Meripilus giganteus, commonly known as the giant polypore, is a significant basidiomycete fungus with notable ecological role and potential medicinal applications. Studies on this fungus have revealed its multifaceted bioactive properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, immunosuppressive, and neuroprotective effects. Through the production of ligninolytic enzymes such as laccase, M. giganteus holds promise for bioremediation and biofuel production. Given these promising findings, further research is warranted, including genome sequencing, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches, to fully elucidate its bioactive pathways and maximize its biotechnological potential.

This study addresses the alterations in nutrients [calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E (VC and VE, respectively)] and cordycepin content, alongside its sensory appeal in Cordyceps militaris, subjected to five distinct cooking methods: boiling, steaming, roasting, microwaving, and deep-frying. A comparative analysis showed the notable decline in nutrient content across most cooking methods excluding deep-frying. In notable contrast, the content of VE was substantially amplified during deep-frying, thereby emphasizing its value in preserving nutrients. However, an exception was noted wherein VE content remained essentially unchanged in the microwaved samples. Notably, the cordycepin content in boiled C. militaris reduced significantly, contrastingly, an elevation in this content was recorded for steamed, microwaved, or deep-fried samples, with roasting producing a stable content comparable to raw samples. The principal component analysis further discerned the iron, VC, and cordycepin as primary influencers on raw and roasted C. militaris, signifying superior retention during roasting, whereas deep-fried samples were predominantly affected by the calcium and VE content. Observation on nutrient losses revealed that boiling, steaming, and microwaving were less efficacious, compared with roasting and deep-frying. Sensory evaluations inductively favored steaming as synonymous with the finest culinary attribute, whereas deep-frying ranked least favorably on the sensory scale. Consequently, the present study offers refined dietary advice for the consumption of C. militaris catered to specific demographic groups, deepening understanding of the effects of various culinary practices on its overall nutrient profile and organoleptic properties.

The psychedelic mushroom market has expanded rapidly due to changing regulations and increasing consumer demand. Product diversity now extends beyond traditional capsules and tablets to include gummies, powders, and confectionery items, complicating quality control efforts. To assess the quality and potential adulteration of Amanita musca-ria and Psilocybe cubensis-based products, a validated LC-QToF-MS method was developed. This method focused on five characteristic compounds: ibotenic acid (IBA), muscimol (MUS), muscarine, psilocin, and psilocybin that are constituents of A. muscaria and P. cubensis mushrooms. Method validation demonstrated satisfactory linearity, precision, and recovery of all five analytes. Psilocin and psilocybin levels ranged from 0.001-1.6% and 9.9-19.3%, respectively, in five Psilocybe species samples, while IBA, MUS, and muscarine levels in two samples of Amanita muscaria were 0.03-0.04%, 0.01- 0.02%, and 0.01-0.02%, respectively. By comparing commercial products to authentic samples, we evaluated the overall quality of 27 across various formulations. Our analysis included 14 gummies, three chocolates, six capsules, one tablet, and three powders. Although 11 of 14 gummies claimed to contain Amanita mushroom extracts, only MUS and muscarine were detected, without IBA. Interestingly, one gummy product indicated the presence of psilocin and psilocybin despite the labeling that claimed, "no psilocybin." Eleven products contained psilocin and psilocybin as anticipated, but five products lacked all target compounds. These findings underscore the need for standardized product specifications. Nevertheless, the established LC-QToF-MS approach could serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the quality of magic mushroom-based consumer products.

Species of the genus Ganoderma are important medicinal and edible mushrooms, with polysaccharides being its main active ingredient. The submerged fermentation of Ganoderma is an important source of polysaccharides in the mycelia. In this study, a single factor test and an orthogonal test were employed to optimize the medium and fermentation conditions with the objective of obtaining a high content of polysaccharide in the liquid submerged fermentation culture mycelia of Ganoderma species. The results demonstrated that the optimal culture medium formula for polysaccharide accumulation in mycelia was: soluble starch, 25 g/L; wheat bran, 3 g/L; and KH2PO4, 4.5 g/L, with a pH of 4.0, and the optimal culture conditions were a temperature of 27°C, a rotational speed of 90 r/min, and an incubation period of 11 d. Furthermore, the mycelia of 20 strains from nine species of Ganoderma were cultured under optimal fermentation conditions, and the content of polysaccharide in mycelia and its antioxidant activity were analyzed. The findings revealed that the polysaccharide content in the mycelia of strains GD and Du996 was notably elevated, at 56.97 and 53.22 mg/g, respectively. The polysaccharide content was found to be high in the mycelia of G. sichuanense and G. lucidum, with an average of 35 mg/g. Nevertheless, no notable discrepancy was observed in the polysaccharide content of the mycelia of the cultivated and wild strains. Moreover, the antioxidant activity analysis revealed that the DPPH clearance rate of strains Du1320, Du280, and GD was 92.85%, 90.86%, and 89.06%, respectively. The ABTS clearance rate of strain GSD was the highest (75.39%), and the hydroxyl radical clearance rate of strain GD was the highest (81.98%). In conclusion, this study optimized the medium and conditions for high polysaccharide yield in the liquid submerged fermentation culture of Ganoderma and identified the strains with the highest yield and antioxidant activity. The present results may provide a theoretical basis for the future production of polysaccharides in mycelia by liquid fermentation of Ganoderma as well as for the development and utilization of strains with high polysaccharide yield and antioxidant activity.

Currently available treatments for acute myeloid leukemia exhibit side effects that limit their use, with primary and secondary resistance as persistent issues. While edible mushrooms possess nutritional value, they are also an excellent source of bioactive compounds that may have the potential to treat multiple disease states. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of chromatographic fractions from the methanol extract of Cantharellus cibarius in a human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line MV4-11. The mushrooms were purchased from a grocery store, the fruiting bodies were triturated and then extracted with 99.9% methanol to generate a crude extract. This crude extract was then redissolved in methanol, filtered over cotton to remove insoluble solids, and then fractionated over Sephadex® LH-20. Each fraction was dried and then analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC. A typical UV wavelength was selected for the detection of possible anticancer compounds in C. cibarius based on the major chromophores in main fungal anticancer agents reported. Based on chromatographic profiles, specific fractions that might contain potential anticancer agents were combined, and the inhibitory activity of the combined fractions was assessed against the MV4-11 leukemia cell line. Data confirmed that one combined fraction LH-20F-IV showed the greatest degree of in vitro inhibitory activity against the selected cell line. Fast determination of the potential anticancer compound containing fraction was completed through the application of reported chemoinformatics on HPLC detection of possible chromophores in potential anticancer agents, in combination with cellular bioassays.

Cordycepin, known for its tumor-suppressive and antiviral properties, has garnered attention due to its therapeutic and biological potential. Current Cordyceps militaris - based cordycepin production methods involve time-consuming and cost-intensive solid-state fermentation. Using an internet of things (IoT) architecture, we developed an active air-feed regulation fermentation system (AAFRFS) to detect CO2 emitted during C. militaris submerged fermentation. Equipped with a microcontroller unit and proportional-integral-derivative plus pulse-width modulation technology, the AAFRFS also regulates the air supply, inducing hypoxic stress to enhance cordycepin production. Our system uploads all fermentation data to a cloud database. After 14 d of fermentation (volume 5 L) at 3000 ppm metabolic CO2, cordycepin levels exceeded 1.44 g/L (yield: 103.2 mg/L/d). Hypoxic stress promoted earlier cordycepin production. Utilizing big data with an alert mechanism enabled the early detection of microbial contamination within a 12- to 24-h period. Principal component analysis revealed a positive correlation between temperature and CO2 concentration, suggesting that temperature fluctuations likely affect the respiration rate of C. militaris, thereby altering CO2 levels. Our findings may help optimize fermentation strategies not only for C. militaris but also for other fungal strains.

Candida albicans has the potential to turn pathogenic and cause mild to severe infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. Novel therapeutics are required due to its morphological alterations, biofilm development, and resistance to antifungal drugs. Polycephalomyces nipponicus, a traditional East Asian medicinal fungus, has shown potential as an antifungal agent. In this study, 15 P. nipponicus isolates were cultivated and their mycelial extracts were evaluated against C. albicans NCYC854 using agar well diffusion, broth microdilution, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and time-kill assays. Eight isolates exhibited significant antifungal activity, with inhibition zones from 11.25 ± 1.50 mm to 18 ± 0.82 mm, notably Cod-MK1209 surpassing amphotericin B. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) ranged from 125 to 500 μg/mL, with extracts from Cod-MK1206 and Cod-MK1209 showing the lowest MFC at 125 μg/mL. The results of time-kill experiments showed fungistatic effects by drastically lowering viable cell populations at 1ȕ and 2ȕ MIC concentrations within 24 h. The SEM analysis also indicated evidence of degradation to the cellular wall and membrane. These findings highlight the potential of P. nipponicus extracts as powerful antifungal medicines that target C. albicans selectively. Further research efforts have to focus on the identification and description of bioactive components, enhancement of extraction techniques, and advancement towards preclinical and clinical studies to validate their potential for therapeutic use.

The study of antimicrobial activity (AMA) of 14 genetically identified dikaryotic strains of red belted medicinal polypore Fomitopsis pinicola isolated from Betula sp. and other deciduous trees, as well as conifers Picea sp. and Abies alba in Russia, France and Italy against test fungi and bacteria is discussed. The results of this study have shown that F. pinicola strains possess significant antimicrobial potential against dermatophytes (Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton terrestre) and Penicillium species (P. griseofulvum, P. sp.) isolated from soil samples in Armenia, as well as Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria received from different culture collections. In dual culture experiments, F. pinicola showed high antagonistic/antifungal activity toward test fungi by suppressing their average growth rate (GRavr) and sporulation causing morphological changes of colonies. The cultural broth (CB) samples obtained from 21-d static culture of F. pinicola demonstrated higher antifungal activity (AFA) with fungicidic (FC) and fungistatic (FS) effects against dermatophytes and more than 50% GRavr inhibitory effect for Penicillium spp. compared with mycelial extracts (ME) samples. Tested CB and ME samples of F. pinicola showed also antibacterial activity (ABA) against test bacteria. The AMA of CB samples was higher than the activity of ME samples. The mycelium of F. pinicola may be considered a potential source of extra- and intracellular antimicrobial compounds. Further studies to elucidate the mechanism of antimicrobial effect of F. pinicola for developing mushroom-derived biotech products are warranted.

The antihyperglycemic activity of extracellular polysaccharopeptides (ePSP) obtained from Trametes versicolor (TV) strain LH-1 has been demonstrated in hepatic cells and diabetic animals. This study further investigated the mechanisms of T. versicolor-ePSP on regulating glucose metabolism, including insulin signaling molecules and glucose metabolism-associated enzymes, in the liver of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Male Wistar rats, fed with a high-fat diet followed by a streptozotocin injection to induce T2DM, were orally administered water or T. versicolor-ePSP at doses of 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 g/kg/d. After 4 weeks of T. versicolor-ePSP administration, T2DM rats exhibited significantly lower postprandial blood glucose levels, decreased liver triglyceride and cholesterol contents, and improved serum liver function indices in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). Additionally, T2DM rats administered T. versicolor-ePSP had significantly activated insulin receptors and decreased proteins involved in insulin signaling pathway, such as insulin receptor substrates, PI3K, and total and activated Akt, and AMP-activated protein kinase in the liver. T. versicolor-ePSP administration, especially at 1.0 g/kg per day, significantly increased glucose transporters in the cell membrane and decreased glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphotase in the cytosol of the liver. In conclusion, the antihyperglycemic activities of T. versicolor-ePSP may be associated with enhanced hepatic function, alleviated gluconeogenesis, and facilitated glucose transport in an insulin- and AMPK-independent manner in the liver of T2DM rats.

Mushrooms are widely recognized for their rich nutritional profile and diverse array of bioactive compounds, including proteins, polysaccharides, and secondary metabolites, which contribute to various health benefits. Among these compounds, phospholipids stand out due to their essential role in cellular processes and their potential applications in food, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. This review comprehensively examines the phospholipid composition in mushrooms, highlighting the methods of analysis, and delving into their functional applications. By comparing lipid profiles across different stages of growth and between various species, this review highlights the significant role of phospholipids in mushroom cellular structure and function. The review also discusses the biosynthetic pathways and extraction methods employed for this class of compounds. By shedding light on this underexplored aspect of mushroom chemistry, this work aims to spur further research and innovation in the utilization of mushrooms in food science and medicine.

The present study was aimed at evaluating the nutritional characteristics of bio-enriched oyster mushrooms. Cereal, leguminous and oilseed waste was used as substrates. Rice, soybean and mustard straw performed the best among all substrate fortified by adding Se and Zn salts individually and in combination at three different doses (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg) for nutrient analysis. The results showed that highest carbohydrate, 54.01 percent and protein content, 29.41 percent after fortification with Se and Zn at 75 mg/kg as compared to other doses on different substrates. Se at 75 mg/kg gave maximum carbohydrate (60.29%) and protein content (32.32%) in soybean straw while Zn supplementation at 50 mg/kg resulted in high fat content (2.74%) while rice straw had maximum fiber content (18.12%). Based on maximum yield, best dose of both the salts (25 mg/ kg of substrate) were combined and evaluated. The results indicated that soybean straw had the highest nutrient contents having 55.00 percent carbohydrate and 27.72 percent protein content. It was concluded that fortification with selenium and zinc increased the nutritional composition of Pleurotus ostreatus in comparison to control.

Fungi have proved to be useful sources of compounds with antineoplastic properties. Although several metabolites isolated from species of the genus Omphalotus have shown cytotoxic effects on tumor cell lines. Few works have studied Omphalotus nidiformis. The activity of a whole crude extracellular product of a O. nidiformis micelyum strain is reported herein; this crude extract was able to reduce viability of cervical cancer HeLa cells (78% to 29%) after 24 h of exposure. Upon fractionation with dichloromethane, the fraction F1 was also capable of inhibiting cell viability, but the fraction F2 showed no effect. Both the crude extracellular product and F1 induced time- and concentration-dependent cell death by apoptosis through activation of caspase-3/7; in addition, both products induced a 3.5- to 5-fold increase in autophagy. The major components identified in both extracts by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were 9-octadecenamide, tetradecanamide, hexadecanamide, and squalene, which could be responsible for the cytotoxic effect. Fungal metabolites with cytotoxic activity could be used in the future in combination with antineoplastic drugs for cancer treatment.

RVP, a water-soluble triple-helix galactoglucomannan, was successfully extracted from the fruiting body of Russula virescens using an alkali extraction method. Physicochemical properties analysis showed that the protein content of RVP was low (0.95%). The main chain was mainly composed of 1,3,6-linked D-mannose and 1,6-linked glucose residues, and contained terminal glucose units and a small amount of 1,4-linked glucose and 1,6-linked galactose. The average molecular weight of RVP is approximately 8.91 ȕ 105, and it adopts a semi-rigid triple helix conformation. The antioxidant potential of RVP was initially assessed in vitro using H2O2 to induce oxidative stress in a cellular model, leading to cell damage and decreased survival rates. In comparison to the H2O2 model group, RVP exhibited substantial antioxidant activity, demonstrating a capacity to enhance cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner and notably reduce the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the cell supernatant, thus indicating its effectiveness in reducing lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, RVP was found to boost the activity of crucial antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the cells. Thus, RVP with antioxidant properties has broad application prospects in health and wellness.

In our study, the biological activities of the wild edible mushroom Cantharellus cibarius were determined. First of all, 64 different experiments were performed in the Soxhlet device at 40-70°C extraction temperatures, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h of extraction time and 0.25, 0.50, 1, and 2 mg/mL extract concentrations, and total antioxidant (TAS) and total oxidant values (TOS) were determined, and both single-purpose and multi-objective optimization studies were performed. The extraction conditions were optimized so that the objective function of the single-purpose optimization would be the maximum TAS value, and the objective function of the multi-objective optimization would be the maximum TAS and minimum TOS values. The data obtained from the experimental study were modeled with artificial neural networks from artificial intelligence methods, and optimization was performed with a genetic algorithm. After the single-objective optimization process, the optimum extraction conditions were found as 46.622°C, 5.110 h and 1.973 mg/mL and the multi-objective optimum extraction conditions were found as 50.927°C, 6.094 h and 1.439 mg/mL. The TAS values of the extracts obtained as a result of single-objective and multi-objective optimization were measured as 5.511 and 5.359, respectively, and the TOS values were measured as 7.289 and 6.061. The anti-AChE value of the extracts was calculated as 16.12, 20.31 and anti-BChE value as 36.92, 40.28. In addition, it was determined that the single-objective optimization extract had stronger antiproliferative activity than the multi-objective extract. As a result, it was determined that the biological activities of the extracts of C. cibarius obtained under suitable conditions were high.

In this work, magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) capable of selectively recognizing and adsorbing cordycepin was prepared. The MMIP was prepared using cordycepin as the template molecule, methacrylic acid and acrylamide as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the crosslinker. The MMIP was analyzed using various techniques including transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer and x-ray diffraction. The adsorption properties of MMIP were subsequently investigated, including adsorption isotherms, kinetics, selectivity, and reusability. In an aqueous solution, the maximum theoretical adsorption of MMIP was 35.806 mg/g. Finally, two practical applications of MMIP were studied. Our results showed that MMIP was able to increase the purity of cordycepin in the fermentation broth of Cordyceps militaris by 5.46 times and, using in situ isolation techniques, MMIP was able to increase the total cordycepin content obtained from liquid fermentation of C. militaris by 33.41%. These results demonstrated that these MMIPs exhibit excellent magnetic properties and possess specific adsorption capability for cordycepin, enabling rapid separation. They offer advantages such as cost-effectiveness, high specificity, and recyclability.

In our study, four species of wood-decaying fungi with perennial fruiting bodies were used as the source of biologically active compounds (BACs) - Inonotus obliquus (chaga), Fomitopsis pinicola, Fomes fomentarius, and Ganoderma applanatum. Fungi have a wide range of secondary metabolites but are used much less frequently than plants in both folk and official medicine. Fungotherapy could be considered a promising trend in the development of modern natural therapy. Therefore, qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extracts were carried out. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous-alcoholic extracts, obtained from fungal fruiting bodies were assessed after application on Drosophila melanogaster. The frequency of the larvae lethally, SMART mosaicism, the GstD1 gene expression and the DNA damage were studied. The addition of 0.5% of fungal extracts to the food substrate did not cause a significant change in the lethality level in D. melanogaster. All extracts caused an increase in the degree of DNA damage. The greatest effect was caused by extract from I. obliquus and G. applanatum. Chaga extract caused a significant increase in the expression level of the GstD1 gene. F. fomentarius extract exhibited the lowest level of DNA damage and reduced GstD1 gene expression. The F. fomentarius extract showed a pronounced antiproliferative effect. So, Drosophila melanogaster could be used as the preliminary test object for early studies of biological activities from natural raw materials as it is much cheaper compared with cell lines and vertebrate models.

The quest for bioactives that confer protection against chemotherapy induced cardio toxicity is a front-line area of cardio oncology research. Species of genus Morchella have been used in traditional medicine to treat asthma, wound healing, cough, cold, indigestion, excessive phlegm and breathlessness. M. esculenta, commonly known as guchhi in India is a highly prized culinary morel mushroom. Recent studies carried out in our laboratory have demonstrated significant cardioprotective effect of M. esculenta against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity. Since bioactive extracts of morel mushrooms were found to possess profound antioxidant activity, the possible interference of these extracts with antineoplastic activity of chemotherapy drugs is often surmised. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of two anticancer drugs, DOX and cyclophosphamide (CP) on solid tumor-bearing mice treated with bioactive extract of M. esculenta. Solid tumor was induced by subcutaneous injection of Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) cells on the right hind limbs of Swiss albino mice. Animals were administered with various concentrations of methanol extract (ME) of M. esculenta following tumor induction. Tumor growth (volume and mass) was measured for four weeks after tumor induction. Cardioprotective effect of methanolic extract was assessed by determining cardiac injury markers levels in serum, antioxidant status in myocardium and histopathology of heart tissue. The results showed significant cardioprotective effect of ME of M. esculenta on tumor-bearing mice. The findings also suggest that ME of M. esculenta did not delimit the therapeutic effect of DOX and CP despite its profound antioxidant activity.

This study aimed to identify antibacterial compounds from the broth extract of Fomitopsis meliae (MSUCC009). From small-scale fermentation, the broth extract of F. meliae showed antibacterial activity. Therefore, the fermentation of this fungal strain was scaled up and the broth extract was chemically investigated. Purification of the broth extract led to the isolation of two 5-hydroxymethylfuran metabolites, 5-hydroxymethyl-2- furoic acid methyl ester and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA) together with a pyrimidine base, uracil. This is the first isolation report of 5-hydroxymethylfuran derivatives from the genus Fomitopsis. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) spectroscopic methods, and comparison with previous reports. 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid exhibited antibacterial activity against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus with MIC and MBC values of > 0.25 mg/mL. 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid methyl ester and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid were also tested against A549 cancer cell lines. These two compounds were inactive in this cytotoxicity assay.

A health risk assessment was carried out to determine the probability of damage and carcinogenic effects from consumption of five mushroom species (Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Lactarius indigo, Ramaria flava, and Sarcodon calvatus) potentially contaminated by chromium (Cr), based on data reported by López-Vázquez and Prieto-García (2016) in Hidalgo state [López-Vázquez E, Prieto-García F. Minerals and toxic elements in wild mushrooms species from regions of Hidalgo state in Mexico. Asian J Chem. 2016;28(12):2725-30]. The evaluation was carried out based on an environmental risk indicator: potential ecological risk; and two health risk indicators: the hazard quotient, non-cancer damage and the risk of increase of individual cancer. The results showed that there is a high probability of carcinogenic damage for the three regions where older adults and pregnant are the most vulnerable sectors. Due to the traditional use of edible mushrooms in Mexico, the evidence of bioaccumulation of heavy metals of toxicological interest in mushroom species, as well as the notable damage to health due to the consumption of contaminated species; the monitoring and implementation of standards that regulate their consumption and ensuring their food safety is essential. More research is required to support the use of these evaluations.

The traditional use of Cordyceps militaris, an entomopathogenic fungus, in East Asian medicine has been well documented. Our previous study revealed that the fruiting body powder of C. militaris, referred to as Ryukyu-kaso, contains 1,3-β-glucan and stimulates bone marrow-derived dendritic cells via a dectin-1-dependent pathway. However, the immunomodulatory effects of soluble 1,3-β-glucan in Ryukyu-kaso and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the immunostimulatory effects of the hot water extract of C. militaris fruiting body (RK-HWE) on bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and the involvement of the β-glucan receptor dectin-1. Our findings revealed that the hot water extract of C. militaris fruiting body contains soluble 1,3-β-glucan and potently induces bone marrow-derived dendritic cells to secrete both pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines. Compared with the control, RK-HWE significantly increased the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, interfer-on-в, IL-12p70, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (all ,i>p < 0.05), with TNF-α secretion increasing from 7.82 ± 1.57 (control) to 403.7 ± 59.7 pg/mL with (RK-HWE; p < 0.001). Notably, these immunostimulatory effects of RK-HWE were completely abolished in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells derived from dectin-1-knockout mice (p < 0.001, all cytokines), suggesting that dectin-1 is essential for immunomodulation induced by RK-HWE. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the immunostimulatory effects of RK-HWE and highlight its potential as a natural immunomodulatory agent for various therapeutic applications.

Ganoderma resinaceum is a traditional mushroom that contains natural products, including ergothioneine (EGT), which has powerful antioxidant properties in the human body. To increase EGT yield from G. resinaceum, the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources in the culture medium were determined as 20 g/L sucrose and 4 g/L NH4Cl, respectively. The fermentation conditions were then optimized using response surface methodology, with the highest EGT yield of approximately 4.10 mg/L achieved at an initial pH of 5.19, a culture medium volume of 118 mL, and a fermentation temperature of 26.90°C. After extraction, EGT was purified using Sephadex G-10, resulting in a purity of 43.72%. Both the crude and purified EGT extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase in vitro, with positive results. These findings suggest the potential for developing edible fungi-derived medicines to treat gout, which could alleviate the side effects of traditional medicines.