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.

The Most Popular Edible Wild Mushrooms in Vezirköprü District of Samsun Province

Edible wild mushrooms are becoming more and more important in our diet for their nutritional and pharmacological properties. The aim of this study was to gather information about edible wild mushroom species existed in mycobiota of Vezirköprü district of Samsun province that are economically important and are collected from nature by the villagers and sold in the local markets. The mushroom samples were identified based on their macroscopic and microscopic features. The information, obtained on the collecting time, local names and habitats of the mushrooms was inquired from the sellers, consumers and traders. Cantharellus cibarius, Morchella spp. and Boletus edulis species are not only sold in the Vezirköprü market but also exported. Amanita caesarea, Cantharellus ferruginascens, Craterellus cornucopioides, Clitocybe geotropa, Hydnum repandum, H. rufescens, Lactarius deliciosus, L. semisanguifluus, L. vellereus, L. vinosus, Macrolepiota procera, Ramaria spp., Russula delica and Tricholoma terreum are species of mushrooms with high edible quality and economical importance.

Effects of Nigella sativa seeds and certain species of fungi extracts on number and activation of dural mast cells in rats

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Nigella sativa seeds and certain species of fungi extracts on the number and degranulation states of dural mast cells in rats. Rats were fed ad libitum with normal tap water or tap water with extract of N. sativa seed, Ramaria condensata, Lactarius salmonicolor, Lactarius piperatus, and Tricholoma terreum for 3 days. Mast cells in dura mater were counted and evaluated in terms of granulation and degranulation states. Compound 48/80, a mast cell degranulating agent, and T. terreum significantly increased the percent of degranulated mast cells in dura mater, respectively (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Moreover, T. terreum causes a significant increase in the total number of mast cells (p < 0.05). N. sativa significantly inhibited mast cell degranulation induced by both the compound 48/80 and T. terreum (p < 0.05), and significantly decreased the mast cell numbers increased by T. terreum (p < 0.05). Our results suggested that T. terreum following ingestion can contribute to headaches like migraine via dural mast cell degranulation and N. sativa may be able to exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by stabilizing dural mast cells. However, investigation is needed to determine the ingredients of N. sativa that may be responsible for these beneficial effects.

Sadržaj teških metala i bioakumulacijski potencijal nekih samoniklih jestivih gljiva

Predmetnim istraživanjem utvrđivana je koncentracija Fe, Zn i Cu u deset samoniklih jestivih vrsta gljiva Parka prirode Medvednica. Sličnost između ispitivnih vrsta gljiva ustanovljena je klaster analizom na temelju koncentracije navedenih metala u plodnom tijelu gljiva. Analiza teških metala provedena je metodom XRF – rentgenske fluoroscentne spektrometrije. Najveća koncentracija Fe od 153.96 mg kg^–1 utvrđena je u Tricholoma portentosum, dok je najveća koncentracija Zn od 90.60 mg kg^–1 ustanovljena u vrsti Tricholoma terreum. Najveća koncentracija Cu utvrđena je u vrsti Macrolepiota procera (78.8 mg kg^–1). Analizom teških metala u gljivama ustanovljene su značajne razlike (p<0.05; p<0.001) u koncentraciji Zn i Cu između saprofitskih i ektomikoriznih vrsta gljiva. Utvrđena je znatno veća koncentracija ispitivanih metala u klobuku u odnosu na stručak. Sve istraživane vrste gljiva isključene su kao mogući bioindikatori onečišćenja okoliša željezom. Klaster analiza provedena na temlju koncentracije teških metala u gljivama otkrila je veliku sličnost vrsta gljiva koje pripadaju istom rodu i djelomične sličnosti vrsta iste ekološke pripadnosti.