Study of the bioactive properties of mushroom coriolus versicolor

Abstract

The growing consumer concern for health issues has led to an increased interest in functional foods. Besides the nutritional properties, mushrooms have attracted market attention because they are a potential source of bioactive compounds able to perform several functions in organisms with benefits for the health of the consumer. Coriolus versicolor is a mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years C. versicolor has aroused interest among researchers because of the bioactive property demonstrated. Since most studies have focused on the polysaccharopeptide (PSP) and the polysaccharopeptide krestin (PSK) isolated from C. versicolor the objective of the present work was to evaluate bioactive properties of mushroom biomass, namely the prebiotic activity. To evaluate the prebiotic activity of biomass from C. versicolor a sample of MRLCV (a nutrient adjuvant which contains biomass of the fungus C. versicolor) was submitted to the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) from the mouth to the intestine. The evaluation of the prebiotic activity of the intact biomass and fractions obtained from GIT digestion were carried out using pure cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus L10, Lactobacillus paracasei L26, Bifidobacterium longum BG6 and Bifidobacterium animalis Bo. The experimental data showed a potential prebiotic effect, observing a straindependent effect with greater activity on the B. animalis Bo. Fermentation of C. versicolor biomass by L. paracasei L26 increased the concentrations of organic acids particularly acetic acid. The adhesion of undesirable bacteria to host tissue is the first step in pathogenesis. The effect of the C. versicolor biomass upon Salmonella enterica (ATCC 13076), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Escherichia coli (ATCC CRM 8739) adhesion to mucin were evaluated in vitro using mucin (Type II Sigma-Aldrich) as a model of the intestinal mucus. The results showed a potential inhibitory effect of the substrate especially in the case of Salmonella enterica that showed a greater susceptibility to higher concentrations of biomass. However, studies are needed in mixed cultures and faeces samples in order to assess the bioactivity in an environment involving complex intestinal microbiota. Thus, the results demonstrate, for the first time for the biomass of C. versicolor the prebiotic potential and anti- adhesion of pathogens, thereby enlarging the bioactive characteristics already known for this fungus and opening new future applications.

Date of Award	2015
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Manuela Pintado (Supervisor) & Lígia Pimentel (Co-Supervisor)