Phellinus Rimosus Research Articles

Polysaccharide Protein Complex Isolated From MushroomPhellinus rimosus(Berk.) Pilat Alleviates γ Radiation-Induced Toxicity in Mice

Ionizing radiations generate reactive oxygen species in irradiated tissue that induces several pathophysiological changes in the body. Radiotherapy induced toxicity is a major dose-limiting factor in anticancer treatments. Radioprotective agents are of significant importance in medical, industrial, environmental, military, and space applications. Radioprotective effect of polysaccharide protein complex (PPC-Pr) isolated from mushroom, Phellinus rimosus, was evaluated in Swiss albino mice. PPC-Pr (5 and 10 mg/kg bwt, i.p.) significantly increased leukocyte count, bone marrow cellularity, glutathione content, and activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in blood as well as intestinal mucosa when compared with the irradiated control group. Histopathological observation of intestinal jejunal mucosa revealed the tissue protective effects of PPC-Pr. Further radioprotective activity of PPC-Pr was in a dose-dependent manner. The findings suggest potential radioprotective efficacy of PPC-Pr.

In vitro pharmacological screening of macrofungi extracts from the Brazilian northeastern region

Although the use of macrofungi in popular medicine is very common, especially in East Asia, the knowledge about their pharmacological properties is poorly investigated. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pharmacological potential of six species of macroscopic fungi: Phellinus rimosus (Berk.) Pilát (Hymenochaetaceae), Pycnoporus sanguineus (L.) Murrill (Poyporaceae), Hymenochaete rheicolor (Mont.) Lév. (Hymenochaetaceae), Hexagonia papyracea Berk. (Polyporaceae), Datronia caperata (Berk.) Ryvarden (Polyporaceae), and Lepiota sp. (Agaricaceae), collected in the state of Bahia, in north-eastern Brazil. Extracts of these species were obtained and tested to determine their cytotoxicity in normal mouse spleen cells. Immunomodulatory, antineoplasic and antiparasitic activities were investigated. Four macrofungi extracts (Phellinus rimosus, Hymenochaete rheicolor, Lepiota sp., and Datronia caperata) inhibited the lymphoproliferative response stimulated by concanavalin A in 65–96% of inhibition in mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation assay, three (Hymenochaete rheicolor, Pycnoporus sanguineus, and Lepiota sp.) inhibited 60–70% of production of nitric oxide by J774 activated by IFN-γ and LPS, and two (Phellinus rimosus and Pycnoporus sanguineus) had antimalarial activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum (over 60%). We did not find inhibition greater than 60% to the growth of both Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. To our knowledge, this is the first description of immunomodulatory activity of Hymenochaete rheicolor (HR), Datronia caperata (DC) and Pycnoporus sanguineus (PS). These results indicate that macrofungi species from the Brazilian north-east have pharmacological activity and are thus a potential source of natural products with medicinal interest.

Ligninases production by Basidiomycetes strains on lignocellulosic agricultural residues and their application in the decolorization of synthetic dyes

Wood rotting Basidiomycetes collected in the “Estação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulista”, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil, concerning Aphyllophorales order and identified as Coriolopsis byrsina SXS16, Lentinus strigellus SXS355, Lentinus sp SXS48, Picnoporus sanguineus SXS 43 and Phellinus rimosus SXS47 were tested for ligninases production by solid state fermentation (SSF) using wheat bran or rice straw as culture media. C. byrsina produced the highest laccase (200 U mL-1) and Lentinus sp produced the highest activities of manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) (7 and 8 U mL-1, respectively), when cultivated on wheat bran. The effect of N addition on enzyme production was studied in medium containing rice straw and the data showed an increase of 3 up to 4-fold in the laccase production compared to that obtained in SSF on wheat bran. The laccases presented optimum pH at 3.0-3.5 and were stable at neutral pH values. Optimum pH for MnP and LiP activities was at 3.5 and between 4.5 and 6.0, respectively. All the strains produced laccase with optimum activities between 55-60ºC while the peroxidases presented maximum activity at temperatures of 30 to 55ºC. The crude enzymes promoted decolorization of chemically different dyes with around 70% of decolorization of RBBR and cybacron blue 3GA in 6h of treatment. The data indicated that enzymes from these basidiomycetes strains are able to decolorize synthetic dyes.

Indian medicinal mushrooms as a source of antioxidant and antitumor agents.

Medicinal mushrooms occurring in South India namely Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus rimosus, Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus pulmonaris possessed profound antioxidant and antitumor activities. This indicated that these mushrooms would be valuable sources of antioxidant and antitumor compounds. Investigations also revealed that they had significant antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. Thus, Indian medicinal mushrooms are potential sources of antioxidant and anticancer compounds. However, intensive and extensive investigations are needed to exploit their valuable therapeutic use.

Phellinus rimosus. Protects Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Chronic Hepatotoxicity In Rats: Antioxidant Defense Mechanism

The capacity of a chemical to produce liver damage in vivo. often results from interaction of a series of complex cellular processes that are involved in the uptake, biotransformation, and elimination of potentially toxic compounds. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the pathophysiology of a number of human ailments including carbon tetrachloride–induced hepatotoxicity. Several phytochemicals found in natural products associated with pharmacological attributes have been reported to scavenge free radicals. Chronic hepatotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg body wt.) in paraffin oil. Administration of ethyl acetate extract of Phellinus rimosus. (Berk) Pilat (Hymenochaetaceae) 25 and 50 mg/kg body wt. orally prior to CCl4 injection significantly and dose-dependently protected the CCl4-mediated elevation of serum transaminases such as glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The hepatic antioxidant status, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and the reduced glutathione (GSH) level was reduced in the CCl4 alone treated animals. Administration of extract prior to CCl4 challenge restored the hepatic antioxidant status. The antioxidant status in the blood of CCl4 alone treated animals also decreased compared with the normal as well as extract plus CCl4 treated animals. The activity of a phase I enzyme, aniline hydroxylase, showed profound increase in the CCl4 alone treated animals that was reduced in the extract plus CCl4 treated group. The activity of phase II enzyme glutathione S.-transferase (GST) was also elevated in the liver and blood of animals treated with the extract compared with the CCl4 alone treated group. The serum and liver lipid peroxidation levels were elevated in the CCl4-treated animals compared with the normal or extract plus CCl4 treated animals. The findings thus suggested ethyl acetate extract of P. rimosus. protects CCl4-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rat by restoring the liver antioxidant status, inhibiting phase I and enhancing phase II enzyme activities.

Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Selected Indian Mushrooms

Cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in several diseases, and hence antioxidants have significant importance in human health. In this study, five methods were used to test and compare the antioxidant activity at different levels involving formation and scavenging of free radicals by the extracts of four mushrooms that have medicinal values. The results were expressed as Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity (AEAC). In the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl 2-picryl hydrazyl) assay, the ethyl acetate extract of Phellinus rimosus showed more potent activity than the methanolic extracts of Pleurotus florida, Pleurotus sajour-caju, and Ganoderma lucidum. The ethyl acetate extract of P. rimosus at a concentration of 0.1% showed a high TEAC value (12.488). In the ABTS (2,2-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) spectrophotometric assay, it possessed the most effective antioxidant activity (TEAC 4.84) compared to methanolic extracts of P. florida, P. sajour-caju, and G. lucidum. The extract of P. rimosus also possessed higher activity compared to other extracts in the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. In the pulse radiolysis studies and the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) assay also, these mushrooms showed significant activities. Results of the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and ORAC assays indicate that all the four mushrooms examined showed significant antioxidant activities. Among these, P. rimosus extract seems to be the more effective antioxidant.

Antibacterial Activity of Three Macrofungi, Ganoderma lucidum, Navesporus floccosa and Phellinus rimosus Occurring in South India

Antibacterial activity of the methanol extract of three polypore macrofungi Phellinus rimosus, Ganoderma lucidum and Navesporus floccosa were studied. The activity was evaluated by hole-plate diffusion and microtitre plate dilution methods using Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Bacillus subtilis. The methanol extract of P. rimosus and N. floccosa showed activity against all the strains at a concentration of 800 µg/well and 1 mg/well, respectively. The methanol extract of G. lucidum showed activity against E. coli, S. typhimurium and B. subtilis at a concentration of 1 mg/well. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of P. rimosus and N. flocossa were found to be 500 µg/well and 1 mg/well, respectively. The MIC of G. lucidum was also found to be 1 mg/well. Chemical analysis of the methanol extracts of these fungi indicated the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, quinones and terpenes.

Cytotoxic and antitumor activities of a polypore macrofungus, Phellinus rimosus (Berk) Pilat.

Cytotoxic and antitumor activities of ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of a wood inhabiting polypore macrofungus, Phellinus rimosus (Berk) Pilat. were studied. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed in vitro cytotoxic activity against Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) and Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell lines. The aqueous extract did not exhibit cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines. All the three extracts were highly effective in inhibiting growth of solid tumor induced by DLA cell line in mice. However, the antitumor activity of ethyl acetate extract was higher than that of methanol and aqueous extracts. The ethyl acetate extract was also effective in preventing the EAC induced ascites tumor development in mice. The antitumor activity of all the three extracts against solid tumor at a dose of 50 mg/kg (p.o.) was comparable to the clinically used standard reference drug, cisplatin (4 mg/kg, i.p.). Pre-treatment of the extracts was also effective in inhibiting the tumor growth induced by DLA cell lines. The experimental results revealed that ethyl acetate extract of P. rimosus possessed significant antitumor activity. The findings thus suggest the potential use of this mushroom as antitumor agent.

Antioxidant and antihepatotoxic activities of Phellinus rimosus (Berk) Pilat

The antioxidant and antihepatotoxic activities of a wood inhabiting macrofungus, Phellinus rimosus were studied. The superoxide anion scavenging, Fe 2+–ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation inhibiting, hydroxyl radical scavenging and nitric oxide scavenging activities of the ethyl acetate extract were determined. The results indicated that ethyl acetate extract of P. rimosus exhibited significant in vitro antioxidant activity. The ethyl acetate extract of P. rimosus also showed potent antihepatotoxic activity against carbontetrachloride-induced acute toxicity in rat liver. The amelioration of liver toxicity by the ethyl acetate extract was evident from its significant effect on the levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The results suggest that hepatoprotective effect of P. rimosus is possibly related to the free radical scavenging activity.

Phellinus rimosus (Berk.) Pilat, Polyporacée nouvelle pour la France

Phellinus rimosus (Berk.) Pilat is reported for the first time from France, where it was found on Pistacia lentiscus on the île Ste-Marguerite near Cannes (Côte-d'Azur). Ecology and distribution of this thermophilic polypore in the mediterranean region are discussed.