Search Results (137)

Edible mushrooms are widely consumed across the globe. However, the critical lack of reliable detection methods has led to severely limited data on the contamination profiles and dietary exposure risks of Alternaria toxins in edible mushrooms. This study utilized a hydrophilic–lipophilic balanced solid-phase microextraction fiber for the detection of Alternaria toxins in edible mushrooms. The employed VIM/DVB fiber exhibited superior performance with a wide linear range (1–200 μg/kg), low limits of detection (0.01–0.26 μg/kg) and satisfactory recoveries (80.6–111.6%). Applying this method to 63 edible mushrooms (6 species) from Guiyang (Guizhou, China) revealed varying degrees of contamination, with all samples containing at least one of four target toxins (alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, altenuene, tentoxin). Tentoxin (1.86 ± 2.6 μg/kg, 76.2% detection frequency) and alternariol (1.61 ± 1.24 μg/kg, 55.6% detection frequency) were the predominant toxins. Toxin distribution varied by mushroom species. Lentinula edodes was prone to tentoxin contamination, while Pleurotus eryngii was even more susceptible to alternariol-tentoxin co-occurrence. Dietary risk assessment indicated that alternariol posed the highest risks, with 51% samples exceeding the toxicological threshold (2.5 ng/kg bw/day). This study provides a reliable detection tool for Alternaria toxins in edible mushrooms and highlights the signal that continuous attention needs to be paid to Alternaria toxins in edible mushrooms. Full article

This study investigated the effects of curdlan (CUR) on the structural stability and thermal processing properties of Pleurotus eryngii mycelium–soy protein isolate–cassava starch gels used as bio-ink scaffolds for 4D-printed meat analogs. Bio-inks containing different CUR concentrations (0–5%, w/w) were prepared, and their rheological properties, 3D printability, microstructure, and water distribution were systematically evaluated. The fermented meat analogs were then subjected to steaming and baking to assess cooking loss, dimensional shrinkage, and textural properties. The results showed that CUR significantly increased the yield stress and structural recovery of the bio-inks while maintaining high height retention (>87%), thereby providing a favorable scaffold for mycelial growth and subsequent product formation. During thermal processing, CUR effectively mitigated structural collapse, which may be attributed to its heat-induced thermally irreversible gelation and the formation of an internal supporting network that resisted matrix contraction and dehydration. In particular, the addition of 5% CUR reduced cooking loss from 12.83% to 7.35% during steaming and from 42.52% to 38.59% during baking, while reducing shrinkage to 9.29% and 18.00%, respectively. In addition, hardness, springiness, and chewiness were significantly improved after cooking. Overall, CUR functioned not only as a rheological modifier for extrusion printing but also as a heat-activated internal supporting network during cooking, owing to its thermally irreversible gelation. Full article

Background: Mushrooms have gained attention for their potential to improve brain health. We evaluated extracts of king oyster mushroom, as well as two of its bioactive compounds—ergothioneine (ERG) and N-acetyltryptamine (NAT)—for their ability to prevent microglia activation by reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Methods: HAPI microglial cells were pretreated with king oyster extracts (crude powder, acetone, ethanol, and methanol extracts at 100 μg/mL) and pure bioactive molecules of ergothioneine (ERG, 500 μM) and N-acetyl-tryptamine (NAT,50 μM) before stimulation with LPS. The effects on nitrite; TNF-α; and expressions of the inflammatory proteins iNOS, NOX2, and NLRP3 were compared with those of a blueberry extract (BB, 500 μg/mL) as a positive control. Results: All extracts and bioactive molecules significantly reduced nitrite production, similar to the BB. Overall, the best results for reducing inflammation and inflammatory protein expression were obtained with the extracts rich in NAT (acetone and ethanol), as well as pure NAT. Furthermore, through their inhibitory target effect on NLRP3, these two extracts and the bioactive compounds (NAT and ERG), like BB, are attractive therapeutic molecules to reduce mood disorders related to brain aging, due to evidence of enhanced Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activity in common neurodegenerative diseases. Further interventional studies are needed to confirm mushrooms’ brain health properties. Full article

Sparassis latifolia is an edible and medicinal mushroom with significant economic value, now commercially cultivated on a large scale in China. However, current cultivars face challenges, including an extended mycelial growth period and unstable fruiting body yields. Advances in molecular breeding and functional genomics for this species are hindered by the absence of a reliable genetic transformation system. In this study, we first determined that S. latifolia is highly sensitive to carboxin and hygromycin, two selective agents commonly used in fungal genetics. We subsequently constructed a novel binary vector, pCbxHyg, harboring a carboxin resistance cassette driven by its native Pleurotus eryngii promoter and a hygromycin resistance cassette under the control of the P. eryngii Glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) gene promoter. Initial transformation attempts using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of liquid-cultured mycelial pellets were unsuccessful. During microscopic examination, we discovered that S. latifolia mycelia produce abundant asexual chlamydospores. Using these chlamydospores as recipient material, we efficiently and reproducibly obtained transformants with the pCbxHyg vector under both carboxin and hygromycin selection. This method highlights the advantage of using asexual spores of Basidiomycetes as recipients for genetic transformation. PCR analysis confirmed the stable integration of the exogenous resistance genes into the fungal genome. The functionality of the system was further validated by transforming chlamydospores with a vector carrying a β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene, whose expression was confirmed via histochemical staining of the resulting transformant mycelia. This work establishes the first successful Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation system for S. latifolia, providing a foundational platform for future gene function studies and molecular breeding efforts. Full article

This study used highland barley straw from the Tibetan Plateau to cultivate Pleurotus ostreatus, Pholiota nameko, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus eryngii, and Hericium erinaceus, addressing straw waste, forage shortages, and underutilized barley straw. The results showed that highland barley straw was suitable for cultivating P. ostreatus and P. nameko, with P. ostreatus yielding significantly more. After fruiting, spent mushroom substrates (SMS) from both species had higher crude protein, fat, and ash, with reduced fiber content compared to raw straw. P. ostreatus SMS showed greater protein accumulation and fiber degradation, offering better feed quality than P. nameko. Fungal communities were more concentrated under P. ostreatus, while P. nameko had higher diversity. Multivariate analyses showed that fungal community structure correlated with protein, fat, and feed quality, while bacterial communities were linked to fiber content. Functional predictions indicated that P. ostreatus enriched carbohydrate and energy metabolism pathways, while P. nameko was more associated with biosynthetic functions. Overall, cultivating mushrooms on barley straw improved SMS feed quality, with P. ostreatus showing greater potential for feed use. Full article

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease of the skeleton characterized by a low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue structure, leading to increased fragility and susceptibility to fractures. It is often referred to as the “silent killer of bones” because it progresses without symptoms until a bone fracture occurs. Osteoporosis is a serious health problem, especially in aging societies, leading to fractures, limited mobility, and a decreased quality of life. Osteoporosis prevention through dietary modification should be the first step in protecting bone health before implementing any form of pharmacotherapy. The composition of the diet and nutritional patterns are considered the most important factors influencing the shaping of gut microbiota and its metabolites, which in turn affect the regulation of bone tissue metabolism. Mushrooms, as a source of vitamin D, can play a significant role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Additionally, the application of UV irradiation can rapidly increase the vitamin D₂ content in mushrooms. A review of currently available studies reveals that many mushroom species contain substances (Ca, P, Se) that support bone formation by promoting remineralization. Mushrooms also induce bone regeneration after osteoporosis by balancing their reconstruction. This review systematically integrates the latest research on the use of mushrooms in the prevention of osteoporosis. The most promising species in the prevention of osteoporosis include: Lentinula edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Pleurotus eryngii, Antrodia camphorata, Auricularia auricula, Agaricus bisporus, and Grifola frondosa. Full article

Sustainable agriculture is increasingly reliant on reducing anthropogenic inputs and recycling organic waste while protecting ecosystems. In this context, this study investigated the agro-environmental properties of biosulfate, focusing on its interaction with herbicides and its effects on soil fungi and horticultural plants. Two biosulfate samples obtained from urban sewage sludge from the Barletta (BIO-BA) and Foggia (BIO-FO) treatment plants were characterized by Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption/desorption of the herbicides metribuzin (MET), S-metolachlor (S-ME) and cycloxydim (CYC) on biosulfates was evaluated by studying adsorption kinetics and isotherms. All herbicides reached adsorption equilibrium within a few hours, according to pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating a predominant chemical interaction between biosulfate and the molecules. Considering the organic C content of BIO-BA (~21%) and BIO-FO (~17%), which was less than half that commonly measured for other organic fertilizers, such as compost and digestate, their adsorption capacity was high, with Freundlich adsorption constants ranging from 772 µg g⁻¹ (S-ME on BIO-BA) to 1464 µg g⁻¹ (CYC on BIO-FO). A low hysteresis coefficient indicated a rather slow and incomplete release of the molecules from the biosulfate. Exposure of the fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii to 1, 2, 3, and 4% BIO-BA and BIO-FO stimulated mycelium growth, indicating that responses depended on fungal species and biosulfate dose. Finally, germination and early growth of lettuce and basil were generally unaffected by either biosulfate, as parameters such as germination percentage, root and shoot length, and fresh and dry biomass were not statistically different from the control. Some growth stimulation was observed in basil. Overall, biosulfate appears to be a promising soil fertilizer, as it can contribute to soil organic matter, retain xenobiotics, and exert biostimulatory effects under controlled conditions. Full article

High-throughput phenotypic acquisition and analysis allow us to accurately quantify trait expressions, which is essential for developing intelligent breeding strategies. However, there is still much potential to explore in the field of high-throughput phenotyping for edible fungi. In this study, we developed a portable multi-phenotypic acquisition system for Pleurotus eryngii using RGB and RGB-D cameras. We developed an innovative Unet-based semantic segmentation model by integrating the ASPP structure with the VGG16 architecture. This allows for precise segmentation of the cap, gills and stem of the fruiting body. By leveraging depth images from RGB-D cameras, we can effectively collect phenotypic information about Pleurotus eryngii. By combining K-means clustering with Lab color space thresholds, we are able to achieve more precise automatic classification of Pleurotus eryngii cap colors. Moreover, AlexNet is utilized to classify the shapes of the fruiting bodies. The Aspp-VGGUnet network demonstrates remarkable performance with a mean Intersection over Union (mIoU) of 96.47% and a mean pixel accuracy (mPA) of 98.53%. These results reflect respective improvements of 3.03% and 2.23% compared to the standard Unet model, respectively. The average error in size phenotype measurement is just 0.15 ± 0.03 cm. The accuracy for cap color classification reaches 91.04%, while fruiting body shape classification achieves 97.90%. The proposed multi-phenotype acquisition system reduces the measurement time per sample from an average of 76 s (manual method) to about 2 s, substantially increasing data acquisition throughput and providing robust support for scalable phenotyping workflows in breeding research. Full article

The objective of the present study was to ascertain the potential of cellulolytic enzymes produced by selected species of basidiomycetes: Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii, and Lentinula edodes. In the experimental phase, a selection of basidiomycetes were cultivated on waste substrates containing coffee grounds and wood. During the culture, weekly samples of the substrate were taken, from which enzymes were extracted using citrate buffer (BCA) and purified to obtain cellulolytic preparations. The activity of the obtained preparations was then compared with that of commercial cellulase in a hydrolysis reaction of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Statistical analysis demonstrated that the preparations obtained from L. edodes (1.785 mg/mg) and P. ostreatus (0.500 mg/mg) cultures exhibited higher activity compared to commercial cellulase (0.041 mg/mg), while preparations from P. eryngii (0.045 mg/mg) demonstrated comparable activity. The findings of this study demonstrate the viability of utilising a waste substrate comprising coffee grounds and wood for the cultivation of basidiomycetes and the production of enzymes. Full article

This study established an optimized process for obtaining anti-aging peptides from Pleurotus eryngii mushroom feet (PEMFPeps). Using response surface methodology, high yields of protein (51.31 ± 3.00%) and peptides (48.71 ± 0.17% hydrolysis degree) were achieved. In a D-galactose-induced PC12 cell aging model, the simulated digests (SID-PEMFPeps) exhibited potent anti-aging effects at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. An integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic approach was employed to systematically investigate the underlying mechanisms. The results revealed that Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed that SID-PEMFPeps alleviated cellular senescence through multi-dimensional regulation of transcriptional and metabolic networks. This included modulating key pathways related to oxidative stress, synaptic function, and energy metabolism (e.g., glutamatergic synapse, pentose phosphate pathway, and TCA cycle), and reversing the aberrant expression of aging-associated genes (e.g., Arap3, Grin2d and Npy1r). Our findings demonstrate that SID-PEMFPeps are promising candidates for functional foods targeting age-related dysfunction though their efficacy and safety in vivo require further validation. Full article

The sustainable management of winery residues could represent a cornerstone for promoting environmental and economic sustainability from a circular economy perspective. In this context, our study aimed to evaluate Vitis vinifera L. ‘Nero di Troia’ cultivar grape pomace as a valuable waste product for the cultivation of Pleurotus mushroom, in comparison with traditional wheat straw-based cultivation. Mushroom extracts were prepared through the eco-friendly microwave-assisted extraction technique, using green solvents with different polarity degrees. Total protein content, total polyphenol content, and antioxidant activity (FRAP and DPPH assays) were assessed for the water and EtOH hydrophilic extracts. Grape pomace often gave higher values than wheat straw, especially for the P. eryngii var. eryngii water extract protein content, which was 3.5-fold higher (0.68 ± 0.14 mg BSA/mL and 0.192 ± 0.025 mg BSA/mL, respectively). The ethyl acetate extracts of both mushroom species gave biologically relevant results in terms of inhibiting activity against acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (50% inhibitory activity at concentrations ≤ 1.5 mg/mL), thus paving the way for more in-depth investigation. The extract’s metabolic profile was investigated through GC-MS analysis. The results show that incorporating grape pomace into mushroom production represents a concrete step toward more sustainable biotechnological processes. Full article

Soil salinity severely limits tomato growth by impairing photosynthesis and redox balance. Carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as promising nanomaterials to promote growth and enhance stress tolerance. In this study, we synthesized and characterized CDs derived from Pleurotus eryngii stipe bases (PbCDs), with rich hydrophilic groups including carboxyl groups and secondary amines. The particles were uniform, with an average diameter of 4.17 nm, and exhibited blue fluorescence. Importantly, PbCDs significantly promoted tomato growth under control and salt conditions. Under salt conditions, PbCD-treated plants showed enhanced shoot and root growth, larger leaf area, and growth comparable to control plants without stress. Interestingly, PbCD treatment of the plants enhanced cell expansion under control conditions and promoted cell division under salt conditions. In addition, PbCD-treated plants had higher chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, and maximum quantum efficiency of PSII, which alleviated the inhibition caused by salinity. Furthermore, PbCDs also reduced oxidative damage by lowering O₂^•−, and H₂O₂ levels, while activating antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase) under salt stress. Overall, PbCDs promoted tomato growth and conferred salt tolerance through coordinated regulation of the cell cycle, photosynthesis, and antioxidant defenses, supporting their potential as sustainable nanomaterials for crop improvement in saline soils. Full article

Background/Objectives: Over the past twenty years, there has been a rapid increase in studies aimed at comprehending how cells communicate with each other via Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), accompanied by a heightened interest in plant-derived extracellular vesicles due to their potential relevance in dietary supplementation and therapeutic applications. However, there is a limited amount of research on extracellular vesicles derived from mushrooms (MDEVs). Among edible mushrooms, Pleurotus eryngii is peculiar due to its flavor and interesting nutritional profiling. It also produces a wide array of secondary metabolites including biologically active compounds with many health-promoting benefits such as anticancer, antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and anti-hypercholesteremic activities. The aim of this work has been to isolate EVs from the fruiting body and mycelium of P. eryngii in order to investigate their potential applications as nutraceuticals. Methods: MDEVs were isolated by differential and density gradient centrifugation, characterized by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and immunoblotting, and subjected to metabolomic and phenolic profiling. Their antioxidant potential was assessed through in vitro radical scavenging (DPPH, ABTS) and metal-reducing (CUPRAC, FRAP) assays. Results: The findings suggest that mycelium-derived EVs may represent a valuable source of high-quality MDEVs, which exhibited promising antioxidant properties in all assays conducted, particularly in radical scavenging assays. Conclusions: These results highlight the potential of P. eryngii mycelium-derived EVs as a novel natural source of bioactive compounds, paving the way for future applications in nutraceutical and therapeutic fields. Full article

Pleurotus eryngii is an edible mushroom with previously characterized β-glucans. Its potential to ameliorate postprandial glycemia and regulate appetite at the postprandial state has been previously shown. However, its effect on protein digestion remains unexplored. We aimed to investigate the effect of baked P. eryngii with a known β-glucan content (4.5 g) on plasma free amino acids of patients with central obesity and metabolic abnormalities at a postprandial state. In this acute, randomized controlled cross-over study, thirteen healthy male volunteers consumed one meal that was prepared with P. eryngii and one control meal; each meal was separated by one month. Blood was collected, and plasma was isolated at different timepoints before and after the consumption. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to quantify 24 free amino acids in the plasma samples. The area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) was computed, and the AUCi for aromatic amino acids was found to be higher after the consumption of the control meal compared to the P. eryngii meal (p = 0.027 for phenylalanine, p = 0.008 for tyrosine, and p = 0.003 for tryptophan). The above novel findings suggest that the β-glucans present in P. eryngii mushrooms are potential modulators of AA release into the bloodstream. Full article

Olive Mill Solid Waste (OMSW) presents an environmental challenge due to its toxicity and difficulties in its recycling. Prior studies suggest its potential as a substrate ingredient for cultivating edible mushrooms. Here, we investigate how varying OMSW concentrations in the substrate affect the synthesis pathways of α-glucan and β-glucan polysaccharides, alongside transcriptional and metabolic changes in Pleurotus eryngii. We also assessed the mushroom’s protein and nitrogen content. Our results highlight the critical role of substrate composition, demonstrating that the OMSW concentration significantly influences mushroom growth, yield, protein content, gene expression, and metabolite profiles. These findings establish OMSW not only as a viable recycling resource but also as a modulator of health-promoting compound synthesis in P. eryngii. Full article