6.2.7 Hepatoprotective
Liver is an important organ for detoxification. However, liver diseases are
becoming serious health problems in worldwide. Most of the hepatotoxins induce
tissue injury after having been metabolized to free radicals and cause subsequent
cell damage through mechanism of covalent binding and lipid peroxidation
(Knight et al. 2003). The hepatoprotective effect of mushrooms, mainly those
widely cultivated has been recently reviewed (Soares et al. 2013). However, there
are some recent reports showing that also some EEMs exhibit hepatoprotective
activities. For example, Chen et al. (2012) evaluated the albumin and globulin
levels in blood serum, and the alanine aminotransferase test in mice feed with, or
without, different doses of dried sporomes of Russula spp. showing that the
evaluated extracts have a positive effect by relieving liver injury and improving
liver function. Similarly, Nitha et al. (2013) demonstrated that the aqueous–
ethanolic extracts of the mycelium of the ‘‘yellow morel’’ (M. esculenta) possesses
profound hepatoprotective activity. They considered that its hepatoprotective
activity, elicited by the extracts, might be due to the strong free radical scavenging
activity and the ability to activate antioxidant enzymes of the mycelium of this
mushroom (Nitha et al. 2010; Meng et al. 2010a, b). The findings thus suggest the
potential use of the aqueous–ethanolic extracts of cultured mycelia of M. esculenta
as a novel therapeutically useful hepatoprotective agent.
6.2.8 Miscellaneous
Antivenom The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamenteus Palisot de
Beauvois) is the largest rattlesnake and the heaviest poisonous snake. According to
the Guiness Book of World Records, adult individuals of this species average 1.52
to 1.83 m in length and weight from 5.5 to 7 kg; the heaviest known specimen,
shot in 1946, measured 2.4 m in length, and weighted 15.3 kg (Wood 1982). It has
a potent venom phospholipase A2 with a complex amino acid structure
(Heinrikson et al. 1977). An antivenom compound against this potent venom has
been isolated from the EEM L. hatsudake. Gao et al. (2007) discovered two novel
ergosterol derivatives: 5a,8a-epidioxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-6,22-dien-3b-ol (ergosterol peroxide) and 5a,8a-epidioxy-(24S)-ergosta-6-en-3b-ol). Additionally, they
demonstrated a selective inhibitory activity against C. adamenteus venom phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) enzyme. The authors reported this antiphospholipase A 2
activity for the first time showing that this group of sterols might be used as an
antivenom bioactive compound.
Cosmetics The cosmetic industry is permanently seeking for new natural products, and currently mushrooms, due to their chemical composition or presence of
bioactive compounds, are being used, or patented to be used, in some cosmeceuticals
and nutricosmetics. Cosmeceuticals are products which are applied topically,
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
185
Liver is an important organ for detoxification. However, liver diseases are
becoming serious health problems in worldwide. Most of the hepatotoxins induce
tissue injury after having been metabolized to free radicals and cause subsequent
cell damage through mechanism of covalent binding and lipid peroxidation
(Knight et al. 2003). The hepatoprotective effect of mushrooms, mainly those
widely cultivated has been recently reviewed (Soares et al. 2013). However, there
are some recent reports showing that also some EEMs exhibit hepatoprotective
activities. For example, Chen et al. (2012) evaluated the albumin and globulin
levels in blood serum, and the alanine aminotransferase test in mice feed with, or
without, different doses of dried sporomes of Russula spp. showing that the
evaluated extracts have a positive effect by relieving liver injury and improving
liver function. Similarly, Nitha et al. (2013) demonstrated that the aqueous–
ethanolic extracts of the mycelium of the ‘‘yellow morel’’ (M. esculenta) possesses
profound hepatoprotective activity. They considered that its hepatoprotective
activity, elicited by the extracts, might be due to the strong free radical scavenging
activity and the ability to activate antioxidant enzymes of the mycelium of this
mushroom (Nitha et al. 2010; Meng et al. 2010a, b). The findings thus suggest the
potential use of the aqueous–ethanolic extracts of cultured mycelia of M. esculenta
as a novel therapeutically useful hepatoprotective agent.
6.2.8 Miscellaneous
Antivenom The eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamenteus Palisot de
Beauvois) is the largest rattlesnake and the heaviest poisonous snake. According to
the Guiness Book of World Records, adult individuals of this species average 1.52
to 1.83 m in length and weight from 5.5 to 7 kg; the heaviest known specimen,
shot in 1946, measured 2.4 m in length, and weighted 15.3 kg (Wood 1982). It has
a potent venom phospholipase A2 with a complex amino acid structure
(Heinrikson et al. 1977). An antivenom compound against this potent venom has
been isolated from the EEM L. hatsudake. Gao et al. (2007) discovered two novel
ergosterol derivatives: 5a,8a-epidioxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-6,22-dien-3b-ol (ergosterol peroxide) and 5a,8a-epidioxy-(24S)-ergosta-6-en-3b-ol). Additionally, they
demonstrated a selective inhibitory activity against C. adamenteus venom phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) enzyme. The authors reported this antiphospholipase A 2
activity for the first time showing that this group of sterols might be used as an
antivenom bioactive compound.
Cosmetics The cosmetic industry is permanently seeking for new natural products, and currently mushrooms, due to their chemical composition or presence of
bioactive compounds, are being used, or patented to be used, in some cosmeceuticals
and nutricosmetics. Cosmeceuticals are products which are applied topically,
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
185