Textural, Sensory and Volatile Compounds Analyses in Formulations of Sausages Analogue Elaborated with Edible Mushrooms and Soy Protein Isolate as Meat Substitute

In this study, edible mushroom and soybean protein isolate (SPI) were used to prepare a fibrous meat analogue using thermos-extrusion and the extruded mushroom-based meat analogue as meat replacer was further developed with different formulations in fabricating sausage analogues. The effect of water content (35%, 70% and 100%), three types of edible mushroom (Lentinus edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Coprinus comatus and a mixture of equal proportions) and their amounts (from 15% to 100%) on the physicochemical and structural profiles were studied. The results showed that the extruded mushroom-based meat analogue prepared from Coprinus comatus (15% addition) and SPI with a water content of 35% exhibited close textural profiles to real beef. Furthermore, a texture profile analysis (TPA) combined with a principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to compare and assess the textural traits of the sausage analogues with similar commercial products. The characterization and comparison of the flavor profile of post-processing mushroom-based meat sausage analogues (MMSA) were performed using headspace-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 64 volatile compounds were identified, and the content in dried-processing treatment was significantly higher than for steamed-processing, which indicated that the natural fermentation process contributed to the increase in aroma substances in the non-animal sourced sausage. This study developed a feasible method to fabricate a meat replacement and to create high added-value products, which offer an opportunity for developing non-animal products with satisfactory sensory properties and flavor profiles.

First record of Lycoperdina succincta (Linnaeus, 1767) (Coleoptera, Endomychidae) from Kazakhstan

Handsome fungus beetle Lycoperdina succincta (Linnaeus, 1767) from the family Endomychidae is the first recorded from Kazakhstan (North Kazakhstan, Akmola, and North Kazakhstan regions and South-East Kazakhstan, Almaty region). The finds of L. succincta from the Almaty region of Kazakhstan are currently the southernmost localities for this species and a new record for Central Asia. Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müller) Persoon, 1797, Tulostoma volvulatum I.G. Borshchov, 1865, Bovistella utriformis (Bulliard) Demoulin & Rebriev, 2017 and Tricholoma terreum (Schaeffer) P. Kummer, 1871 for L. succincta were recorded from Lazakhstan also. A key to  determining the  known genera and species of Endomychidae from Kazakhstan is given.

Nephroprotective and antioxidant effects of ethanol extract of Coprinus comatus mushroom fruit-bodies on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat models

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease with an increasing prevalence. An increase in free radicals and AGEs can cause glomerular cell damage which can lead to inflammation and DM nephropathy. WHO has recommended DM treatment by using herbal medicines that have minimal side effects and have a lot of biological activity to prevent complications. Coprinus comatus (O.F. Mull.) is known as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic agent. The research used C. comatus cultivated in Cianjur. The basidiome of this mushroom has slightly oval and small with height of 8-12 cm and thickness of 2-3 cm. The research included six groups of male Wistar rats: Group 1 received no treatment, Groups 2–6 were administered 45 mg/kg BW streptozotocin once, Group 3 was administered 45 mg/kg BW metformin, Groups 4, 5, and 6 were administered 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg BW of C. comatus fruit body ethanol extract respectively for 14 days. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), hepcidin and β2 microglobulin (B2M) levels were evaluated. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and Duncan’s multiple-range tests. The results showed that dose of 500 mg was effective in increasing SOD and decreasing hepcidin, B2M and MDA levels.

Transcriptome Analysis of Genes Associated with Autolysis of Coprinus Comatus

Coprinus comatus, widely known as “Jituigu”, is an important commodity and food in China. The yield of C. comatus, however, is substantially reduced by the autolysis of the fruiting bodies after harvest. To gain insight into the molecular mechanism underlying this autolysis, we divided the growth of C. comatus fruiting bodies into four stages: infant stage (I), mature stage (M), discolored stage (D), and autolysis stage (A). We then subjected these stages to de novo transcriptomic analysis using high-throughput Illumina sequencing. A total of 12,946 unigenes were annotated and analyzed with the Gene Ontology (GO), Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COG), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). We analyzed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between stages I and M, M and D, and D and A. Because the changes from M to D are thought to be related to autolysis, we focused on the DEGs between these two stages. We found that the pathways related to metabolic activity began to decline in the transition from M to D. In contrast, expression levels of chitinases, β-1,3-glucanases, and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 related to degradation of cell walls were higher in D than in M. In addition, 20 genes of interest were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR to verify their expression profiles at the four developmental stages. This study, which is the first to describe the transcriptome of C. comatus, provides a foundation for future studies concerning the molecular basis of the autolysis of its fruiting bodies.

The Nutritional Value Enhancement of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches as Animal Feed Using the Fungus Coprinus Comatus, with Different Numbers of Inoculums and Incubation Times

This study aimed to increase the nutritional value of oil palm empty bunches (EFB) as ruminant animal feed by using biological treatment. To achieve this, five fungi species were used, including Trametes Versicolor, Lentinula edodes, Coprinus comatus, Pleurotus sajor-caju, and Trichoderma sp, which were inoculated for 20 days. Furthermore, the study consisted of 2 stages, in the first, the five species were tested for their degradability to lignin. In the second, the results were analyzed for their degradation ability by treating several numbers of inoculums (0.5 ml, 0.75 ml, and 1.0 ml) at different incubation times (20, 30, and 40 days). The results showed that the fungi treatment gave different lignin levels of oil palm empty fruit bunches compared to others. Furthermore, treatment with Coprinus comatus fungi produced the lowest lignin and the highest cellulose levels than others. This species works well compared to other fungi in the delignification of oil palm empty fruit bunches. With the use of Coprinus comatus, the lowest lignin and highest cellulose levels were obtained in a 0.5 ml inoculum treatment and at 30 days incubation time, however, there was no interaction. Conclusively, this study indicated that the application of Coprinus comatus to oil palm empty fruit bunches reduces lignin levels and increases cellulose by 22.04% and 20%, respectively. Consequently, there is an improved nutritional value of oil palm empty fruit bunches.

Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles from Coprinus comatus, Agaricaceae, and the Effect of Ultraviolet Irradiation on Their Characteristics

The present research aims to produce gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from the aqueous extract of locally isolated mushroom Coprinus comatus from Hit city, Iraq. Its properties were studied using the optical vision, UV-Vis, EDX, XRD, FTIR, AFM, and Zetasizer analyses. The exposure of the colloidal solution of AuNPs to UV radiation was investigated for 1, 2, and 3 h. The results showed the color change of the interaction mixture from light yellow to purple after 25 min. The lambda max of the absorbance reached 530 nm using UV-Visible spectrum as evident in the formation of AuNPs. FTIR spectra revealed the presence of functional groups related to peptides, proteins, flavonoids, monosaccharides, and phenolic compounds, which reduced gold ions. The EDX technique showed that the formed nanoparticles were AuNPs. XRD results showed that AuNPs have a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal. The UV irradiation at different times led to an increase in the intensity of absorbance and sizes of AuNPs from 17.39 nm before the irradiation and switched to 58.16, 59.13, and 47.35 nm after 1, 2, and 3 h, respectively, but their sizes remained within the nanoscale range (less than 100 nm). In conclusion, the best result was observed after about an hour on the effects of UV irradiation on sizes of AuNPs, which reached smaller nanoparticles compared with times 2 and 3 h.