings highlighted that tannin–furanic polymers can be tolerated by certain microorganisms at low concentration and that their inhibitory effect is similar or slightly lower than that of the pristine tannin extract. Full article

The Black Poplar Mushroom Cyclocybe aegerita (syn. Agrocybe aegerita) is a white-rot fungus that naturally fruits from woody substrates, including buried wood. It is known for its substrate versatility and is equipped with a respective carbohydrate-active enzyme repertoire being intermediate between typical white-rot fungi and plant litter decomposers. Given relative nitrogen scarcity in wood, mobilization of nitrogen from surrounding litter is known as a way to meet nitrogen requirements for cellular homeostasis and reproduction of wood decay fungi. However, the effect of added nitrogen on vegetative and reproductive biomass has not yet been studied in a uniform minimalistic laboratory setup. For C. aegerita, such a growth and fruiting setup has been developed. In the present study, this white-rot fungus has been grown with and without additional β-adenosine, an organic nitrogen source present in plant litter. Elevated β-adenosine levels increased aerial mycelium weight by 30% (1 × β-adenosine) and 55% (10 × β-adenosine), reproductive biomass by 75% (1 × β-adenosine) and by 100% (10 × β-adenosine), number of primordia by 127% (10 × β-adenosine) and accelerated primordium formation by 1.6 days (10 × β-adenosine), compared to the control treatment. These findings imply that C. aegerita invests additional organic nitrogen resources into direct vegetative and reproductive biomass build-up at the same time. Colonization of niches with accessory nitrogen sources, like buried wood, which is near the plant litter layer, may thus provide an evolutionary fitness advantage. Globally anthropogenically altered nitrogen dynamics may affect hyphal-driven processes as well as fruit body-driven food webs. Full article

Polysaccharides extracted from Agrocybe aegerita (AAPS) have various physiological effects. In this study, we used the naturally aging Drosophila melanogaster and D-galactose-induced aging mice as animal models to study the anti-aging effects of AAPS via the alleviation of oxidative stress and regulation of gut microbiota. Results showed that AAPS could significantly prolong lifespan and alleviate oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ of Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, AAPS significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in Drosophila melanogaster and mice, and reduced the content of MDA. Furthermore, AAPS reshaped the disordered intestinal flora, increased the abundance ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus. Our results demonstrated that AAPS had good antioxidant and potential anti-aging effects in vivo. Full article

Cardiovascular diseases represent the main cause of death. A common feature of cardiovascular disease is thrombosis resulting from intravascular accumulation of fibrin. In the last years, several fibrinolytic enzymes have been discovered in many medicinal or edible mushrooms as potential new antithrombotic agents. This study aimed to compare the fibrin(ogen)olytic activity of crude extracts from the fruiting bodies of four cultivated edible mushrooms: Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii, and Agrocybe aegerita. Fibrin(ogen)olytic activity was assessed by fibrin plate, spectrophotometric assay and electrophoretic analysis (SDS-PAGE and zymography). The highest activity was detected for P. ostreatus followed by P. eryngii, L. edodes and A. aegerita. Results indicated that enzymes exhibited maximum activity at pH 6–7 and 30–40 °C, respectively. Enzyme activity was inhibited by serine and metalloprotease inhibitors. We proposed a new index called the Specific Fibrin(ogen)olytic Index (SFI), which allows specification of the proportion of the total proteolytic capacity due to the fibrin(ogen)olytic activity. These data suggest that the extracts from fruiting bodies or powdered mushrooms can be used as functional ingredients for the development of new functional foods that may act as thrombolytic agents responding, at the same time, to the increasing demand for safe, healthy and sustainable food. Full article

Calcitriol is an active analog of vitamin D3 and has excellent physiological activities in regulating healthy immune function. To synthesize the calcitriol compound, the concept of total synthesis is often adopted, which typically involves multiple steps and results in an overall low yield. Herein, we envisioned an enzymatic approach for the synthesis of calcitriol. Peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) was used as a catalyst to hydroxylate the C-H bond at the C-25 position of alfacalcidol and yielded the calcitriol in a single step. The enzymatic reaction yielded 80.3% product formation in excellent selectivity, with a turnover number up to 4000. In a semi-preparative scale synthesis, 72% isolated yield was obtained. It was also found that AaeUPO is capable of hydroxylating the C-H bond at the C-1 position of vitamin D3, thereby enabling the calcitriol synthesis directly from vitamin D3. Full article

Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) are extracellular fungal enzymes of biotechnological interest as self-sufficient (and more stable) counterparts of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, the latter being present in most living cells. Expression hosts and structural information are crucial for exploiting UPO diversity (over eight thousand UPO-type genes were identified in sequenced genomes) in target reactions of industrial interest. However, while many thousands of entries in the Protein Data Bank include molecular coordinates of P450 enzymes, only 19 entries correspond to UPO enzymes, and UPO structures from only two species (Agrocybe aegerita and Hypoxylon sp.) have been published to date. In the present study, two UPOs from the basidiomycete Marasmius rotula (rMroUPO) and the ascomycete Collariella virescens (rCviUPO) were crystallized after sequence optimization and Escherichia coli expression as active soluble enzymes. Crystals of rMroUPO and rCviUPO were obtained at sufficiently high resolution (1.45 and 1.95 Å, respectively) and the corresponding structures were solved by molecular replacement. The crystal structures of the two enzymes (and two mutated variants) showed dimeric proteins. Complementary biophysical and molecular biology studies unveiled the diverse structural bases of the dimeric nature of the two enzymes. Intermolecular disulfide bridge and parallel association between two α-helices, among other interactions, were identified at the dimer interfaces. Interestingly, one of the rCviUPO variants incorporated the ability to produce fatty acid diepoxides—reactive compounds with valuable cross-linking capabilities—due to removal of the enzyme C-terminal tail located near the entrance of the heme access channel. In conclusion, different dimeric arrangements could be described in (short) UPO crystal structures. Full article