-
Ageing Research Reviews Jun 2023Age-related loss of function brings age-related disease, and therefore it is of primary importance to search for interventions that can help minimize detrimental... (Review)
Review
Age-related loss of function brings age-related disease, and therefore it is of primary importance to search for interventions that can help minimize detrimental symptoms people deal with in old age. Fungi have always been given a great deal of attention and reverence in traditional medical practices for their ability to minimize harmful symptoms of diseases. More recently, the role of fungi in influencing healthspan and lifespan is being directly studied in the lab. To treat animal model organisms with fungi-derived molecules, extractions from different life cycle stages of fungi are performed. This includes mycelium (the vegetative stage), sporocarps (the reproductive stage), or spores (the end product of the reproductive stage), and each stage provides a variety of bioactive compounds. These bioactive compounds include glycoproteins, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, meroterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, benzopyran derivatives, and benzoic acid derivatives, amongst others. In this work, we review evidence that fungal extracts from multiple species can have beneficial effects on the lifespan and healthspan of model organisms, such as C. elegans worms, D. melanogaster flies, and M. musculus mice. We cover extraction methods and lifespan effects of Ganoderma lucidum (i.e. Reishi), Lentinula edodes (i.e. Shiitake), the genus Auricularia (i.e. jelly ear mushrooms), the genera Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps (e.g. the caterpillar fungi), Hericium erinaceus (i.e. Lion's mane), the mold genus Monascus, and also Inonotus obliquus (i.e. Chaga), Grifola frondosa (i.e. Maitake or hen-of-the-woods), the genus Pleurotus (e.g. oyster mushrooms), and Agaricus subrufescens (i.e. the almond mushroom). We propose that further research on fungal extracts will provide a greater picture of the role fungi-derived bioactive molecules can have in developing longevity and neuroprotective medicines for humans.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Mice; Longevity; Caenorhabditis elegans; Chickens; Drosophila melanogaster; Fungi
PubMed: 37031727
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101929 -
Nutrients May 2023Reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is a key target for lowering cardiovascular risk and preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease... (Review)
Review
Reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is a key target for lowering cardiovascular risk and preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Red yeast rice (RYR) is a nutraceutical widely used as a lipid-lowering dietary supplement. The main cholesterol-lowering components of RYR are monacolins, particularly monacolin K, which is structurally identical to lovastatin and targets the same key enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis. RYR supplementation reduces LDL-C levels by approximately 15-34% versus placebo, with a similar effect to low-dose, first-generation statins in subjects with mild-to-moderate dyslipidemia. RYR has also demonstrated beneficial reductions of up to 45% versus placebo in the risk of ASCVD events in secondary prevention studies. RYR at a dose that provides about 3 mg/d of monacolin K is well tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to that of low-dose statins. RYR is therefore a treatment option for lowering LDL-C levels and ASCVD risk for people with mild-to-moderate hypercholesterolemia who are ineligible for statin therapy, particularly those who are unable to implement lifestyle modifications, and also for people who are eligible for statin therapy but who are unwilling to take a pharmacologic therapy.
Topics: Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Cholesterol, LDL; Hyperlipidemias; Cholesterol; Lovastatin; Biological Products; Dietary Supplements; Atherosclerosis; Anticholesteremic Agents
PubMed: 37242171
DOI: 10.3390/nu15102288 -
International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2023Statins have been used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, both as monotherapy and in combination therapy. Natural fermentation processes of fungi such as spp., spp.,... (Review)
Review
Statins have been used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, both as monotherapy and in combination therapy. Natural fermentation processes of fungi such as spp., spp., , and have given rise to natural statins. Compactin (mevastatin), the original naturally occurring statin, is the primary biotransformation substrate in the manufacturing process of marketed drugs. Statins are classified into natural, semi-synthetic derivatives of natural statins, and synthetic ones. Synthetic statins differ from natural statins in their structural composition, with the only common feature being the HMG-CoA-like moiety responsible for suppressing HMG-CoA reductase. Statins do not differ significantly regarding their pleiotropic and adverse effects, but their characteristics depend on their pharmacokinetic parameters and chemical properties. This paper focuses on describing the processes of obtaining natural statins, detailing the pharmacokinetics of available statins, divided into natural and synthetic, and indicating their pleiotropic effects.
Topics: Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Pharmacy; Fungi; Lovastatin
PubMed: 38203637
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010466 -
International Journal of Food... Oct 2022Red fermented rice (RFR) is rice fermented using Monascus spp. This product contains monacolin K, providing health benefits including mitigation of diarrhoea and... (Review)
Review
Monascus spp. and citrinin: Identification, selection of Monascus spp. isolates, occurrence, detection and reduction of citrinin during the fermentation of red fermented rice.
Red fermented rice (RFR) is rice fermented using Monascus spp. This product contains monacolin K, providing health benefits including mitigation of diarrhoea and improving blood circulation. RFR can produce pigments that can act as natural colour and flavouring agents. However, Monascus spp. (a fungal starter to ferment RFR) can also produce the mycotoxin, citrinin (CIT) which is believed to have adverse effects on human health. CIT in RFR has been reported worldwide by using different methods of detection. This review focuses on the production of RFR by solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF), the occurrence of CIT in RFR, CIT quantification, the factors affecting the growth of Monascus spp., pigments and CIT production in RFR, and possible methods to reduce CIT in RFR. This review will help the food industries, researchers, and consumers understand the risk of consuming RFR, and the possibility of controlling CIT in RFR.
Topics: Citrinin; Fermentation; Humans; Lovastatin; Monascus; Oryza
PubMed: 35863149
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109829 -
Studies in Mycology Mar 2020The is a relatively large order of with members frequently having positive and negative impact on human activities. Species within this order gain attention from...
The is a relatively large order of with members frequently having positive and negative impact on human activities. Species within this order gain attention from various research fields such as food, indoor and medical mycology and biotechnology. In this article we give an overview of families and genera present in the and introduce an updated subgeneric, sectional and series classification for and . Finally, a comprehensive list of accepted species in the is given. The classification of the at family and genus level is traditionally based on phenotypic characters, and this classification has since been challenged using sequence-based approaches. Here, we re-evaluated the relationships between families and genera of the using a nine-gene sequence dataset. Based on this analysis, the new family is introduced and four known families are accepted: , , and . The includes 28 genera: 15 genera are accommodated in the (, , , , , , , , , , , , , and ), eight in the (, , , , , , , ), two in the (, ) and one in the (). The classification of the was not part of this study, but according to literature two genera are present in this family ( and ). The use of an infrageneric classification system has a long tradition in and . Most recent taxonomic studies focused on the sectional level, resulting in a well-established sectional classification in these genera. In contrast, a series classification in and is often outdated or lacking, but is still relevant, , the allocation of a species to a series can be highly predictive in what functional characters the species might have and might be useful when using a phenotype-based identification. The majority of the series in and are invalidly described and here we introduce a new series classification. Using a phylogenetic approach, often supported by phenotypic, physiologic and/or extrolite data, is subdivided in six subgenera, 27 sections (five new) and 75 series (73 new, one new combination), and in two subgenera, 32 sections (seven new) and 89 series (57 new, six new combinations). Correct identification of species belonging to the is difficult, but crucial, as the species name is the linking pin to information. Lists of accepted species are a helpful aid for researchers to obtain a correct identification using the current taxonomic schemes. In the most recent list from 2014, 339 , 354 and 88 species were accepted. These numbers increased significantly, and the current list includes 446 (32 % increase), 483 (36 % increase) and 171 (94 % increase) species, showing the large diversity and high interest in these genera. We expanded this list with all genera and species belonging to the (except those belonging to ). The list includes 1 187 species, distributed over 27 genera, and contains MycoBank numbers, collection numbers of type and ex-type cultures, subgenus, section and series classification data, information on the mode of reproduction, and GenBank accession numbers of ITS, beta-tubulin (), calmodulin () and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit () gene sequences.
PubMed: 32855739
DOI: 10.1016/j.simyco.2020.05.002 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023, a key player in fermented food production, is known for generating pigments (MPs) and monacolin K (MK), possessing bioactive properties. However, the limited...
, a key player in fermented food production, is known for generating pigments (MPs) and monacolin K (MK), possessing bioactive properties. However, the limited stability of MPs and mycotoxin citrinin (CTN) constrain the industry. Extremolytes like ectoine, derived from bacteria, exhibit cytoprotective potential. Here, we investigated the impact of ectoine on ATCC 16365, emphasizing development and secondary metabolism. Exogenous 5 mM ectoine supplementation substantially increased the yields of MPs and MK (105%-150%) and reduced CTN production. Ectoine influenced mycelial growth, spore development, and gene expression in . Remarkably, ectoine biosynthesis was achieved in , showing comparable effects to exogenous addition. Notably, endogenous ectoine effectively enhanced the stability of MPs under diverse stress conditions. Our findings propose an innovative strategy for augmenting the production and stability of bioactive compounds while reducing CTN levels, advancing the industry.
PubMed: 37685150
DOI: 10.3390/foods12173217 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022Amino acid metabolism could exert regulatory effects on pigments (MPs) biosynthesis. In this work, MPs biosynthesis regulated by methionine and S-adenosylmethionine...
Amino acid metabolism could exert regulatory effects on pigments (MPs) biosynthesis. In this work, MPs biosynthesis regulated by methionine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) was investigated in RP2. The results indicated that the addition of methionine in fermentation significantly reduced MPs production by 60-70%, and it induced a higher expression of SAM synthetase Mon2A2272 and consequently led to SAM accumulation. However, the addition of SAM in fermentation promoted MPs production by a maximum of 35%, while over-expression of the gene led to a decrease in MPs yield, suggesting that SAM synthetase and SAM were likely to play different regulatory roles in MPs biosynthesis. Furthermore, the gene transcription profile indicated that SAM synthetase expression led to a higher expression of the transcriptional regulatory protein of the MPs biosynthesis gene cluster, while the addition of SAM gave rise to a higher expression of MPs biosynthesis activator and the global regulator LaeA, which probably accounted for changes in MPs production and the mycelium colony morphology of RP2 triggered by methionine and SAM. This work proposed a possible regulation mechanism of MPs biosynthesis by SAM metabolism from methionine. The findings provided a new perspective for a deep understanding of MPs biosynthesis regulation in
PubMed: 35774468
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.921540 -
Nutrients Sep 2023Dyslipidemia, a condition implying high cardiovascular risks, has been widely studied on its potential nutrition interventions, including functional foods. This study... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Dyslipidemia, a condition implying high cardiovascular risks, has been widely studied on its potential nutrition interventions, including functional foods. This study aims to examine the effect of nattokinase monascus supplements (NMSs) on cardiovascular biomarkers and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with dyslipidemia. A total of 113 eligible subjects were randomly assigned to receive either NMSs or a placebo (55 and 58, respectively). After a 120-day intervention, there were significant mean absolute changes in total cholesterol (TC), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and low-density cholesterol to high-density cholesterol ratio (LDL-C to HDL-C ratio), with values of -0.52 (95% CI: -0.51 to -0.54) mmol/L, -0.43 (95% CI: -0.45 to -0.41) mmol/L, -0.52 (95% CI: -0.52 to -0.52) mmol/L, and -0.29 (95% CI: -0.30 to -0.28) mmol/L, respectively, between the two groups. However, no significant differences were found in triglycerides (TGs), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), and CIMT. Furthermore, the results for lipids and CIMT remained essentially unchanged after adjusting for various confounding factors using the analysis of covariance model. There were no significant differences in coagulation, liver function, renal function, or other indicators. No intervention-related adverse events, such as mouth ulcers, drooling, and stomach pain, were reported. The study results demonstrate that NMSs can ameliorate lipid levels (TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and the LDL-C to HDL-C ratio) without the occurrence of adverse events. However, it did not significantly affect serum TG, HDL-C, and CIMT.
Topics: Humans; Cholesterol, LDL; Monascus; Cholesterol, HDL; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Hypercholesterolemia; Triglycerides; Dyslipidemias; Hyperlipidemias; Double-Blind Method
PubMed: 37836525
DOI: 10.3390/nu15194239 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2020The genus has important economic and ecological values. In 2016, we isolated a strain . After studying the phylogenetic relationship of , we believe that is an...
The genus has important economic and ecological values. In 2016, we isolated a strain . After studying the phylogenetic relationship of , we believe that is an independent species and speculate that it is a natural nothospecies. Recently, the morphological characteristics and sequences of seven genes (ITS, LSU, β-tubulin, calmodulin, RNA polymerase II subunit, β-ketoacyl synthase, and mating-type locus 1-1) of 15 strains were analyzed, including sequencing of multiple clones of five protein genes in four strains. Two types of haplotypes (A and B) were observed in the five protein genes of . Haplotype A was closely related to , and haplotype B may be derived from an unknown species. The results demonstrated that including type strains may be a natural nothospecies. This study laid the foundation for further exploration of the genome, and the study may be of significant importance for the fermentation industry.
PubMed: 33414778
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.614910 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2022In order to improve the flavor and taste of Camembert cheese, the use of Monascus as an adjunct starter for the production of Camembert-type cheese was studied to...
In order to improve the flavor and taste of Camembert cheese, the use of Monascus as an adjunct starter for the production of Camembert-type cheese was studied to investigate its effect on the proteolysis, lipolysis, and volatile compounds during ripening for 40 days. The Camembert cheese without Monascus was used as a control. The results showed that proteolytic and lipolytic activities increased to a certain extent. The addition of Monascus promoted primary and secondary proteolysis, due to the release of some proteases by Monascus. Aspartic, Threonine, Glutamic, Glycine, Methione, Isoleucine, Phenyalanine, and Lysine contents in experimental group (R) cheese were significantly higher than those in control group (W) cheeses. In addition, the free amino acid and fatty acid contents were also affected. The identification of flavor components using gas-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that 2-undecone, 2-tridecanone, phenylethyl alcohol, butanediol (responsible for the production of flowery and honey-like aroma), ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, and ethyl citrate (fruit-like aroma) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the experimental cheeses than in the control. The contents of 2-nonanone, 2-octanone and 2-decanone (showing milky flavor), and 1-octene-3 alcohol with typical mushroom-like flavor were lower than the control.
PubMed: 35681411
DOI: 10.3390/foods11111662