Search Results (7)

Hericium coralloides is a valuable medicinal and edible mushroom renowned for its unique bioactive compounds. This study focuses on the isolation of a wild strain (SH001) exhibiting promising cultivation potential and health promoting properties. A wild fungal strain from the Tibetan Plateau was isolated and identified as a novel H. coralloides based on its morphological and molecular characteristics. The optimal growth conditions were found to be 30 °C, pH 7.0, fructose as the preferred carbon source, and yeast extract as the optimal nitrogen source. Nutritional analysis revealed that the fruiting bodies were rich in protein (15.4 g/100 g dry weight), dietary fiber (34.7 g/100 g dry weight), and minerals, while being low in fat (3.5 g/100 g dry weight). The most abundant amino acids were glutamic acid, followed by aspartic acid. The polysaccharides exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with ABTS⁺ scavenging comparable to that of Vitamin C (Vc), achieving a clearance rate of 96.95% at concentrations between 0.25–5.00 mg/mL. At a concentration of 5 mg/mL, the DPPH and OH radical scavenging activities reached their peak (83.77% and 67.31%, respectively), along with the highest iron ion reducing capacity (FRAP value: 4.43 mmol/L. Polysaccharides also exhibited notable anticancer activity, inhibiting HepG2 liver cancer cells and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells, with IC₅₀ values of 3.896 mg/mL and 2.561 mg/mL, respectively. This study demonstrates that wild H. coralloides can be successfully cultivated in vitro. In conclusion, the fruiting bodies possess substantial nutritional value, and the polysaccharides extracted from them show promising antioxidant and anticancer activities, particularly against HepG2 liver cancer cells and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. Full article

Hericium coralloides is a highly valued gourmet and medicinal species with growing market demand across East Asia, though industrial production remains limited by cultivation challenges. This study investigated the molecular characteristics, biological traits, domestication potential, and cultivation protocols of Hericium coralloides strains collected from the Changbaishan Nature Reserve (Jiling, China). Optimal conditions for mycelial growth included mannose as the preferred carbon source, peptone as the nitrogen source, 30 °C incubation temperature, pH 5.5, and magnesium sulfate as the essential inorganic salt. The fruiting bodies had a protein content of 2.43% g/100 g (fresh sample meter). Total amino acids comprised 53.3% of the total amino acid profile, while essential amino acids accounted for 114.11% relative to non-essential amino acids, indicating high nutritional value. Under optimized domestication conditions—70% hardwood chips, 20% cottonseed hulls, 8% bran, 1% malic acid, and 1% gypsum—bags reached full colonization in 28 days, with a 15-day maturation phase and initial fruiting occurring after 12–14 days. The interval between flushes was 10–12 days. The average yield reached 318.65 ± 31.74 g per bag, with a biological conversion rate of 63.73%. These findings demonstrate that Hericium coralloides possesses significant potential for edible and commercial applications. This study provides a robust theoretical foundation and resource reference for its artificial cultivation, supporting its broader industrial and economic utilization. Full article

The mycelia of Hericium erinaceus contain neuroprotective cyathane diterpenoids (e.g., erinacine A). There is evidence that cultivation of submerged mycelia with surfactants increases glucose uptake and biomass, but the impact on erinacine production is unknown. Here, we tested the impact of glucose and polysorbate 80 on the mycelial erinacine profiles of five Hericium strains cultivated under submergence, including those of Hericium erinaceus, Hericium americanum, and Hericium coralloides. Metabolite profiling confirmed that mycelial extracts contained 13% to 91% of the erinacines A, C and P in additive-free cultures of all strains, with the remainder secreted to the culture medium. Overall, erinacine P production was several orders of magnitude greater than that of the other erinacines, except for H. erinaceus (DAOMC 251029), where erinacine C was most evident. H. coralloides (DAOMC 251017) produced the greatest concentrations of erinacines A and P. For the most part mycelial erinacine concentrations were reduced in cultures co-supplemented with glucose and polysorbate 80. This treatment caused an 83–100% reduction in the concentrations of erinacines A, C, and P in the mycelial extracts of most strains. By contrast, there was evidence that glucose and polysorbate 80 had no effect on erinacine A production within mycelia of H. americanum, and erinacine P concentrations in H. erinaceus (DAOMC 251029) and H. americanum (DAOMC 251011). In most strains, the secretion of erinacines to the culture medium declined with glucose and polysorbate 80. Conversely, these additives increased the concentrations of erinacines C and P in the culture medium filtrate of H. americanum (DAOMC 21467) and yielded more secreted erinacine P in H. erinaceus (DAOMC 251029). The information provides feasible strategies to produce mycelia with unique erinacine profiles including those rich in erinacine P. Full article

Construction of the genome of Hericium coralloides, a species of edible mushroom, and identification of the genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis can determine the biology and genetics of terpenoids. The present study describes the assembly of a high-quality chromosome-scale genome of H. coralloides using Pacbio HiFi sequencing and Hi-C technology. This genome consisted of 13 chromosomes, a total size of 43.6 Mb, contigs of N50 3.6 Mb, GC content at 54%, and BUSCOs integrity of 96.9%. Genes associated with terpenoid biosynthesis were predicted by KEGG enrichment analysis and homologous alignment. The Her011461 and Her008335 genes, encoding proteins in the terpenoid backbone synthesis pathway, were found to encode geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl diphosphate synthases, key enzymes in the biosynthesis of geranylgeranyl diphosphate, a precursor of several diterpenoids. Her011463 was found to be involved in regulating diterpene cyclase. The Her005433, Her006724, Her010605, and Her010608 genes were found to encode sesquiterpene synthesis. Most of these genes were more highly expressed in dikaryotic mycelia than in the primordium and fruiting bodies, indicating that terpenoids may be more abundant in dikaryotic mycelia. To our knowledge, this study is the first to assemble the H. coralloides genome at the chromosome scale and to identify the genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis. Full article

Hericium rajendrae is an emerging species in the genus Hericium with few members. Despite being highly regarded due to its rarity, knowledge about H. rajendrae remains limited. In this study, we sequenced, de novo assembled, and annotated the complete genome of H. rajendrae NPCB A08, isolated from the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi, China, using the Illumina NovaSeq and Nanopore PromethION technologies. Comparative genomic analysis revealed similarities and differences among the genomes of H. rajendrae, H. erinaceus, and H. coralloides. Phylogenomic analysis revealed the divergence time of the Hericium genus, while transposon analysis revealed evolutionary characteristics of the genus. Gene family variation reflected the expansion and contraction of orthologous genes among Hericium species. Based on genomic bioinformation, we identified the candidate genes associated with the mating system, carbohydrate-active enzymes, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Furthermore, metabolite profiling and comparative gene clusters analysis provided strong evidence for the biosynthetic pathway of erinacines in H. rajendrae. This work provides the genome of H. rajendrae for the first time, and enriches the genomic content of the genus Hericium. These findings also facilitate the application of H. rajendrae in complementary drug research and functional food manufacturing, advancing the field of pharmaceutical and functional food production involving H. rajendrae. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is prone to onset and progression under oxidative stress conditions. Hericium coralloides (HC) is an edible medicinal fungus that contains various nutrients and possesses antioxidant properties. In the present study, the nutritional composition and neuroprotective effects of HC on APP/PS1 mice were examined. Behavioral experiments showed that HC improved cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice. Immunohistochemical and Western blotting results showed that HC reduced the levels of p-tau and amyloid-β deposition in the brain. By altering the composition of the gut microbiota, HC promoted the growth of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria and suppressed the growth of Helicobacter. Metabolomic results showed that HC decreased D-glutamic acid and oxidized glutathione levels. In addition, HC reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species, enhanced the secretion of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, inhibited the production of malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal, and activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. Collectively, HC demonstrated antioxidant activity by activating Nrf2 signaling and regulating gut microbiota, further exerting neuroprotective effects. This study confirms that HC has the potential to be a clinically effective AD therapeutic agent and offers a theoretical justification for both the development and use of this fungus. Full article

Medicinal mushroom extracts (MMEs) exert immunomodulatory effects on innate immunity. The present study aimed to examine the effect of medicinal mushroom components on in vitro immune cell responses to inflammatory stimuli by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from older adults, where immune function is altered. PBMCs were treated with extracts from Hericium coralloides (HC) and Trametes versicolor (TV) prior to stimulation with rhinovirus A1 (RVA1), influenza A/H1N1pdm09 (H1N1), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or house dust mite (HDM) for 48 h. In the presence of virus, type I and II IFN significantly (p < 0.05) decreased following treatment with at least one concentration of all extracts compared to the untreated cell controls, along with significant increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8). In the presence of LPS, extracts from TV reduced IL-1β compared to untreated cells. In the presence of HDM, the concentration of IL-5 and/or IL-13 was significantly decreased with at least one dose of all extracts. MMEs exert differential effects on the release of inflammatory and antiviral mediators in vitro. Reduced type 2 cytokine responses to HDM may be beneficial in conditions where allergic inflammation is present, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. Further research is needed to examine extracts in vivo. Full article