Mushrooms are a group of fungi with great diversity and ultra-accelerated metabolism. As a consequence, mushrooms have developed a protective mechanism consisting of high concentrations of antioxidants such as selenium, polyphenols, β-glucans, ergothioneine, various vitamins and other bioactive metabolites. The mushrooms of the Pleurotus genus have generated scientific interest due to their therapeutic properties, especially related to risk factors connected to the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this report, we highlight the therapeutic properties of Pleurotus mushrooms that may be associated with a reduction in the severity of COVID-19: antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, antiatherogenic, anticholesterolemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic properties. These properties may interact significantly with risk factors for COVID-19 severity, and the therapeutic potential of these mushrooms for the treatment or prevention of this disease is evident. Besides this, studies show that regular consumption of Pleurotus species mushrooms or components isolated from their tissues is beneficial for immune health. Pleurotus species mushrooms may have a role in the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases either as food supplements or as sources for pharmacological agents.
Agaricales ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Cardiovascular System ; Pleurotus/metabolism* ; Risk Factors

Mycena, a symbiont of Gastrodia elata, promotes seed germination of G. elata and plays a crucial role in the sexual reproduction of G. elata. However, the lack of genetic transformation system of Mycena blocks the research on the interaction mechanism of the two. In order to establish the protoplast transformation system of Mycena, this study analyzed the protoplast enzymatic hydrolysis system, screened the resistance markers and regeneration medium, and explored the transient transformation. After hydrolysis of Mycena hyphae with complexes enzymes for 8 h and centrifugation at 4 000 r·min~(-1), high-concentration and quality protoplast was obtained. The optimum regeneration medium for Mycena was RMV, and the optimum resistance marker was 50 mg·mL~(-1) hygromycin. The pLH-HygB-HuSHXG-GFP-HdSHXG was transformed into the protoplast of Mycena which then expressed GFP. The established protoplast transformation system of Mycena laid a foundation for analyzing the functional genes of Mycena and the molecular mechanism of the symbiosis of Mycena and G. elata.
Agaricales ; Gastrodia/genetics* ; Protoplasts ; Symbiosis/genetics* ; Transformation, Genetic

This study aims to explore the resource utilization of used fungus-growing materials produced in the cultivation of Gastrodia elata. To be specific, based on the production practice, this study investigated the recycling mechanism of used fungus-growing materials of G. elata by Phallus inpudicus. To screen edible fungi with wide adaptability, this study examined the allelopathic effects of Armillaria mellea secretions on P. impudicus and 6 kinds of large edible fungi and the activities of enzymes related to degradation of the used fungus-growing materials of G. elata. The results showed that P. impudicus can effectively degrade cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in used fungus-growing materials of G. elata. The cellulase activity of A. mellea was significantly higher than that of P. impudicus, and the activities of lignin peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and xylanase of P. impudicus were significantly higher than those of A. mellea, which was the important reason why A. mellea and P. impudicus used different parts and components of the used fungus-growing materials to absorb carbon sources and develop ecological niche differences. The growth of P. impudicus was significantly inhibited on the used fungus-growing materials of G. elata. The secretions of A. mellea had allelopathic effects on P. impudicus and other edible fungi, and the allelopathic effects were related to the concentration of allelopathy substances. The screening result showed that the growth and development of L. edodes and A. auricular were not significantly affected by 30% of A. mellea liquid, indicating that they had high resistance to the allelopathy of A. mellea. The results showed that the activities of extracellular lignin peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and xylanase of the two edible fungi were similar to those of P. impudicus, and the cellulase activity was higher than that of P. impudicus. This experiment can be further verified by small-scale production tests.
Agaricales ; Ascomycota ; Basidiomycota ; Catechol Oxidase ; Cellulases ; Gastrodia

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of seven edible mushrooms in the regeneration rate of planarian Dugesia hymanae (D. hymanae). Methods: The ability of D. hymanae to regenerate was used to test extracts of seven mushrooms to reduce regeneration time, using eyespot and tail formations as endpoints. The planarians were amputated and were allowed to heal and regenerate in planarian water (control) and varying concentrations of Crude Ethanolic Extracts (CEE) of the seven edible mushrooms. The CEE with the most significant effect in reducing the regeneration time will be further sub-fractionated into hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol solvent extracts. Results: In untreated planarian water, amputated planarians' eyespot and tail formations took 4.65 (SD 0.34) and 4.1 (SD 0.21) days, respectively. The CEE of four mushrooms (Shiitake var Benguet, Tea tree, Shiitake var flower, and Black & White) significantly reduced the regeneration time, with Shiitake var Benguet extract reducing the regeneration time the most at 2.56 (SD 0.30) days and 2.61 (SD 0.22) days for both eyespot and tail formations (P<.0001) respectively. The solvent extracts of the Shiitake (Benguet variety) did not reduce the planarian regeneration time relative to the control (P>.05). Conclusion Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) [Benguet variety CEE] had reduced the regeneration time most significantly for both the eyespot and tail formations compared to the other six tested fungi extracts. The L. edodes (Benguet variety) CEE may contain compounds that can hasten the regeneration of the planarian D. hymanae.
Wound Healing ; Regeneration ; Agaricales ; Planarians

OBJECTIVE: The present study was to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of acidic RNA protein complex (FA-2-b-β) extracted from the wild edible Qinba mushroom in inducing of apoptosis and immunoregulation of tumor cell. METHODS: Cell proliferation inducing rate of FA-2-b-β to K562 cell was measured using CCK-8. Apoptosis rate was detected by using flow cytometry. Chronic myeloid leukemia model was developed by tail vein injection/subcutaneous inoculation of K562 cells in NCG mice. The tumor burden of mice was observed. The general condition of the mice was monitored twice daily. The peripherivcal full blood counts of mice was tested daily. RT-qPCR and Western blot was FA-2-b-β performed to determine involvement of apoptotic-related gene and protenin, Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry was used to detected the expression of CD3, CD4 and CD8. RESULTS: The proliferation and apoptosis of K562 cell could be inhibitied and induced by FA-2-b-β, there was 100% successful in the tumor formation in vivo, after treated by drug for 21 days there were significantly increased peripheral leucocytes, but decreased hemoglobin of mice treated by FA-2-b-β as compared with those in control group. The CD3, CD4 and CD8 showed positive in mice, and the propotation was imbalance, but it showed reserved after treated by FA-2-b-β. CONCLUSION FA-2-b-β is strong anti-leukemia effect in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the traditional Chinese medicine maybe contribute to the anti-cancer and immunoregulation research.
Agaricales ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Mice

Mushrooms are abundant in bioactive natural compounds. Due to strict growth conditions and long fermentation-time, microbe as a production host is an alternative and sustainable approach for the production of natural compounds. This review focuses on the biosynthetic pathways of mushroom originated natural compounds and microbes as the production host for the production of the above natural compounds.
Agaricales/chemistry* ; Bacteria/metabolism* ; Biological Products/metabolism* ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Fermentation ; Metabolic Engineering

A chemical investigation on the fermentation products of Sanghuangporus sanghuang led to the isolation and identification of fourteen secondary metabolites (1-14) including eight sesquiterpenoids (1-8) and six polyphenols (9-14). Compounds 1-3 were sesquiterpenes with new structures which were elucidated based on NMR spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. All the isolates were tested for their stimulation effects on glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells, and cellular antioxidant activity. Compounds 9-12 were subjected to molecular docking experiment to primarily evaluate their anti-coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) activity. As a result, compounds 9-12 were found to increase the glucose uptake of insulin-resistant HepG2 cells by 18.1%, 62.7%, 33.7% and 21.4% at the dose of 50 μmol·L
Agaricales ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Basidiomycota ; COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Polyphenols/pharmacology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVES: To develop a method for the simultaneous and rapid detection of five mushroom toxins (α-amanitin, phallacidin, muscimol, muscarine and psilocin) in blood by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS). METHODS: The blood samples were precipitated with acetonitrile-water solution(V_acetonitril∶V_water=3∶1) and PAX powder, then separated on ACQUITY Premier C₁₈ column, eluted gradient. Five kinds of mushroom toxins were monitored by FullMS-ddMS²/positive ion scanning mode, and qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted according to the accurate mass numbers of primary and secondary fragment ions. RESULTS: All the five mushroom toxins had good linearity in their linear range, with a determination coefficient (R²)≥0.99. The detection limit was 0.2-20 ng/mL. The ration limit was 0.5-50 ng/mL. The recoveries of low, medium and high additive levels were 89.6%-101.4%, the relative standard deviation was 1.7%-6.7%, the accuracy was 90.4%-101.3%, the intra-day precision was 0.6%-9.0%, the daytime precision was 1.7%-6.3%, and the matrix effect was 42.2%-129.8%. CONCLUSIONS The method is simple, rapid, high recovery rate, and could be used for rapid and accurate qualitative screening and quantitative analysis of various mushroom toxins in biological samples at the same time, so as to provide basis for the identification of mushroom poisoning events.
Agaricales ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Humans ; Mushroom Poisoning/diagnosis* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*

Gastrodia elata is a kind of precious traditional Chinese medicine. In artificial cultivation, it has not got rid of its dependence on forest resources. In order to maintain the balance of the ecological system and reduce the waste of resources as much as possible, based on the information from field investigation at many places, this paper introduced the new ecological circulation planting patterns of G. elata, such as "forest-G. elata" supporting planting, G. elata-edible mushroom rotation, forest-G. elata-edible mushroom three-dimensional planting, fungus material classification planting technology, and so on. In this paper, we expounded the ecological problems solved by several planting patterns in G. elata production and analyzed their shortcomings. Finally, based on the exis-ting models, a complete ecological planting system of G. elata was summarized. This planting system emphasizes: ① The follow-up forests should be started before the planting of G. elata. And the economic forests were used to cultivation of G. elata. ② The classified utilization of fungus-growing materials. The leaves were used to cultivate germination bacteria of G. elata, the small branches were used to cultivate protocorm and juvenile tuber, the large branches were used to cultivate immature tuber, and the tree trunk was used to cultivate mature tuber. ③ Recycle utilization G. elata fungus material. The old fungus materials were used to produce strains or cultivate edible fungus. This design project not only solves the problems of the source of G. elata fungus material, the efficient utilization of fungus material and land resources, but also enriches the industrial structure. Using limited time and land resources to obtain greater economic benefits. It has certain guiding significance for poverty alleviation and ecological improvement.
Agaricales ; Bacteria ; Gastrodia ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Tubers

Gastrodia elata is a kind of precious traditional Chinese medicine. In the process of cultivation of G. elata, due to the influence of continuous cropping obstacles and other factors, the fungus materials and land that have been planted with G. elata are often abandoned, resulting in a great waste of resources. Based on the planting characteristics of G. elata and Phallus impudicus and the previous research experience in ecological agriculture, this paper analyzed the ecological adaptability characteristics of G. elata and P. impudicus, and summarized the key techniques of the G. elata-P. impudicus sequential planting pattern. Keeping track of the planting area, fungus-growing materials consumption and market sales of G. elata-P. impudicus sequential planting pattern, the ecological benefits of G. elata-P. impudicus sequential planting pattern from the aspects of utilization rate of fungus-growing materials were analyzed, the value of land resources per unit area, ecological environmental protection, labor cost and economic benefits were consi-dered. The technical principle of G. elata-P. impudicus sequential planting pattern was expounded according to their ecological habit, the season of harvest and planting, the difference of composition of fungus-growing materials, and the microbial ecology. The sequential planting pattern of G. elata-P. impudicus not only realized the double production of medicinal materials and edible fungi, reduced the waste of old fungus-growing materials, but also transformed the energy from nutrition-supplied fungi to edible and medicinal fungi, which guaranteed the ecological recycling and utilization of G. elata in the process of cultivation.
Agaricales/growth & development* ; Agriculture/methods* ; Gastrodia/growth & development* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal/growth & development*