Ameliorative effects of morel mushroom (Morchella esculenta) against Cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity in adult male rats

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the major toxicants, which affects human health through occupational and environmental exposure. In the current study, we evaluated the protective effects of morel mushrooms against Cd-induced reproductive damages in rats. For this purpose, 30 male rats were divided into 6 groups (n=5/group), the first group served as the control group, second group was treated with an intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of 1 mg/kg/day of Cd. Third and fourth groups were co-treated with 1 mg/kg/day of Cd (i.p) and 10 and 20 mg/kg/day of morel mushroom extract (orally) respectively. The final 2 groups received oral gavage of 10 and 20 mg/kg/day of morel mushroom extract alone. After treatment for 17 days, the animals were euthanized, and testes and epididymis were dissected out. One testis and epididymis of each animal were processed for histology, while the other testis and epididymis were used for daily sperm production (DSP) and comet assay. Our results showed that Cd and morel mushrooms have no effect on animal weight, but Cd significantly decreases the DSP count and damages the heritable DNA which is reversed in co-treatment groups. Similarly, the histopathological results of testes and epididymis show that morel mushrooms control the damage to these tissues. Whereas the morel mushroom extract alone could enhance the production of testosterone. These results conclude that morel mushrooms not only control the damage done by Cd, but it could also be used as a protection mechanism for heritable DNA damage.

INFLUENCE OF THICK EXTRACT FROM MAITAKE MUSHROOMS ON SIGNS OF INFLAMMATORY PROCESS IN EXPERIMENTAL TOXIC HEPATITIS

Background. The priority of the contemporary pharmaceutical industry is to create effective, safe and inexpensive drugs to ensure the highest quality of care and optimal use of available raw materials. Objective. The aim of our study was to investigate anti-inflammatory properties of the Maitake mushrooms thick extract in the experiment on rats with paracetamol(acetaminophen)-induced hepatitis. Methods. 60 white male rats, weighing 180-210 g, randomized into 10 groups of 6 animals in each, were used for the experiment. Paracetamol hepatitis was simulated by acetaminophen intragastric administering in a dose of 1250 mg/kg 1 time per day (for 2 days) as a suspension in 2% starch gel solution. Maitake mushrooms thick extract, which was administered intragastrically 2 hours before the administration of acetaminophen and daily after the lesion in a dose of 150 mg/kg of the animal’s body weight, was used for the toxic lesion correction. “Silibor” was selected as the comparison drug, which was administered according to the same scheme as the investigated extract in a dose of 20 mg/kg of the animal’s body weight. Euthanasia was conducted on the 3rd, 7th and 10th day of the experiment with sodium barbamyl. Liver homogenate and animal serum were used for the studies. The development of inflammatory processes was studied by the content of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as C-reactive protein in the serum of rats with toxic hepatitis and after the application of Maitake mushroom extract and the comparison drug. Results. It was found that the introduction of acetaminophen to animals for the acute hepatitis simulation is accompanied by changes in the cytokine profile, i.e. an increase in the level of IL-6 and a decrease in the level of IL-4 in the serum of rats. Inflammatory development is evidenced by the content of C-reactive protein increase in the blood of the affected animals. The application of Maitake mushroom extract facilitated bringing the studied indicators almost to the level of intact control. Conclusions. Reduction of inflammation signs in rats with the simulated paracetamol hepatitis under the influence of Maitake mushrooms thick extract confirms its anti-inflammatory properties. Objective. The aim of our study was to investigate anti-inflammatory properties of the Maitake mushrooms thick extract in the experiment on rats with paracetamol(acetaminophen)-induced hepatitis. Methods. 60 white male rats, weighing 180-210 g, randomized into 10 groups of 6 animals each, were used for the experiment. Paracetamol hepatitis was simulated by acetaminophen intragastric administering in a dose of 1250 mg/kg 1 time per day (for 2 days) as a suspension in 2% starch gel solution. Maitake mushrooms thick extract, which was administered intragastrically 2 hours before the administration of acetaminophen and daily after the lesion in a dose of 150 mg/kg of the animal’s body weight, was used for the toxic lesion correction. "Silibor" was selected as the comparison drug, which was administered according to the same scheme like the investigated extract in a dose of 20 mg/kg of the animal’s body weight. Euthanasia was conducted on the 3rd, 7th and 10th day of the experiment with sodium barbamyl using. Liver homogenate and animal serum were used for the studies. The development of inflammatory processes was studied by the content of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as C-reactive protein in the serum of rats with toxic hepatitis and after the application of Maitake mushroom extract and the comparison drug. Results. It was found that the introduction of acetaminophen to animals for the acute hepatitis simulation is accompanied by changes in the cytokine profile, namely, an increase in the level of IL-6 and a decrease in the level of IL-4 in the serum of rats. The inflammatory process development is evidenced by the content of C-reactive protein increasing in the blood of affected animals. The application of Maitake mushroom extract helped to bring the studied indicators closer to the level of intact control. Conclusions. The application of the Maitake mushrooms thick extract as a corrective factor at the simulated paracetamol hepatitis confirms its anti-inflammatory properties. KEYWORDS: Maitake mushrooms, paracetamol, hepatitis, inflammatory processes, thick extract, anti-inflammatory properties.

In vitro Selection of Synbiotics and in vivo Investigation of Growth Indices, Reproduction Performance, Survival, and Ovarian Cyp19α Gene Expression in Zebrafish Danio rerio

In this study, we tested the compatibility of two extracts from the plant Jerusalem artichokes and button mushrooms with two different Lactobacillus probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus; La and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus; Lb) to develop a synbiotic formulation to improve the growth, survival, and reproductive performances of farmed fishes. Initially, we employed in vitro approach to monitor the growth of the probiotic lactobacilli in the presence of the different doses of the plant-based prebiotics, with the aim of selecting interesting combination(s) for further verification under in vivo conditions using zebrafish as a model. Results from the in vitro screening assay in the broth showed that both the probiotic species showed a preference for 50% mushroom extract as a source of prebiotic. A synbiotic formulation, developed with the selected combination of L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, and 50% mushroom extract, showed a positive influence on the growth and reproductive performances of the zebrafish. Our findings also imply that the improvement in the reproductive indices was associated with the upregulation of a cyp19a gene. Overall results suggest that a combination of L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, and mushroom extract can be considered as a potential synbiotic for the successful production of aquaculture species.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANALGESIC AND ANTI-ULCER EFFECT OF CANCARIUS MUSHROOM EXTRACT (CANTHARELLUS CIBARIUS) AND SHIITAKE MUSHROOM EXTRACT (LENTINUS EDODES) IN THE EXPERIMENT

Mushrooms are appreciated not only for their nutritional value and bioavailability, but also for their medicinal properties. There are a growing number of the studies focused on investigating medical preparation base on natural compounds, including those isolated from a number of fungi species of fungi species. The aim of this study is to compare anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiulcer effects of extracts of shiitake mushrooms and chanterelle mushrooms in an experiment on rats. Materials and methods. The experiment involved 30 white female rats weighing 170-210 g., divided into 5 groups: group 1 included intact animals; group 2 included animals with modelled pathology; group 3 included animals, which received chanterelle extract; group 4 involved animals, which received shiitake mushroom extract, and group-5 rats received the reference drug. Observation of changes over the inflammatory process in the model of carrageenan-induced inflammation in the paw of the rats revealed an anti-exudative effect of varying intensity that made up 36.84% for the of chanterelle mushroom extract and 15.79% for shiitake mushroom extract. The dynamics of trypsin-induced inflammatory process showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity, 32.02%, during the courses of the therapy with chanterelle mushroom extract. According to the indicator of analgesic effects produced by the studied extracts, the highest indicator was reached by the chanterelle mushroom extract (33.53%) that exceeded the analgesic effect of the shiitake mushroom extract (17.65%). Therapeutic and prophylactic administration of the chanterelle mushroom extract in a dose of 10 mg / kg in the model of aspirin-induced gastric ulcer in rats showed a pronounced anti-ulcer effect which made up 66.7% compared with that by shiitake mushroom extract (33.4%) and the reference drug “Altan” (100%). Conclusion. The obtained data have demonstrated the promise of using the extracts of chanterelle and shiitake mushrooms for the therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.