The common split-gilled mushroom, Schizophyllum commune is found throughout the world on woody plants. This study was initiated to evaluate conditions for favorable vegetative growth and to determine molecular phylogenetic relationship in twelve different strains of S. commune. A suitable temperature for mycelial growth was obtained at 30degrees C. This mushroom grew well in acidic conditions and pH 5 was the most favorable. Hamada, glucose peptone, Hennerberg, potato dextrose agar and yeast malt extract were favorable media for growing mycelia, while Lilly and glucose tryptone were unfavorable. Dextrin was the best and lactose was the less effective carbon source. The most suitable nitrogen sources were calcium nitrate, glycine, and potassium nitrate, whereas ammonium phosphate and histidine were the least effective for the mycelial growth of S. commune. The genetic diversity of each strain was investigated in order to identify them. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA were amplified using PCR. The size of the ITS1 and ITS2 regions of rDNA from the different strains varied from 129 to 143 bp and 241 to 243 bp, respectively. The sequence of ITS1 was more variable than that of ITS2, while the 5.8S sequences were identical. A phylogenetic tree of the ITS region sequences indicated that the selected strains were classified into three clusters. The reciprocal homologies of the ITS region sequences ranged from 99 to 100%. The strains were also analyzed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with 20 arbitrary primers. Twelve primers efficiently amplified the genomic DNA. The number of amplified bands varied depending on the primers used or the strains tested. The average number of polymorphic bands observed per primer was 4.5. The size of polymorphic fragments was obtained in the range of 0.2 to 2.3 kb. These results indicate that the RAPD technique is well suited for detecting the genetic diversity in the S. commune strains tested.
Agar ; Agaricales ; Calcium ; Calcium Compounds ; Carbon ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Genetic Variation ; Glucose ; Glycine ; Histidine ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactose ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen ; Peptones ; Phosphates ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Potassium ; Potassium Compounds ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Schizophyllum ; Solanum tuberosum ; Sprains and Strains ; Yeasts

Elfvingia applanata, a medicinal mushroom belonging to Basidiomycota, has been used in the effort to cure cancers of the esophagus and stomach, and is also known to have inhibitory effects on hepatitis B virus infection. The hot water soluble fraction (as Fr. HW) was extracted from fruiting bodies of the mushroom. In vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that hot water extract was not cytotoxic against cancer cell lines such as Sarcoma 180, HT-29, HepG2, and TR at concentrations of 10~2,000 microg/mL. Intraperitoneal injection with Fr. HW resulted in a life prolongation effect of 45.2% in mice previously inoculated with Sarcoma 180. Treatment of Fr. HW resulted in a 2.53-fold increase in the numbers of murine spleen cells at a concentration of 50 microg/mL, compared with control. Incubation of murine spleen cells with Fr. HW at a concentration of 500 microg/mL resulted in improved immune-potwntiating activity of B lymphocytes through an 8.3-folds increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, compared with control. Fr. HW generated 12.5 microM of nitric oxide (NO) when cultured with RAW 264.7, a mouse macrophage cell line, at the concentration of 50 microg/mL, while lipopolysaccharide, a positive control, produced 15.2 microM of NO. Therefore, the results suggested that antitumor activities of Fr. HW from E. applanata might, in part, be due to host mediated immunostimulating activity.
Agaricales ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Basidiomycota ; Cell Line ; Esophagus ; Fruit ; Hepatitis B virus ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Life Support Care ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nitric Oxide ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma 180 ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Water

Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst (Polyporaceae), belonging to basidiomycota, is one of the most famous medicinal mushrooms. This study was carried out to investigate favorable mycelial growth conditions, such as pH, temperature, growth media, carbon sources and nitrogen sources of Korean strains in G. lucidum. The most suitable temperature for the mycelial growth was obtained at 30degrees C. In general, optimal temperature range for the mycelial growth was found at 25~30degrees C. This Mushroom has a broad pH range (5~9) for its mycelial growth and mostly favorable growth was found at pH 5. Generally, Hamada, Glucose peptone, YM, Mushroom complete and Lilly media were the most suitable for the mycelial growth of G. lucidum. Among 10 different carbon sources, dextrin, galactose and fructose were best but the rest of other carbon sources also facilitated the growth of mycelia. The most suitable nitrogen sources were ammonium acetate, glycine, arginine and calcium nitrate, but to a certain extent, all of the supplemented nitrogen sources also stimulated the mycelial growth.
Acetates ; Agaricales ; Arginine ; Basidiomycota ; Calcium ; Calcium Compounds ; Carbon ; Fructose ; Galactose ; Ganoderma ; Glucose ; Glycine ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen ; Peptones ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Reishi

BACKGROUND: Growth factors play important roles in wound healing. However, the evidence for the effects of growth factors on post-thyroidectomy scars is limited. OBJECTIVE: We performed a prospective study to assess the preventive and therapeutic effect of a multi-growth factor (MGF)-containing cream on post-thyroidectomy scars. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with thyroidectomy scars applied MGF cream twice a day. We assessed the changes in erythema, pigmentation, skin elasticity, and skin hydration status using the erythema index, melanin index, cutometer, and corneometer, respectively. In addition, Vancouver scar scale (VSS) and patient satisfaction were assessed at 10 days after surgery (baseline), 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after baseline. RESULTS: The mean total VSS scores were significantly lower at 6 weeks (3.24±1.51 vs. 1.91±1.38) and 12 weeks (3.24±1.51 vs. 1.71±1.59) compared to the baseline. The degree of pigmentation was significantly lower at 12 weeks compared to the baseline, and the skin elasticity, and the skin hydration status were significantly higher at 12 weeks compared to the baseline. Over 85% of the patients were satisfied with the use of MGF cream without any adverse effect. CONCLUSION: MGF cream might have additive or supportive effect for scar formation after thyroidectomy.
Cicatrix* ; Elasticity ; Erythema ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Melanins ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pigmentation ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Skin Pigmentation ; Thyroidectomy ; Wound Healing

This work was conducted to investigate dietary supplementation of oyster mushroom fruiting bodies on biochemical and histological changes in hyper and normocholesterolemic rats. Six-week old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Feeding a diet containing a 5% powder of Pleurotus ostreatus fruiting bodies to hypercholesterolemic rats reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total lipid, phospholipids, and LDL/high-density lipoprotein ratio by 30.18, 52.75, 59.62, 34.15, 23.89, and 50%, respectively. Feeding oyster mushrooms also significantly reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no adverse effects on plasma albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatinin, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, glucose, total protein, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, or enzyme profiles. Feeding mushroom increased total lipid and cholesterol excretion in feces. The plasma lipoprotein fraction, separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, indicated that P. ostreatus significantly reduced plasma beta and pre-beta-lipoprotein but increased alpha-lipoprotein. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. These results suggest that a 5% P. ostreatus diet supplement provided health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.
Agaricales ; Animals ; Azo Compounds ; Bilirubin ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Feces ; Female ; Fruit ; Glucose ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Lipoproteins ; Magnesium ; Phospholipids ; Plasma ; Pleurotus ; Potassium ; Rats ; Serum Albumin ; Sodium ; Uric Acid

This study evaluated the optimal vegetative growth conditions and molecular phylogenetic relationships of eleven strains of Agrocybe cylindracea collected from different ecological regions of Korea, China and Taiwan. The optimal temperature and pH for mycelial growth were observed at 25degrees C and 6. Potato dextrose agar and Hennerberg were the favorable media for vegetative growth, whereas glucose tryptone was unfavorable. Dextrin, maltose, and fructose were the most effective carbon sources. The most suitable nitrogen sources were arginine and glycine, whereas methionine, alanine, histidine, and urea were least effective for the mycelial propagation of A. cylindracea. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA were amplified using PCR. The sequence of ITS2 was more variable than that of ITS1, while the 5.8S sequences were identical. The reciprocal homologies of the ITS sequences ranged from 98 to 100%. The strains were also analyzed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using 20 arbitrary primers. Fifteen primers efficiently amplified the genomic DNA. The average number of polymorphic bands observed per primer was 3.8. The numbers of amplified bands varied based on the primers and strains, with polymorphic fragments ranging from 0.1 to 2.9 kb. The results of RAPD analysis were similar to the ITS region sequences. The results revealed that RAPD and ITS techniques were well suited for detecting the genetic diversity of all A. cylindracea strains tested.
Agar ; Agrocybe ; Alanine ; Arginine ; Carbon ; China ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fructose ; Genetic Variation ; Glucose ; Glycine ; Histidine ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Maltose ; Methionine ; Nitrogen ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Solanum tuberosum ; Taiwan ; Urea

To produce an artificial fruiting body of Armillaria mellea on the oak sawdust medium, seven strains of A. mellea were used. The top surface of oak sawdust medium covered with ground raw carrot was inoculated with each of 7 strains and cultured for 30 days at 25degrees C in the dark condition until the mycelia of A. mellea completely colonized the medium from top to bottom. Then, the mycelia which were fully covered on the top surface of the medium were scratched slightly with a spatula and filled with tap water for 3 hours. To induce the primordial formation, the 7 strains of A. mellea were transferred to the growth chamber under the illumination (350 lux) of 12 hours and relative humidity of 85 +/- 5% in a day and then cultured at 16 +/- 1degrees C. Only A. mellea IUM 949 could form primordia on the sawdust medium, but the other strains did not make primordia at the same condition. The primordia of A. mellea IUM 949 were formed 10 days after complete colonization of the medium and the fruiting bodies were produced 7 days after a primordial formation. The experimental results suggested that IUM 949 strain might be a good candidate for mass production of fruiting bodies of A. mellea.
Armillaria* ; Colon ; Daucus carota* ; Fruit* ; Humidity ; Lighting ; Water

To screen additives and their mixed ratio suitable for the mycelial growth and fruiting body formation of Oudemansiella radicata in the oak sawdust, additives such as rice bran, fermented soybean powder and wheat bran were used. Generally, the mycelial growth of O. radicata has been stable on oak sawdust mixed with rice bran of 5~20%. In case that O. radicata was cultured for about 30 days at 22 +/- 1degrees C under the illumination (350 lux) of 12 hours and moisture condition of 90 +/- 5%, the primordia have been formed gradually from red-brown crusts covering the surface of oak sawdust media. Based on the experimental results from 9 strains of O. radicata, fruiting bodies were produced widely on oak sawdust medium mixed with rice bran of 5 to 30%. Even though fruiting bodies of O. radicata have been produced well on oak sawdust media mixed with rice bran, fruiting bodies of O. radicata were produced intensively on oak sawdust media mixed with rice bran of 10%. Therefore, this result will provide a basic information for commercial production of fruiting body of wild O. radicata. This result is the first report associated with an artificial fruiting body formation of O. radicata in Korea.
Dietary Fiber ; Fruit* ; Korea ; Lighting ; Soybeans

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its receptor are presumed to play important roles in the developing nervous system. However, little is known about their potential role(s) in the developing kidney. To investigate this, we have studied the expression of IL-6 and its receptor (IL-6R) in the developing rat kidney. Kidneys from 16- (F16), 18- and 20-day-old (F20) fetuses, 1- (P1), 3- (P3), 7- (P7) and 14-day-old (P14) pups, and adult rats were extracted. Renal expressions of IL-6 and its receptors were examined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization respectively. Il-6 protein already appeared in F16. The early stage of renal development before birth, IL-6 showed strong immunoreactivity in the ureteric bud, metanephric mesenchymal cells (MMC) and developing glomerulus. The expression pattern of IL-6 in nephrogenic zone are very similar even after birth. In matured nephron after birth, IL-6 immunoreactivities were detected in distal tubules strongly, and collecting ducts moderately and thick ascending limb weekly. IL-6R hybridization signals have also already appeared in 16-day old fetal kidney. Before birth, IL-6R mRNAs were expressed in ureteric bud, MMC and developing glomerulus. In the matured nephron after birth, IL-6R mRNA was expressed in the thick ascending limb, distal tubules, collecting ducts and S3 segment of proximal tubule. These results suggest that IL-6 and its receptor may be involved in regulation of nephron formation in nephrogenic zone of rat, and play a role in distal nephron including collecting duct after birth.
Adult ; Animals ; Extremities ; Fetus ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Interleukin-6* ; Kidney* ; Nephrons ; Nervous System ; Parturition ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Ureter

Schizophyllum commune is an edible and medicinal mushroom widely distributed in the world. The optimal growth conditions for the mycelia of 10 strains of the fungus were investigated. The temperature suitable for the mycelial growth and density was obtained at 30~35degrees C. Among the tested conditions, the minimum mycelial growth was found at 15degrees C. In case of pH, the most favorable growth was found at pH 5. The results indicated that this mushroom well adapted to high temperature and low pH for its mycelial growth. Considering growth phenotype of mycelia, Hamada, Hennerberg, PDA and YM were the most suitable and Lilly, Glucose triptone, Glucose peptone and Hoppkins were the most unfavorable among tested media for the mycelial growth of S. commune. Out of tested carbon sources, dextrin and fructose were the most suitable and lactose, mannose and sorbitol were the unsuitable for the fungus. Compact mycelial density was obtained from most of the carbon sources. Among used nitrogen sources, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate and alanine were the most appropriate and the most incompatible were ammonium phosphate, histidine, urea and arginine for mycelial growth of S. commune on the culture media. Calcium nitrate, histidine and potassium nitrate showed moderately thin or thin, and rest of nitrogen sources showed compact or moderately compact mycelial density.
Agaricales ; Alanine ; Arginine ; Calcium ; Calcium Compounds ; Carbon ; Culture Media ; Dimenhydrinate ; Fructose ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Histidine ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactose ; Mannose ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen ; Peptones ; Phenotype ; Phosphates ; Potassium ; Potassium Compounds ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Schizophyllum ; Sorbitol ; Urea