The fermentation characteristics of Sparassis crispa polysaccharides and their effects on the intestinal microbes in mice

Background Sparassis crispa polysaccharides (SCPs) have multiple pharmacological activities. Fermentation characteristics of SCPs and its effects on the intestinal microbes in mice remain inconclusive. Results In this study, SCPs were fermented by the human feces and used to administer the Kunming mice to explore the fermentation characteristics of SCPs in the intestinal tract and the effects on the intestinal microbes in mice. Results from in vitro experiments revealed that SCPs were utilized by intestinal microbiota to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The specific monosaccharide composition of SCPs determines which SCFAs are produced. Furthermore, the colon index and villi length of the SCPs-treated mice were significantly higher compared with the control group. In addition, SCPs exhibited beneficial effect on the relative abundance and diversity of dominant bacteria in the intestinal tract, such as increasing Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and up-regulating SCFA-producing bacteria, including Bacteroidales_S24-7_group, Alloprevotella, Alistipes, Bacteroides, Butyricimonas, Parabacteroides, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Oscillibacter. SCPs increased the abundance of genes in carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism. Conclusion Our results indicate SCPs can improve the physiological indices of the colon in mice, which is likely to be associated with the increase in the relative abundance and diversity of SCFA-producing bacteria and SCFAs level produced by intestinal microbiota. Graphic abstract

Metabolomic Changes in Wood Inhabiting Filamentous Fungi during Ontogenesis

GC–MS-based metabolomic profiling of different strains of basidiomycetes Lignomyces vetlinianus, Daedaleopsis tricolor and Sparassis crispa were studied. On different stages of growth in the methanol extracts of mycelium the different compounds including amino acids, organic acid of TCA cycle, sugars, fatty acids, sugar alcohols, and sugar acids were detected. Changes in the metabolite network occurring with age of the mycelium of L. vetlinianus and D. tricolor are discussed. The exponential phase of mycelium growth is characterized by pronounced differences during of growth, which manifests itself both in the analysis of specific compounds and in the modeling of the statistical model of the metabolic network. The metabolomic network in the stationary growth phase is less susceptible to changes over time, and is also characterized by a lower dispersion of samples from one aging group. For some compounds, including biotechnologically significant ones, targeted analysis by GC–MS was performed. 4, 6-dimethoxy-phthalide (4, 6-dimetoxy-1 (3H) -isobenzofuranone) was isolated from the mycelium of Lignomyces vetlinianus, accumulating in the mycelium in the form of large aggregates. The accumulation of sparassol and other orsellinic acid derivatives in Sparassis crispa culture under various conditions is described.

Current distribution data for the red-listed species of aphyllophoroid fungi in Ukraine

The article provides current information on distribution patterns of six species of aphyllophoroid fungi (Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota) listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine: Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Gomphus clavatus, Hericium coralloides, Picipes rhizophilus, Polyporus umbellatus, and Sparassis crispa. Altogether, about 500 occurrences of the fungal fruitbodies in the country are reported. Of them, over 410 recent observations have been added to those published in the Red Data Book of Ukraine in 2009. Majority of that data has been provided over the last few years via mushroom citizen science, i.e. involvement of volunteers in collecting distribution data for macrofungi with large and distinctive fruitbodies. Only specialist-verified observations were included in the datasets reported in the article. The compiled data will serve as a considerably improved basis for future re-assessments of the conservation status of these threatened species for the next edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Promising Potential of Crude Polysaccharides from Sparassis crispa against Colon Cancer: An In Vitro Study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro the beneficial potential of crude polysaccharides from S. crispa (CPS) in one of the most common cancer types—colon cancer. The determination of the chemical composition of CPS has revealed that it contains mostly carbohydrates, while proteins or phenolics are present only in trace amounts. 1H NMR and GC–MS methods were used for the structural analysis of CPS. Biological activity including anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CPS was investigated. CPS was found to be non-toxic to normal human colon epithelial CCD841 CoN cells. Simultaneously, they destroyed membrane integrity as well as inhibited the proliferation of human colon cancer cell lines: Caco-2, LS180 and HT-29. Antioxidant activity was determined by various methods and revealed the moderate potential of CPS. The enzymatic assays revealed no influence of CPS on xanthine oxidase and the inhibition of catalase activity. Moreover, pro-inflammatory enzymes such as cyclooxygenase-2 or lipooxygenase were inhibited by CPS. Therefore, it may be suggested that S. crispa is a valuable part of the regular human diet, which may contribute to a reduction in the risk of colon cancer, and possess promising activities encouraging further studies regarding its potential use as chemopreventive and therapeutic agent in more invasive stages of this type of cancer.

About rare species of mushrooms in the Altai Territory

The article presents a data on new locations of rare mushrooms in the Altai Territory: Calvatia gigantea,Dictyophora duplicata, Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium coralloides, Mutinus caninus, Mutinus ravenelii, Phallus impudicus, Polyporus umbellatus, Sparassis crispa.