DOCSLIB.ORG

The Chemistry of Peptide Ergot Alkaloids. Part 1. Classification and Chemistry of Ergot Peptides

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Chemistry of Peptide Ergot Alkaloids. Part 1. Classification and Chemistry of Ergot Peptides Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal Vol. 35, No. 9, 2001 MEDICINAL PLANTS THE CHEMISTRY OF PEPTIDE ERGOT ALKALOIDS. PART 1. CLASSIFICATION AND CHEMISTRY OF ERGOT PEPTIDES E. L. Komarova1 and O. N. Tolkachev1 Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 35, No. 9, pp. 37 – 45, September, 2001. Original article submitted February 22, 2001. INTRODUCTION ring in both qualitative and quantitative composition of alka- loids. To the present, ergot strains were specially selected Ergot alkaloids is a group of natural biologically active that are capable of producing predominantly a single alkaloid compounds belonging, according to the general alkaloid or a certain group of alkaloids: ergotamine, ergotoxin, ergoc- classification, to the class of indole derivatives. Ergot alkalo- ristine, etc. [3, 4, 6, 16 – 27]. ids are found in largest amounts in the fungal species of Cla- Owing to a high biological activity and broad spectrum viceps genus, the most widely occurring source of these sub- of pharmacological effects, ergot alkaloids are of considerab- stances being purple ergot (Claviceps purpurea Fr. Tul.) le importance for medicine. These compounds are now obtai- [1 – 6]. Another well-known fungal species producing alka- ned both by methods of artificial parasitic cultivation on rye loids of the clavine series is Claviceps paspali [11, 14, 19 – 22, 25 – 30] and by saprophytic growth techni- [1, 3, 4, 6 – 8]. Ergot alkaloids are rarely encountered in hig- ques [31 – 35]. her plants; examples are offered by the Ipomoea genus of the The most widely known pharmacological effect of ergot Convolvulaceae family occurring in Central America alkaloids is the ability to induce uterine contraction. Ergot [4, 9, 10]. extracts were officially used for the first time in gynecology. The life cycle of ergot consists of three sequential stages, The best known drugs of this type are ergotamine and ergo- including the (i) conidial stage of sphacelia, (ii) sclerotium metrine. (resting stage), and (iii) sephalated stroma with perithecium. As the chemical structure and pharmacological properti- The alkaloids are obtained from ergot sclerotium called es of ergot alkaloids were studied, the scope of their applica- “spurred rye” (Secale cornutum)[4–6,11]. The ergot sclerotium contains up to 30 – 40% of fatty tion considerably expanded. Ergot alkaloids exhibit a comp- oils and up to 2% of alkaloids. The other components of scle- licated action upon the organism, which accounts for a varie- rotium are free amino acids, ergosterin, choline, acetylcholi- ty of possible therapeutic applications. Dihydroxy derivati- ne, betaine, ergothionine, uracil, guanidine, free aromatic ves of ergotoxin alkaloids produce a-adrenoblocking and and heterocyclic amines (tyramine, histamine, agmatine), “venotonic” action. These compounds are administered in and alkylamines (the natural representatives of which were cases of hypertension, cerebral vasospasms, peripheral circu- originally found in ergot). The outer shell of sclerotium con- lation disorders, etc. [36 – 39]. tains acid pigments belonging to anthraquinolinic acid deri- Many ergot alkaloids produce a more or less pronounced vatives, including orange-red (endocrocin, clavorubin) and dopaminergic effect. Specific dopamine agonists are 2-Br-a- light-yellow (ergochromes, ergochrysins). These pigments and 2-Br-b-ergocryptines, which influence the secretion of impart to the sclerotium shell the characteristic gray- hypophyseal anterior hormones and produce a hypotensive ish-brown-violet color [6, 12 – 15]. Also encountered are the action upon the CNS, sympathetic nerve endings, and smo- albino ergot strains incapable of producing pigments [16]. oth vascular muscles. The drug abergin (Russia) [36, 37] or Investigation of the wild-growing Cl. purpurea species parlodel (bromergon, bromocriptine mesylate) are used for revealed the existence of numerous geographic types diffe- the treatment of a wide spectrum of disorders, including ga- lactorrhea, acromegalia, mastites, prolactinomas, amenor- 1 All-Russia Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Moscow, rhea, and infertility and for the suppression of lactation, Cus- Russia. hing’s disease, some hormonal tumors, etc. [1, 36 – 44]. 504 0091-150X/01/3509-0504 The Chemistry of Peptide Ergot Alkaloids 505 The ergot alkaloids are administered both separately and 8 O H C OH in numerous complex compositions [39]. At present, extensi- 9 7 12 D 9 8 ve investigations aimed at the selection of new ergot strains, 5 NH 13 10 11 6 D creation of new original domestic drugs based on ergot alka- A H 10 N CH C 3 14 4 loids, and development of the corresponding technologies 16 5 H 15 B 3 are in progress in the All-Russia Research Institute of Medi- NH O 1 2 cinal and Aromatic Plants. C OH I NH 8 II 9 CLASSIFICATION OF ERGOT ALKALOIDS 10 N CH 3 5 The structure of ergot alkaloids is built around a tetracyc- H lic ring system of ergoline (Fig. 1). Depending on the structu- re of ring D in the ergoline nucleus and the types of substitu- NH III ents at C8, all ergot alkaloids can be divided into three bioge- Fig. 1. The structural formulas of ergoline (I), lysergic acid (II), and netically related classes: clavine ergot alkaloids, simple paspalic acid (III). lysergic acid derivatives, and peptide ergot alkaloids (ergot peptides). The biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids is genetically controlled [1,4–6,32,41,45–52]. The classes of simple lysergic acid derivatives and pepti- by the presence of a double bond C8=C9. Paspalic acid is the de ergot alkaloids are based on the lysergic acid (LA) frag- nucleus in some ergot alkaloids of the clavine series and is ment (Fig. 1), the structure of which was elucidated in 1938. frequently employed as an initial compound in the synthesis The two classes are distinguished by the type of substituents of various LA derivatives. in the acid radical [1, 4,6–8,53]. The LA molecule posses- ses two centers of symmetry (C5 and C8, Fig. 1). The active LA form was assigned a stereoconfiguration of 8R : 5R. THE CHEMISTRY OF PEPTIDE ERGOT Thus, all the natural pharmacologically active argot alkaloids ALKALOIDS are derivatives of D-6-methyl-9,10-ergoline-8b-carboxylic This review addresses the chemistry of ergot peptides. acid, representing a series of left-hand rotation isomers [4,6–8,53–58]. This class includes both natural ergot alkaloids and their mo- In 1964, H. Kobel et al. [59] isolated paspalic acid from dified derivatives, ergot peptides isolated from saprophytic the Cl. paspali ergot species (Fig. 1), which differs from LA ergot cultures, and synthetic ergot alkaloids. TABLE 1. Classification of Peptide Ergot Alkaloids R2 Configu- –CH –C H –CH(CH ) –CH(CH )C H R1 3 2 5 3 2 3 2 5 ration Ergotamine Ergotaman Ergoxin Ergoxam Ergotoxin Ergotoxam b-Ergoannam at C8 group group group group group group group 1 –CH(CH3)2 Ergovaline [Ergovalam] Ergonine [Ergonam] Ergocornine Ergocornam – R Ergovalinine – Ergoninine – Ergocorninine – –S –CH2CH(CH3)2 a-Ergosine [a-Ergosam] a-Ergoptine [a-Ergoptam] a-Ergocryptine a-Ergocryptam a,b-Ergoan- R nam3 a-Ergosinine – a-Ergoptinine – a-Ergocryp- ––S tinine 2 2 –CH(CH3)C2H5 b-Ergosine [b-Ergosam] b-Ergoptine [b-Ergoptam] b-Ergocryptine b-Ergocryptam a,b-Ergoan- R nam3 b-Ergosinine – b-Ergoptinine2 – b-Ergocryptini ––S ne –CH2C6H5 Ergotamine [Ergotaman] Ergostine [Ergostam] Ergocristine Ergocristam – R Ergotaminine – Ergostinine – Ergocristinine – –S 3 3 3 –CH2CH3 Ergobine – Ergobutine – Ergobutinine ––R 2 –CH3 Ergoalanine ––––––R Notes. 1 Names in square brackets refer to ergot alkaloids suggested to exist; 2 synthetic ergot alkaloids; 3 ergot alkaloids isolated from saprophytic ergot cultures. 506 E. L. Komarova and O. N. Tolkachev 10' 9' id – ergocristam – was isolated in 1973 from an ergocristine R1 OH O 11' NH O 8' strain of Cl. purpurea. Note that, to the present, only ergo- C N H 2' 12' H 7' peptams of the ergotoxam group were isolated from natural 8 5' 9 3' 4' ergot [4, 64 – 66] (Table 2). The probability of existence of 7 O O 2 12 N CH H R this alkaloid type decreases with decreasing volume of radi- 3 13 10 1 5 H cal R , which is explained by the high lability of ergopep- 1 14 4 tams. The presence of a branched radical R (Fig. 2, Table 1) 3 10' favors the formation of a more stable configuration of the tri- NH IV 1 9' 2 R 1 O H O 11' NH 8' peptide group in lactam alkaloids. In 1995, we obtained a C C N H 2' 12' H 7' mutant sclerotium of the ergocryptine Cl. purpurea strain N 5' 9 8 [67], which gave a progeny with genetically fixed biosynthe- 7 O 3' 4' O 2 12 N CH H R sis of the lactam ergot alkaloid ergocornam (Table 1). 3 13 10 5¢ 5 H In 1984, unusual C -epimers of lactam alkaloids were 14 4 isolated from a saprophytic culture of the ergocryptine ergot 3 NH species, which opened a new group of ergot alkaloids called 1 2 V b-ergoannams. It should be noted that ergot alkaloid derivati- Fig. 2. The structural formulas of classical peptide ergot alkaloids: ves untypical of natural ergot are frequently found in saprop- ergopeptines (IV) and lactam ergot alkaloids – ergopeptams (V). hytic cultures. Examples are offered by 12¢-O-methyl deriva- tives of ergocornine and a-ergocryptine (Table 2), 8-hydro- xyergotamine, and some other alkaloids [34, 77]. Peptide ergot alkaloids contain the LA fragment and a In attempts to obtain more active analogs of the natural tripeptide group (Fig. 2), the structure of the latter group de- ergot alkaloids, a large number of derivatives were synthesi- termining classification of the ergot peptides (Table 1). The zed by modifying both the LA fragment and the peptide part LA fragment is responsible for the basic biological activity of the molecule [1, 35, 68].
Load more

Recommended publications
  • How Many Fungi Make Sclerotia?
    fungal ecology xxx (2014) 1e10 available at www.sciencedirect.com ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/funeco Short Communication How many fungi make sclerotia? Matthew E. SMITHa,*, Terry W. HENKELb, Jeffrey A. ROLLINSa aUniversity of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology, Gainesville, FL 32611-0680, USA bHumboldt State University of Florida, Department of Biological Sciences, Arcata, CA 95521, USA article info abstract Article history: Most fungi produce some type of durable microscopic structure such as a spore that is Received 25 April 2014 important for dispersal and/or survival under adverse conditions, but many species also Revision received 23 July 2014 produce dense aggregations of tissue called sclerotia. These structures help fungi to survive Accepted 28 July 2014 challenging conditions such as freezing, desiccation, microbial attack, or the absence of a Available online - host. During studies of hypogeous fungi we encountered morphologically distinct sclerotia Corresponding editor: in nature that were not linked with a known fungus. These observations suggested that Dr. Jean Lodge many unrelated fungi with diverse trophic modes may form sclerotia, but that these structures have been overlooked. To identify the phylogenetic affiliations and trophic Keywords: modes of sclerotium-forming fungi, we conducted a literature review and sequenced DNA Chemical defense from fresh sclerotium collections. We found that sclerotium-forming fungi are ecologically Ectomycorrhizal diverse and phylogenetically dispersed among 85 genera in 20 orders of Dikarya, suggesting Plant pathogens that the ability to form sclerotia probably evolved 14 different times in fungi. Saprotrophic ª 2014 Elsevier Ltd and The British Mycological Society. All rights reserved. Sclerotium Fungi are among the most diverse lineages of eukaryotes with features such as a hyphal thallus, non-flagellated cells, and an estimated 5.1 million species (Blackwell, 2011).
    [Show full text]
  • Links Between Genetic Groups, Indole Alkaloid Profiles and Ecology Within the Grass-Parasitic Claviceps Purpurea Species Complex
    Toxins 2015, 7, 1431-1456; doi:10.3390/toxins7051431 OPEN ACCESS toxins ISSN 2072-6651 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins Article Links between Genetic Groups, Indole Alkaloid Profiles and Ecology within the Grass-Parasitic Claviceps purpurea Species Complex Mariell Negård 1,2, Silvio Uhlig 1,3, Håvard Kauserud 2, Tom Andersen 2, Klaus Høiland 2 and Trude Vrålstad 1,2,* 1 Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway; E-Mails: [email protected] (M.N.); [email protected] (S.U.) 2 Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway; E-Mails: [email protected] (H.K.); [email protected] (T.A.); [email protected] (K.H.) 3 Department of the Chemical and Biological Working Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep, 0033 Oslo, Norway * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +47-2321-6247. Academic Editor: Christopher L. Schardl Received: 3 January 2015 / Accepted: 22 April 2015 / Published: 28 April 2015 Abstract: The grass parasitic fungus Claviceps purpurea sensu lato produces sclerotia with toxic indole alkaloids. It constitutes several genetic groups with divergent habitat preferences that recently were delimited into separate proposed species. We aimed to 1) analyze genetic variation of C. purpurea sensu lato in Norway, 2) characterize the associated indole alkaloid profiles, and 3) explore relationships between genetics, alkaloid chemistry and ecology. Approximately 600 sclerotia from 14 different grass species were subjected to various analyses including DNA sequencing and HPLC-MS.
    [Show full text]
  • The Response of Dark Septate Endophytes (DSE) to Heavy Metals in Pure Culture
    The Response of Dark Septate Endophytes (DSE) to Heavy Metals in Pure Culture Yihui Ban1, Ming Tang2*, Hui Chen2, Zhouying Xu1, Haihan Zhang3, Yurong Yang2 1 College of Life Sciences, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China, 2 College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China, 3 School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, Shannxi, China Abstract Dark septate endophytes (DSE) occur widely in association with plants exposed to heavy metal stress. However, little is known about the response of DSE exposed to heavy metals. In this study, five DSE were isolated from the roots of Astragalus adsurgens Pall. seedlings growing on lead-zinc mine tailings in China. Based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analyses, the isolates were identified as Gaeumannomyces cylindrosporus, Paraphoma chrysanthemicola, Phialophora mustea, Exophiala salmonis, and Cladosporium cladosporioides. G. cylindrosporus was selected to explore responses to Pb stress. Scanning electron microscopic observations of G. cylindrosporus grown on solid medium revealed curling of hyphae and formation of hyphal coils in response to Pb. In contrast, in liquid medium, hyphae became thick and swollen with an increase in Pb (II) concentration. We interpret that these changes are related to the variation in cell wall components. We also demonstrated that fungal melanin content increased with the addition of Pb(II). Melanin, as an important component in the cell wall, is known to be an essential antioxidant responsible for decreasing heavy metal toxicity. We also measured the total soluble protein content and glutathione (GSH) concentrations in G. cylindrosporus and found that they initially increased and then decreased with the increase of Pb(II) concentrations.
    [Show full text]
  • Claviceps.Identifica
    A Laboratory Guide to the Identification of Claviceps purpurea and Claviceps africana in Grass and Sorghum Seed Samples sponsored by: The Mexican Seed Trade Association The American Seed Trade Association The Oregon Seed Trade Association Texas Seed Trade Association April 19, 1999 authors: Stephen Alderman, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, National Forage Seed Produc- tion Research Center, 3450 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331 Debra Frederickson, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 Gene Milbrath, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist, Oregon Department of Agriculture, 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 Noe Montes, M. Sc., INIFAP Plant Physiologist, A. P. 172. Cd. Rio Bravo, Tam. Mexico. CP 88900. (Currently visiting research assistant at Texas A&M Expt. Stn., Corpus Christi) Jesus Narro-Sanchez, M.Sc., INIFAP Plant Pathologist, A.P. No. 112, Carr. Celaya-San Miguel de Allende km 6.5, Celaya, Guanajuato. CP 38000 Gary Odvody, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist, Texas A&M University, Route 2, Box 589, Agricul- tural Experiment Station, Corpus Christi, TX 78406 A complete copy of this manual is available at the Oregon Department of Agriculture website: http://www.oda.state.or.us Contents Introduction and overview to the genus Claviceps ................................................ 1 Life cycle ............................................................................................................... 2 Host range and distribution ..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Sclerotium Rolfsii; Causative Organism of Southern Blight, Stem Rot, White Mold and Sclerotia Rot Disease
    Available online a t www.scholarsresearchlibrary.com Scholars Research Library Annals of Biological Research, 2015, 6 (11):78-89 (http://scholarsresearchlibrary.com/archive.html) ISSN 0976-1233 CODEN (USA): ABRNBW Sclerotium rolfsii; Causative organism of southern blight, stem rot, white mold and sclerotia rot disease 1Liamngee Kator, 1Zakki Yula Hosea and 2Onah Daniel Oche 1Department of Biological Sciences, Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria 2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Health Technology, Agasha, Benue State _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Sclerotium rolfsii is a soil borne pathogen that causes stem rot disease on plants. It primarily attacks host stems including roots, fruits, petioles and leaves under favourable conditions. It commonly occurs in the tropics, subtropics and other warm temperate regions of the world. Common hosts are legumes, crucifers and cucurbits. On a global perspective, estimated losses of 10 – 20 million dollars associated with S. rolfsii have been recorded with yield depletion ranging from 1 – 60% in fields. Sclerotia serve as primary inoculum for the pathogen and are spread to uninfected areas by wind, water, animals and soil. Control measures include excluding the pathogen from the area, plant removal, soil removal, soil treatment, heat, solarization, chemical soil treatment, cultural practices, resistance and transgenic plant resistance, plant treatment, crop rotation, amongst others. Despite considerable research on this pathogen, its control continues to be a problem. Keywords: Sclerotium rolfsii, stem rot, white mold, stem blight. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Sclerotium rolfsii is a destructive soil borne plant pathogen which causes Southern blight disease on a wide variety of plants. In 1928, the United States Department of Agriculture reported that S.
    [Show full text]
  • Paleomycology of the Princeton Chert. II. Dark-Septate Fungi in the Aquatic Angiosperm Eorhiza Arnoldii Indicate a Diverse Assem
    KU ScholarWorks | http://kuscholarworks.ku.edu Please share your stories about how Open Access to this article benefits you. Paleomycology of the Princeton Chert. II. Dark-septate fungi in the aquatic angiosperm Eorhiza arnoldii indicate a diverse assemblage of root-colonizing fungi during the Eocene by Ashley A. Klymiuk et al. 2013 This is the published version of the article, made available with the permission of the publisher. The original published version can be found at the link below. Ashley A. Klymiuk et al. (2013). Paleomycology of the Princeton Chert. II. Dark-septate fungi in the aquatic angiosperm Eorhiza arnoldii indicate a diverse assemblage of root-colonizing fungi during the Eocene. Mycologia 105(5):1100-1109 Published version: http://www.dx.doi.org/10.3852/13-025 Terms of Use: http://www2.ku.edu/~scholar/docs/license.shtml KU ScholarWorks is a service provided by the KU Libraries’ Office of Scholarly Communication & Copyright. Mycologia, 105(5), 2013, pp. 1100–1109. DOI: 10.3852/13-025 # 2013 by The Mycological Society of America, Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 Paleomycology of the Princeton Chert II. Dark-septate fungi in the aquatic angiosperm Eorhiza arnoldii indicate a diverse assemblage of root-colonizing fungi during the Eocene Ashley A. Klymiuk1 have been integral to the colonization of land by Thomas N. Taylor plants (Pirozynski and Mallock 1975, Humphreys et al. Edith L. Taylor 2010, Bidartondo et al. 2011); in the subsequent University of Kansas, Department of Ecology & , 450 million y, intricate associations have evolved, Evolutionary Biology; Biodiversity Institute, Lawrence, ranging from obligate mutualism through commen- Kansas 66045-7534 salism, parasitism and pathogenicity.
    [Show full text]
  • Medicinal Mushrooms a Clinician’S Overview
    Medicinal Mushrooms A Clinician’s Overview Dr. Christopher Hobbs Ph.D., L.Ac., A.H.G. • Licensed Acupuncturist (primary health care provider in California) • Clinical herbalist • Research Scientist, UC Berkeley • Author of Medicinal Mushrooms, other books on herbal medicine • http://www.rainbowlight.com/downloads/Medicinal_Mushrooms_C_Hobbs.pdf Mushrooms as Functional Foods • Popularity high in Asia, just beginning in Europe • North America—mushroom extracts sold without need of approval or registration • Most popular: shiitake, maitake, reishi, cordyceps, turkey tails; lion’s mane, chaga, Agaricus blazei • Products available: mushroom mycelium powder (grown on grain, soybeans), powdered extracts in capsules or tablets; ethanolic extracts (with or without glycerin Health Benefits of Mushrooms • Very little fat, no cholesterol • Valuable mineral content; high trace minerals • High in vitamins, especially B vitamins • Pleurotus provides a better supply of B vitamins than any common food, except meat • Great slimming food • Cholesterol regulation! Shiitake, Pleurotus • Very high in fiber—cellulose, lignan, chitin Mushroom as Food, Green Benefits • Highly nutritious—oyster mushroom is 25% high- quality protein; vitamins, minerals • Turkey Tails, Trametes versicolor, produces many enzymes used for detoxing toxic sites, biobleaching of paper, etc. Mineral Content of Fungi Mushrooms as medicine • Medicine— approved drugs in Japan, China for cancer treatment adjuvants (with chemo) • Health supplements to support immunity Biological Activity of
    [Show full text]
  • Occurrence of Coprophilous Agaricales in Italy, New Records, and Comparisons with Their European and Extraeuropean Distribution
    Mycosphere Occurrence of coprophilous Agaricales in Italy, new records, and comparisons with their European and extraeuropean distribution Doveri F* Via Baciocchi 9, I-57126-Livorno [email protected] Doveri F 2010 – Occurrence of coprophilous Agaricales in Italy, new records, and comparisons with their European and extraeuropean distribution Mycosphere 1(2), 103–140. This work is the successor to a recent monograph on coprophilous ascomycetes and basidiomycetes from Italy. All Italian identifications of coprophilous Agaricales, which the author has personally studied over an 18 year period, are listed and categorized depending on the dung source. All collections were subjected to the same procedure and incubated in damp chambers and an estimate of occurrence of fungal species on various dung types is made. A second collection of Coprinus doverii is described and discussed, while the southern most finding of Panaeolus alcis is listed. An additional collection of Psilocybe subcoprophila, a species previously reported from Italy, is described and illustrated with colour photomicrographs. The morphological features of each species is briefly described, and substrate preferences compared with those reported from previous data. Key words – Coprinus doverii – damp chambers – fimicolous basidiomycetes – frequency – natural state – Panaeolus alcis – Psilocybe subcoprophila – survey. Article Information Received 25 March 2010 Accepted 21 May 2010 Published online 19 July 2010 *Corresponding author: Francesco Doveri – e-mail –[email protected] Introduction have recently been made and despite a The commencement of our systematic relatively slow increase in the numbers of studies on the dung fungi of Italy started in coprophilous basidiomycetes known from Italy 1992 resulting in Doveri (2004) and Doveri et and the inability to use field records for al.
    [Show full text]
  • The Magic of Medicinal Mushrooms
    The Magic of Medicinal Mushrooms Overcome Cancer, Prevent Infections, Aid Your Heart, Cope with Stress, Counteract Aging and Improve Overall Health with Medicinal Fungi Cancer and autoimmune diseases are common in modern society. People’s immune systems are under a great deal of stress from exposure to chemicals and the fast pace of modern life. Therefore, keeping your immune system healthy is essential to reduce your risk of these serious health problems. Fortunately, there are allies in the fungal kingdom that can help keep your immune system in top condition. Mushrooms are commonly thought of as just food, but scientific Your guide to better health the natural way. health the natural better guide to Your research has shown that over 270 species of fungi have medicinal value. This goes along with historical tradition of using mushrooms in herbal medicine, most notably in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Medicinal mushrooms have many healing properties, but they are especially helpful for the immune system. They can stimulate the immune system to help fight infections and cancer. Some can also modulate the immune system to reduce excess immune activity in autoimmune disorders. Some are hepatoprotective, which means they protect the liver (and other organs) from damage from environmental toxins. The adaptogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of medicinal mushrooms also make them great for promoting overall health. Mushrooms can also lower blood pressure 3 No. 31 Vol. and cholesterol to benefit the heart and circulation, which means they can help prevent the number one killer disease in modern society, heart disease. How Mushrooms Improve Health Important Notice The information in Sunshine Sharing Medicinal mushrooms contain many health-promoting is for educational purposes only and compounds, including triterpenoids, proteins, and complex should not be used to diagnose and treat polysaccharides such as beta-glucans.
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Mushrooms: There's a Fungus Among Us! Robert J. Silver
    Medical Mushrooms: There’s A Fungus Among Us! Robert J. Silver DVM, MS Mushrooms have played important roles in the development of human civilization. Mushrooms have, over the millennia, provided an easily-harvested forest edible that has been cultivated and commercialized into the multi-billion dollar global industry it is in the world today. Mushrooms have been used by indigenous peoples as folk medicines for as long as they have been collected and used for food; they have also served as medicines prior to the age of pharmaceuticals. Mushrooms have provided an other-worldly experience to many, who from that experience glimpsing into alternate universes, have created imaginative and unique music, books, artwork, and social systems that have left an indelible mark on human culture and society. Mushrooms have been the source of many fatal poisonings over the millennia, and are still a common source of ER visits in the summertime for both people and their pets. Today, the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries are learning as much as they can about the beneficial properties of these specialized fungi, in a rush to bring newer and better medicines to market. (1) Today’s presentation is to provide the veterinarian with a foundation of knowledge about mushrooms in general and their properties in general. Medicinal Mushrooms Medicinal mushrooms are macro-fungi found mainly in the class Basidiomycetes, with a few found in the class Ascomycetes. Medicinal mushrooms are becoming more commonly available in the natural products marketplace as the evidence of their value to the immune system and disease management, including cancer, becomes better understood through basic research and clinical trials.
    [Show full text]
  • Cordyceps – a Traditional Chinese Medicine and Another Fungal Therapeutic Biofactory?
    Available online at www.sciencedirect.com PHYTOCHEMISTRY Phytochemistry 69 (2008) 1469–1495 www.elsevier.com/locate/phytochem Review Cordyceps – A traditional Chinese medicine and another fungal therapeutic biofactory? R. Russell M. Paterson * Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (IBB), Centre of Biological Engineering, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal Received 17 December 2007; received in revised form 17 January 2008 Available online 17 March 2008 Abstract Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are growing in popularity. However, are they effective? Cordyceps is not studied as systemat- ically for bioactivity as another TCM, Ganoderma. Cordyceps is fascinating per se, especially because of the pathogenic lifestyle on Lepi- dopteron insects. The combination of the fungus and dead insect has been used as a TCM for centuries. However, the natural fungus has been harvested to the extent that it is an endangered species. The effectiveness has been attributed to the Chinese philosophical concept of Yin and Yang and can this be compatible with scientific philosophy? A vast literature exists, some of which is scientific, although others are popular myth, and even hype. Cordyceps sinensis is the most explored species followed by Cordyceps militaris. However, taxonomic concepts were confused until a recent revision, with undefined material being used that cannot be verified. Holomorphism is relevant and contamination might account for some of the activity. The role of the insect has been ignored. Some of the analytical methodologies are poor. Data on the ‘‘old” compound cordycepin are still being published: ergosterol and related compounds are reported despite being universal to fungi. There is too much work on crude extracts rather than pure compounds with water and methanol solvents being over- represented in this respect (although methanol is an effective solvent).
    [Show full text]
  • Overwinter Survival of Sclerotium Rolfsii and S. Rolfsii Var. Delphinii, Screening Hosta for Resistance to S. Rolfsii Var. Delph
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2008 Overwinter survival of Sclerotium rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii, screening hosta for resistance to S. rolfsii var. delphinii, and phylogenetic relationships among Sclerotium species Zhihan Xu Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Plant Pathology Commons Recommended Citation Xu, Zhihan, "Overwinter survival of Sclerotium rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii, screening hosta for resistance to S. rolfsii var. delphinii, and phylogenetic relationships among Sclerotium species" (2008). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 10366. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/10366 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Overwinter survival of Sclerotium rolfsii and S. rolfsii var. delphinii, screening hosta for resistance to S. rolfsii var. delphinii, and phylogenetic relationships among Sclerotium species by Zhihan Xu A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Plant Pathology Program of Study Committee: Mark L. Gleason, Major Professor Philip M. Dixon Richard J. Gladon Larry J. Halverson Thomas C. Harrington X.B. Yang Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2008 Copyright © Zhihan Xu, 2008. All rights reserved. ii This dissertation is dedicated to my family. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT v CHAPTER 1.
    [Show full text]