Russula compacta, a wild mushroom, belongs to Russulaceae, Russulales of Basidiomycota. This study was conducted to evaluate the free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase and anti-α-glucosidase effects from fruiting bodies of R. compacta extracted with methanol and hot water. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging effects, the methanol and hot water extracts showed good scavenging effects comparable with positive control, BHT. The chelating effect of methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom were significantly higher than the positive control, BHT. The reducing power of the methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom were lower than the positive control at the concentrations tested. In the HPLC anaysis of phenolic acids profile of the mushroom extract, 7 phenolic acids such as gallic acid, vanillin, rutin hydrate, resveratol, quercetin formononetin, and biochanin-A were detected. Nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccahride (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited by 1.5-fold with the treatment of methanol extract when compared with the control. In the anti-cholinesterase activity assay, the methanol extract inhibited the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) effects by 73.9% and 81.05% at the 1.0 mg/mL concentration, whereas galanthamine, the standard drug, inhibited the AChE and BChE activities by 97.80% and 81.12%, respectively at the same concentration. The methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom inhibited the α-glucosidase activity by 55.44% and 62.00%, respectively at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration, while acarbose, the positive control inhibited the α-glucosidase activity by 81.81% at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration. From the experimental results, the fruiting bodies of R. compacta contained natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinesterase, and anti-diabetic substances, which might be used for health foods.

Coprinellus miaceus, belongs to Coprinaceae of Agaricales, Basidiomycota, has been used for an edible purposes in asian countries. This experiment was initiated to evaluate the free radical scavenging, free radical scavenging, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of C. micaceus fruiting bodies extracted with methanol and hot water. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, the scavenging activities of methanol and hot water extracts were lower than that of positive control, BHT. The chelating effects of methanol and hot water extracts were significantly higher than positive control, BHT at the concentrations of 0.125-2.0 mg/mL. In the reducing power assay, methanol and hot water extracts exhibited the lower activities than the positive control, BHT at the 0.125-0.2 mg/mL concentration. In the HPLC analysis of phenolic acids profile of the mushroom fruiting bodies, 4 phenolic compounds including procatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, (-)-epicatechin, and naringin were detected. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities of methanol and hot water extracts were 91.33% and 91.99% at 2.0 mg/mL concentration, while the inhibitory activity of kojic acid, the positive control, was 99.61%. Nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccahride (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 cells were inhibited by the methanol extract in a concentration dependent manner. In the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity assay, methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom inhibited the AChE by 94.64% and 74.19%, respectively at the 1.0 mg/mL concentration, whereas galanthamine, the standard drug inhibited the AChE activity by 97.80% at the same concentration. The methanol and hot water extracts of the mushroom inhibited the α-glucosidase activity by 62.26% and 67.59%, respectively at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration, while acarbose, the positive control inhibited the α-glucosidase activity by 81.81% at the same concentration. Therefore, it is concluded that fruiting bodies of C. micaceus contained natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitory substances which might be used for promoting human health.

Lentinus giganteus is a edible mushroom cultivated in Asian countries. The present study was initiated to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-α-glucosidase, and free radical scavenging activities from fruiting bodies of L. giganteus extracted with methanol and hot water. The free radical scavenging activities of methanol and hot water extracts on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were 92.26% and 90.17% at 2.0 mg/mL concentration, respectively and comparable with positive control, BHT. The chelating activities of methanol and hot water extracts were significantly higher than the positive control tested. The reducing power of methanol and hot water extracts showed lower activities compared to positive control, BHT. The phenolic and flavonoid contents of hot water extract were 1.56 μg/mg and 24.35 μg/mg, respectively. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by lipopolysaccahride (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 cells were significantly inhibited by treatment of methanol and hot water extracts. The methanol extract inhibited the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity by 91.19% at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration, whereas galanthamine, the standard drug, inhibited the AChE activity by 97.80%. The hot water extracts inhibited the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities by 78.86% and 80.78%, respectively at the 2.0 mg/mL concentration, while acarbose, the positive control, inhibited the activities by 89.91% and 81.81%, respectively at the same concentration. Therefore, it is concluded that fruiting bodies of L. giganteus contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinesterase, and anti-diabetic substances, which can be used for natural health food for promoting human health.

This study was initiated to investigate antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities and properties of fruiting bodies, mycelia, and fermentation culture filtrates from Phellinus igniarius. The contents of total phenols and flavonoid of fruit bodies, mycelia, and culture filtrate were 15.35-1.36 mg/g, 10.35-7.85 mg/g, and 8.25-5.36 mg/g. The 1,1- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging abilities of the extracts from the fruiting bodies, mycelia, and culture filtrates were 90.25-95.60%, 78.82-85.24%, and 76.32-82.50% at 50-400 μg/mL, respectively. The chelating ability of fruiting body extract on ferrous ions was higher than those of mycelia and culture filtrates tested. The anti-acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the fruiting body extract at 400 μg/mg exhibited 91.10% on AChE, which is lower than that of positive control, galanthamine (94.82%). The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of the fruiting bodies, mycelia, and culture extract were 85.47%, 78.13%, and 72.49% at 400 μg/mL, respectively. Overall, the fruiting body extract has better anti-acetylcholinesterase, antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities than those from mycelia and culture filtrate.

Polyporus umbellatus (Syn. Grifola umbellata) is a sclerotium forming mushroom belongs to family Poly-poraceae of Polyphorales, Basidiomycota. The sclerotia of P. umbellatus have long been used for traditional medicinesin China, Korea and Japan. This study was initiated to obtain the basic data for artificial sclerotial production of P. umbel-latus. Here, we investigated the favorable conditions for mycelial growth of P. umbellatus and its symbiotic fungus Armill-aria mellea. We also evaluate the favorable carbon and nitrogen sources for sclerotial formation in dual culture betweenP. umbellatus and A. mellea. The favorable conditions for mycelial growth of P. umbellatus were 20°C and pH 4, whileoptimal conditions for mycelial growth of A. mellea were 25°C and pH 6. The carbon sources for optimal mycelial growthof P. umbellatus were fructose and glucose, while carbon sources for favorable mycelial growth of A. mellea were alsofructose and glucose. The nitrogen sources for favorable mycelial growth P. umbellatus were peptone and yeast extract,while optimal mycelial growth of A. mellea were obtained in peptone and yeast extract. When P. umbellatus and A. melleawere dual cultured on carbon sources, sclerotia were induced on basal media supplemented with glucose, fructose andmaltose at pH 4~6, while nitrogen sources inducing sclerotia were basal media supplemented with peptone and yeastextract for 60 days at 20°C under dark condition.

Ganoderma applanatum is a medicinal mushroom belongs to Ganodermataceae of Polyporales, Basidiomycota. This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-xanthine oxidase activities of G. applanatum fruiting bodies extracted with methanol. The antioxidant activities were performed on reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and ferrous ion chelating activities. In addition to this, polyphenol and flavonoid contents were aslo analyzed. The methanol extract showed the good reducing power of 3.5 at the concentration of 4.0 mg/ml. The scavenging activity of methanol extract of G. applanatum 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy radicals was better than those of positive control, BHT and tocopherol. The ferrous ion chelating effect of methanol extract was moe effective than those of positive control, BHT and tocopherol. The antioxidant activities of the G. applanatum were increased with the increasing concentration of the extracts. The xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of methanol extract of G. applanatum was good as positive control, allopurinol. The anti-inflammatory activity of mushroom extract was measured by carrageenan-induced hind paw edema of albino rat. The injection of 50 mg/kg of methanol and hot water extracts significantly reduced the carrageenan-induced paw edema compared with the positive control, indomethacin. The results indicated that fruiting bodies of G. applanatum could be used for natural medicine for anti-inflammatory and anti-xanthine oxidase.

Recently, there had been reports on ethanol fermentation from mono-saccharide and disaccharide by mushroom mycelia. This experiment was conducted to study ethanol production from xylose by mycelila of mushrooms isolated from Korea. The cultures used in this study were obtained from Culture Collection and DNA Bank of Mushrooms in the Division of Life Sciences, Incheon National University. The results showed that Neolentinus lepideus, Trametes hirsuta and Cerrena unicolor produced ethanol from xylose contained media. The ethanol concentration produced in the xylose contained media ranged from 2.5∼3.8%. The highest ethanol concentration(3.8%) was obtained from fermentation of xylose by Neolentinus lepideus mycelia. All of the mushroom mycelia used in this study showed a good ability of ethanol fermentation from glucose, fructose, mannose, cellobiose and maltose.

Recently, there had been many reports on ethanol fermentation by mushrooms. This study was initiated to screening of ethanol fermentation by mushroom mycelilal cultures preserved in Culture Collection and DNA Bank of Mushrooms in the Division of Life Sciences, Incheon National University. The experimental results showed that ethanol concentration produced by Cerrena unicolor, Trametes pubescens and Daedalea dickinsii, Microporus vernicipes and Perenniporia fraxinea in the glucose medium ranged from 2.3∼4.7%. The highest ethanol concentration was obtained from fermentation of glucose by Cerrena unicolor (4.7%). Some of the mushrooms used in this study have a good ability to efficiently ferment arabinose, fructose, mannose, cellobiose, maltose and sucrose . The highest ethanol concentration was obtained under semi-aerobic condition compared with aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The media used for ethanol fermentation by T. pubescens and P. fraxinea. contained small amounts of β -D-glucan, which is known to have anti-tumor activity.

This study aimed at investigating whether a porcine follicular fluid (pFF) supplementation positively affects the characteristics of donor cells and the developmental competence of porcine cloned embryos. Ear fibroblast cells (donor cell) from an Massachusetts General Hospital miniature pig were cultured in different culture methods: (1) Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM)+10% FBS (Control); (2) DMEM+0.5% FBS (SS); and (3) DMEM+10% FBS+10% pFF (pFF) for 72 h. In each conditioned medium, the concentrations of 4 amino acids (Thr, Glu, Pro, and Val) in the pFF group were significantly different from those in the control group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The proliferation of the cells cultured in the SS group was significantly lower than that of the other treatment groups (p<0.01). The population of apoptotic and necrotic cells in the SS group was significantly higher than that of either the control or the pFF group (p<0.01). The number of embryos that cleaved (p<0.05) and developed into blastocysts (p<0.01) in the SS group was significantly lower than that of either the control or the pFF group. Compared to other groups, the blastocysts produced from the donor cells in the pFF group had higher total cells and lower apoptotic cells (p<0.05). It can be concluded that pFF supplementation in the donor cell culture medium positively affects cell death, cell cycle and quality of the cloned blastocyst.

The sex pheromone of Synanthedon bicingulata (Staudinger), a major pest of peach trees in many regions of northeast Asia, was identified. Two major components from the pheromone gland extracts of female moths are E3,Z13-18:OAc and Z3,Z13-18:OAc, and the average ratio of these components is about 4:6, respectively. In addition to the major components, four minor components, Z13-18:OAc, E2,Z13-18:OAc, E3,Z13-18:OH, and Z3,Z13-18:OH also were identified from pheromone gland extracts. Field tests showed that E3,Z13-18:OAc and Z3,Z13-18:OAc are essential for attraction of male S. bicingulata moths, and males are optimally attracted to the blend ratio found in pheromone gland extracts of conspecific females. Addition of the minor glandular components (Z13-18:OAc, E2,Z13-18:OAc, E3,Z13-18:OH, and Z3,Z13-18:OH) did not affect captures of males to the primary binary blend. Thus, the blend of E3,Z13-18:OAc and Z3,Z13-18:OAc at the natural ratio can be used for monitoring populations of this species.

The antioxidant, xanthine oxidase, tyrosinase inhibitory activities and polyphenol contents of the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus cornucopae extracted with acetone, hot water and methanol (hereinafter referred to Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH). The antioxidant activities in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 93.23%, 89.55% and 92.58%, respectively at the concentration of 2.0 mg/ml. Xanthine oxidase inhibition activity in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 45.84%, 46.50% and 45.60%, respectively at the concentration of 5 mg/ml. Tyrosinase inhibition activity in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 52.11%, 50.12% and 55.81%, respectively at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml. Total polyphenol contents in the Fr. Ace, Fr. HW and Fr. MeOH were 18.99 mgGAEs/ g, 16.73 mgGAEs/g and 18.66 mgGAEs/g. These experimental results suggested that fruiting bodies of P. cornucopae contained good physio-chemical substances for promoting human health.

Lentinus edodes is a popular edible mushroom in South-East Asia. This study was initiated to evaluate the antioxidant activities, tyrosinase inhibitory effects on the fruiting bodies of L. edodes extracted with acetone, methanol and hot water. The antioxidant activities were performed on β-carotene-linoleic acid, reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, and ferrous chelating abilities. In addition to this, phenolic acid and flavonoids contents were also analyzed. Methanolic extract of L. edodes showed the strongest β-carotene-linoleic acid inhibition as compare to others extracts. At 8 mg/ml, hot water extract showed a high reducing power of 0.96. The scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, acetonic extract was effective than other extracts. The strongest chelating effect (86.45%) was obtained from the acetonic extract at 1.0 mg/ml concentration. Antioxidant activities of the extracts from the fruiting bodies of L. edodes were increased with the increasing concentration. After application of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode array detector and electrospray ionisation mass spectra, four phenolic compounds namely, naringenin, hesperetin, formononetin and biochanin were identified from acetonic extract. Tyrosinase inhibition of acetonic, methanolic, and hot water extracts of L. edodes were increased with the increasing of concentration. Results revealed that acetonic and methanolic extracts showed good, while hot water showed moderate activities of the tyrosinase inhibition at the concentration tested. This study suggests that fruiting bodies of L. edodes can potentially be used as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants.

Comparative effect of oyster mushrooms on plasma, fecal lipid profiles, liver and kidney functions were evaluated in hyper and normocholesterolemic rats. The feeding of hypercholesterolemic rats with 5% powder of fruiting bodies of oyster mushrooms i.e., Pleurotus ostreatus, P. sajor-caju and P. florida reduced the plasma total cholesterol level by 37%, 21% and 16%, respectively and triglyceride level by 45%, 24% and 14%, respectively. LDL/HDL ratio decreased by 64%, 45% and 41% for P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatus and P. florida fed rats, respectively. Mushroom feeding also reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no adverse effect on plasma bilirubin, creatinin and urea nitrogen level. Mushroom feeding also increased the total lipid and cholesterol excretion through the feces. The present study reveals that feeding of 5% oyster mushroom powder do not have detrimental effects on the liver and kidneys rather may provide health benefits for the cardiovascular-related complication by decreasing the atherogenic lipid profiles.