Effects on Tyrosinase Activity by the Extracts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganoderma lucidum</Emphasis> and Related Mushrooms

The inhibitory effects on tyrosinase activity by extracts of several mushrooms belonging to Basidiomycetes were evaluated. Among the tested mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum, Antrodia camphorata, Agaricus brasiliensis, and Cordyceps militaris), G. lucidum exhibited significant inhibition of tyrosinase activity (IC(50) value 0.32 mg/ml), compared to those prepared from other Basidiomycetes. Tyrosinase inhibitors are effective components of skin-lightening compounds and other cosmetics; currently many of the facial mask cosmetics in the market contain Ganoderma extracts in their ingredients. The finding that mushroom extracts contain tyrosinase activity inhibition will contribute to better understanding of how their 'healing' properties in various Chinese traditional herbal on skin care products.     

Triterpene-enriched extracts from Ganoderma lucidum inhibit growth of hepatoma cells via suppressing protein kinase C,activating mitogen-activated protein kinases and G2-phase cell cycle arrest

The medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been used in the Orient for the prevention and treatment of various diseases including cancer. Except for the immune enhancing properties of its polysaccharide constituent, very little is known about the anticancer activity of another major constituent, triterpenes. In this report, we studied the anticancer mechanism of triterpene-enriched extracts from G. lucidum. The triterpene-enriched fraction, WEES-G6, was prepared from mycelia of G. lucidum by sequential hot water extraction, removal of ethanol-insoluble polysaccharides and then gel-filtration chromatography. We found that WEES-G6 inhibited growth of human hepatoma Huh-7 cells, but not Chang liver cells, a normal human liver cell line. Treatment with WEES-G6 caused a rapid decrease in the activity of cell growth regulative protein, PKC, and the activation of JNK and p38 MAP kinases. The changes in these molecules resulted in a prolonged G2 cell cycle phase and strong growth inhibition. None of these effects were seen in the normal liver cells. Our findings suggest that the triterpenes contained in G. lucidum are potential anticancer agents.     

灵芝发酵液酸性醇提物抗慢性支气管炎疗效的研究

通过灵芝发酵液酸性醇提物对小鼠的镇咳、祛痰实验,及烟熏小鼠肺部组织的形态学观察,研究灵芝酸性醇提物抗慢性支气管炎的疗效。灵芝发酵全液,不同剂量的灵芝酸乙醇提取物、灵芝酸正丁醇提取物均能显著延长二氧化硫诱发的小鼠咳嗽潜伏期,并显著抑制小鼠咳嗽次数,有明显的镇咳作用。60mg/kg给药量的正丁醇提取物使小鼠气道酚红排泄量较对照组提高了50.7%,祛痰疗效也明显优于双黄连口服液。肺组织切片病理检查表明,灵芝酸性提取物明显减轻烟熏小鼠的气管、支气管粘膜损伤,慢性支气管炎的组织病理学变化明显轻于单纯烟熏模型组,且抗炎、抗损伤作用与双黄连相当,这可为灵芝酸产品的研究开发提供一定的药理依据。     

Selective cholinesterase inhibition by lanostane triterpenes from fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum

Two new lanostane triterpenes, named methyl ganoderate A acetonide (1) and n-butyl ganoderate H (2), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum together with 16 known compounds (3-18). Extensive spectroscopic and chemical studies established the structures of these compounds as methyl 7β,15α-isopropylidenedioxy-3,11,23-trioxo-5α-lanost-8-en-26-oate (1) and n-butyl 12β-acetoxy-3β-hydroxy-7,11,15,23-tetraoxo-5α-lanost-8-en-26-oate (2). Because new compounds exhibiting specific anti-acetylcholinesterase activity are being sought as possible drug candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative diseases, compounds 1-18 were examined for their inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. All of the compounds exhibited moderate acetylcholinesterase-inhibitory activity, with IC(50) values ranging from 9.40 to 31.03μM. In contrast, none of the compounds except lucidadiol (13) and lucidenic acid N (14) exhibited butyrylcholinesterase-inhibitory activity at concentrations up to 200μM. These results indicate that these lanostane triterpenes are preferential inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and may be suitable drug candidates.     

纳米级灵芝子实体粉末和破壁灵芝孢子粉体外抗肿瘤活性研究

对纳米级灵芝子实体粉末及破壁灵芝孢子粉石油醚提取物(PE)、氯仿提取物(CE)、丙酮(AE)、甲醇提取物(ME)、水提取物(WE)与灵芝子实体及灵芝孢子提取量进行对比,利用GC-MS联用仪对石油醚提取物进行了成分分析鉴定,对水提物中总糖进行了含量测定,并利用宫颈癌细胞Hela和晶体上皮细胞SRA01/04进行了体外增殖作用和剂量效应关系研究,为灵芝资源的保护及进一步开发利用提供理论基础。结果表明,纳米化灵芝子实体及破壁灵芝孢子不同溶剂提取量显著增加,纳米级灵芝子实体粉末水提取物具有抑制宫颈癌细胞Hela和晶体上皮细胞SRA01/04增殖的作用。破壁灵芝孢子各溶剂提取物对宫颈癌细胞Hela和晶体上皮细胞SRA01/04没有明显的增殖抑制作用。     

Discovery of selective farnesoid X receptor agonists for the treatment of hyperlipidemia from traditional Chinese medicine based on virtual screening and in vitro validation

Abstract

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a bile acid receptor, has important roles in maintaining bile acid and cholesterol homeostasis, which is an attractive target for hyperlipidemia. Present study aimed to discover potential selective FXR agonists over G-protein coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1, TGR5) from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by using virtual screening, in vitro studies and molecular dynamics simulation (MD). Ligand-based pharmacophore model for FXR was firstly built to screen FXR agonists from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database (TCMD). Then, 21 FXR crystal structures were clustered in two types and two representative structures (PDB ID: 3OMM and 3P89) were, respectively, used to carry out molecular docking to refine the screened result. Moreover, the pharmacophore model for GPBAR1 was built to screen selective FXR agonists with no activity on GPBAR1. A set of 24 candidate selective FXR agonists which fitvalue of FXR pharmacophore model and docking score of 3OMM and 3P89 were in the top 100 and cannot match the pharmacophore model for GPBAR1 were obtained. By the lipid-lowering activity test in HepG2 cell lines, Arctigenin was identified to be potential selective FXR agonist with the activity of 20?μmol·L^?1. After down-regulating FXR, Arctigenin could increase the mRNA of FXR while exerted no effect on the mRNA of GPBAR1. MD was further used to interpret the mechanism of Arctigenin with the representative structures. This research provided a new screening procedure for finding selective candidate compounds and appropriate docking models of a target by considering the structure diversity of PDB structures, which was applied to discovery novel selective FXR agonists to treat hyperlipidemia.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Ganoderma lucidum total triterpenes prevent radiation-induced DNA damage and apoptosis in splenic lymphocytes in vitro

The development of radioprotective agents has been the subject of intense research, especially in the field of radiotherapy. In this study, we examined the radioprotective activity of the total triterpenes isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst in mouse splenic lymphocytes in vitro. Using the MTT assay, Ganoderma triterpenes were found to have no effect on cell viability, indicating that they are non-toxic to splenic lymphocytes. The effect of the total triterpenes on DNA damage and apoptosis induced by radiation was analyzed using the comet assay, DNA ladder assay and flow cytometric analysis. Total triterpenes were found to be highly effective in preventing DNA laddering, even at low concentrations (25μg/ml). The comet assay demonstrated that the G. triterpenes effectively prevented DNA damage, and flow cytometry revealed a reduction in apoptotic cells. The effect of the total triterpenes on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity in splenic lymphocytes were determined to elucidate possible radioprotective mechanisms. Total triterpenes successfully reduced the formation of intracellular ROS and enhanced endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity in splenic lymphocytes following irradiation. Thus, these findings indicate that the total triterpenes isolated from G. lucidum have a remarkable ability to protect normal cells from radiation-induced damage, which suggests therapeutic potential.     

Proteomics characterization of the cytotoxicity mechanism of ganoderic acid D and computer-automated estimation of the possible drug target network

Triterpenes isolated from Ganoderma lucidum could inhibit the growth of numerous cancer cell lines and were thought to be the basis of the anticancer effects of G. lucidum. Ganoderic acid D (GAD) is one of the major components in Ganoderma triterpenes. GAD treatment for 48 h inhibited the proliferation of HeLa human cervical carcinoma cells with an IC(50) value of 17.3 +/- 0.3 microM. Flow cytometric analysis and DNA fragmentation analysis indicated that GAD induced G(2)/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. To identify the cellular targets of GAD, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was performed, and proteins altered in expressional level after GAD exposure of cells were identified by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. The regulation of proteins was also confirmed by Western blotting. The cytotoxic effect of GAD was associated with regulated expression of 21 proteins. Furthermore these possible GAD target-related proteins were evaluated by an in silico drug target searching program, INVDOCK. The INVDOCK analysis results suggested that GAD could bind six isoforms of 14-3-3 protein family, annexin A5, and aminopeptidase B. The direct binding affinity of GAD toward 14-3-3 zeta was confirmed in vitro using surface plasmon resonance biosensor analysis. In addition, the intensive study of functional association among these 21 proteins revealed that 14 of them were closely related in the protein-protein interaction network. They had been found to either interact with each other directly or associate with each other via only one intermediate protein from previous protein-protein interaction experimental results. When the network was expanded to a further interaction outward, all 21 proteins could be included into one network. In this way, the possible network associated with GAD target-related proteins was constructed, and the possible contribution of these proteins to the cytotoxicity of GAD is discussed in this report.     

灵芝甾醇14α-脱甲基酶基因的克隆及超量表达对三萜合成的影响

灵芝Ganoderma lucidum是我国传统的药用真菌,三萜类物质是灵芝的主要生物活性成分,甾醇14α-脱甲基酶是三萜合成途径中的关键酶。根据已报道其他物种甾醇14α-脱甲基酶的氨基酸保守序列设计简并引物,获得灵芝甾醇14α-脱甲基酶特异基因片段,并进一步获得灵芝甾醇14α-脱甲基酶基因的全长DNA和cDNA序列。其中DNA序列长1,981bp,cDNA序列长1,635bp。结构基因编码蛋白包含544个氨基酸,分子量为61.99kDa,等电点为6.36。将甾醇14α-脱甲基酶基因的cDNA序列克隆到灵芝超量表达载体pGl-GPD中,利用农杆菌介导的转化法实现了甾醇14α-脱甲基酶基因在灵芝内的超量表达。转化子的甾醇14α-脱甲基酶基因在转录水平表达量增加,三萜含量增加。进一步研究发现,三萜合成途径的关键酶基因Gl-aact、Gl-hmgr及Gl-ls的转录表达量也有所增加。     

菌草灵芝孢子油与段木灵芝孢子油中脂肪酸组成的比较研究

利用气相色谱法,对菌草灵芝孢子油与段木灵芝孢子油中脂肪酸组成、不饱和脂肪酸含量等进行了比较研究。结果发现两者脂肪酸GC指纹图谱极为相似(脂肪酸组成基本相同),说明了菌草灵芝孢子油与段木灵芝孢子油一样有同样的开发价值,但是脂肪酸含量不同,菌草灵芝孢子油中亚油酸和油酸占55.61%,不饱和脂肪酸占61.15%;段木灵芝孢子油中亚油酸和油酸占49.87%,不饱和脂肪酸占54.88%。而且两者的外观、气味略不同。     

Triterpenes from Alisma orientalis act as farnesoid X receptor agonists

Alisma orientalis is a well-known traditional medicine exerting pharmacological effects including antidiabetes, antihepatitis, and antidiuretics, but the respective molecular mechanism is not completely clear. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a member of nuclear receptor superfamily and viewed as one of the essential target proteins to develop antidiabetic treatments. In this study, the triterpenes, alisol M 23-acetate and alisol A 23-acetate, were isolated from A. orientalis and further evaluated for their activity against FXR. In the mammalian one-hybrid and transient transfection reporter assays, both triterpenes transactivated FXR to modulate promoter action including GAL4, SHP, CYP7A1, and PLTP promoters in dose-dependent manner, while they exhibited similar agonistic activity as chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), an endogenous FXR agonist. These results highly indicated that alisol M 23-acetate and alisol A 23-acetate acted as FXR agonists so A. orientalis might exert therapeutic effect including antihyperglycemic effect through FXR pathway.     

不同发酵阶段的灵芝菌丝三萜类成分与抗肿瘤作用的相关性研究

本文研究了不同培养方式、不同发酵阶段的菌丝三萜各组分的变化与抗肿瘤作用的关系。结果表明灵芝三萜在菌丝发酵后期才大量产生,菌丝中三萜的种类与子实体相比相对较少,不同生长阶段菌丝中的三萜在组分、相对含量及各组分间的比例都有所变化,其中两个组分峰的增高与其对肿瘤细胞的抑制作用反相关,另有几个组分峰的增高与对肿瘤细胞的抑制作用正相关。本研究确定了生产有效抑制肿瘤细胞生长的三萜组分最佳培养方式和最佳培养时间。     

Pharmacophore-based discovery of FXR agonists. Part I: Model development and experimental validation

The farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is involved in glucose and lipid metabolism regulation, which makes it an attractive target for the metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. In order to find novel FXR agonists, a structure-based pharmacophore model collection was developed and theoretically evaluated against virtual databases including the ChEMBL database. The most suitable models were used to screen the National Cancer Institute (NCI) database. Biological evaluation of virtual hits led to the discovery of a novel FXR agonist with a piperazine scaffold (compound 19) that shows comparable activity as the endogenous FXR agonist chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA, compound 2).     

Secondary metabolites from Ganoderma lucidum and Spongiporus leucomallellus

The hydrodistillates and solvent extracts of the fruit bodies of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst. and Spongiporus leucomallellus (Murril) A. David were investigated. The constituents in both oils comprised hydrocarbons, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and fatty acids. Major volatiles of G. lucidum were trans-anethol, R-(-)-linalool, S-(+)-carvone and alpha-bisabolol, while the essential oil of S. leucomallellus contained relatively large amounts of R-(-)-1-octene-3-ol, R-(-)-linalool, 1-hepten-3-one and (Z)-nerolidol. From the n-hexane extract of G. lucidum, the steroid ester ergosta-7,22-diene-3beta-yl pentadecanoate could be identified. From S. leucomallellus two constituents showing structures of 3,4-seco-lanostane type triterpene acids were identified as (+)-23-oxo-3,4-seco-lanosta-4(28),7(8),9(11),24(31)-tetraene-3,26-dicarboxylic acid and (+)-20-hydroxy-23-oxo-3,4-seco-lanosta-4(28),7(8),9(11),24(31)-tetraene3,26-dicarboxylic acid, respectively. Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of selected compounds were investigated using standard tests.     

A comparison of in vitro anticancerous activity and mechanism of ethanolic extracts from different Ganoderma genus

Five ethanolic extracts from the mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum,G.tsugae,G.oerstedii,G.subamboinense,and G.resinaceum were respectively studied on their anticancerous activities against leukemic HL-60 cell line in vitro.Results showed that all five extracts potently inhibited HL-60 proliferation.The extract from G.lucidum mycelia exerted the highest activity.Annexin V/PI bivariate flow cytometric analysis further revealed that the five extracts significantly induced early apoptosis in HL-60 cells.The results illustrate that not only G.lucidum but also other Ganoderma species can inhibit cancer cells,and their mechanisms are related to induction of apoptosis.     

灵芝转化苦参水提物的3个新生成分体外抗乙型肝炎病毒作用

先在基础培养基中添加苦参水煎汁,然后培养灵芝,得到灵芝培养液,再按乙醇氯仿-5%碳酸氢钠溶液-氯仿的顺序提取培养液中的有机酸成分,用制备高效液相色谱分离,得到6个新组分,用这些组分分别作用于转染了乙型肝炎病毒DNA的2.2.15细胞,用固相放射免疫法测定细胞培养上清液中的乙肝病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)和e抗原(HBeAg)的含量,用四甲基偶氮唑盐(MTT)法测定细胞的存活率。结果表明,其中的3个组分对2.2.15细胞分泌HBsAg和HBeAg有抑制作用,提示可能具有抗乙肝病毒的作用。     

影响灵芝三萜类物质液态发酵合成的关键因素研究进展

灵芝是我国名贵的食药两用型菌类,具有广泛的药用价值,其三萜类物质为灵芝中最主要的药理活性物质之一。灵芝液态发酵因具有生长周期短、环境条件可控、目标产物质量稳定及易实现规模化制备等特点而成为获得灵芝三萜类物质最有前景的方式。灵芝三萜代谢途径、发酵工艺及参数、溶解氧控制等是影响灵芝三萜类物质液态发酵合成的关键因素。本文总结了灵芝三萜生物合成的代谢途径和相关的酶(基因)、液态发酵方式和发酵参数调节的溶解氧控制这3个层面对灵芝三萜类物质生物合成的影响,并对今后的研究方向进行了展望,为液态培养灵芝三萜类物质调控及高产提供参考,也为下一步研究提供借鉴。