Anti-Aging and Neuroprotective Properties of Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus Extracts

Abstract

Nutrition has relevant consequences for human health and increasing pieces of evidence indicate that medicinal mushrooms have several beneficial effects. One of the main issues in Western countries is represented by the challenges of aging and age-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders. Among these, Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects 10 million people worldwide and is associated with α-synuclein misfolding, also found in other pathologies collectively called synucleinopathies. Here, we show that aqueous extracts of two edible mushrooms, Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus, represent a valuable source of β-glucans and exert anti-aging effects in yeast. Their beneficial effects are mediated through the inhibition of the Ras/PKA pathway, with increased expression of heat shock proteins, along with a consistent increase of both mean and maximal lifespans. These fungal extracts also reduce the toxicity of α-synuclein heterologously expressed in yeast cells, resulting in reduced ROS levels, lower α-synuclein membrane localization, and protein aggregation. The neuroprotective activity of G. frondosa extract was also confirmed in a PD model of Drosophila melanogaster. Taken together, our data suggest the use of G. frondosa and H. erinaceus as functional food to prevent aging and age-related disorders, further supporting the neuro-healthy properties of these medicinal mushroom extracts.

Antioxidant Compounds from Edible Mushrooms as Potential Candidates for Treating Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…These improvements were related to the antioxidant properties of G. frondosa, as evidenced by the increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant capacity, and by the decrease in NO and MDA levels in old rat brain. The neuroprotective and anti-age potential of polysaccharides from G. frondosa has been also tested in the yeast cells and Drosophila melanogaster models of PD, showing the ability to reduce both ROS levels and the toxicity of synuclein [196].…”

Multitargeted Virtual Screening and Molecular Simulation of Natural Product-like Compounds against GSK3β, NMDA-Receptor, and BACE-1 for the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Moreover, some neurological disorders are accompanied by α-synuclein (α-syn) misfolding, and reports suggested that fungal extracts known to reduce α-syn toxicity through diverse processes, such as the reduction of protein aggregation, a decrease of the ROS level, and α-syn membrane delocalization supporting their anti-aggregation properties. Hence the reduction of protein aggregates can be a better approach to managing neurological disorders [42]. Therefore, BACE is considered a prime target for delaying amyloid pathology and managing AD [3,57,58].…”

“…Earlier reports explored the therapeutic roles and mechanism of action of polyphenols against age-related neurological disorders [39,40]. The plants Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus are excellent sources of β-glucans and have better anti-aging properties, whereas polyphenols of extra virgin olive oil (oleuropein aglycone and hydroxytyrosol) synergistically modulate autophagy against neurodegeneration due to their strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [40][41][42]. Nature provides an abundant resource of bioactive metabolites, which could be safe and economical to produce novel inhibitors of critical regulatory enzymes for the management of metabolic disorders, including neurological diseases [29,43,44].…”

Isolation and identification of active components from Grifola frondosa and its anti‐EV71 virus effect

“…7 Grifola frondosa is a type of large medicinal and edible fungi, rich in polyphenols, sterols, proteins, polysaccharides and other active substances, and has many effects such as hypoglycemia, antitumor, anti-virus, anti-oxidantion and so on. 8,9 Previous reports have confirmed that G. frondosa has different degrees of inhibition on HIV virus, influenza virus and herpes simplex virus type I. 10 Therefore, G. frondosa is an important resource for the development of nutritional and functional foods with antiviral activity.…”