Immunomodulating Activities of Cultivated Maitake Medicinal Mushroom Grifola frondosa (Dicks.: Fr.) S.F. Gray (Higher Basidiomycetes) on Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Abstract

Grifola frondosa is a culinary-medicinal mushroom that contains several physiologically active compounds, of which polysaccharides, specifically β-glucans, are known to possess immunomodulating properties. Its extracts are studied for application as adjuncts for chemotherapy, and experiments in animal models support the use of this mushroom for cancer treatment. The effect of extracts obtained from mushrooms cultivated on different substrates and their capacity of inducing the secretion of cytokines from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were studied. The activity of extracts at concentrations 12.5, 100, and 200 μg/mL on induction of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-12 was screened. Two extracts from substrates fortified with olive oil press cakes showed appreciable activity and induced the secretion of TNF-α, IL-12, and INF-γ. The extracts differed from the others in the amount of sugar, protein, and β-glucans, which can explain their higher activity. Present results show that different substrates and different source materials can reasonably modify the bioactivity of cultivated G. frondosa.

Effect of vacuum and oven drying on the radical scavenging activity and nutritional contents of submerged fermented Maitake (Grifola frondosa) mycelia

“…In fact, maitake has been used as medicinal source in Asia for a very long time to treat high blood pressure, elevated serum cholesterol, improving immunity and anti-ageing (Deng at al., 2009;Yeh et al, 2011). The Maitake-D fraction or specifically the β-glucans group is the important active compounds available in maitake which can enhance one's immune system, limits or reverse tumour growth, delaying cell ageing and cancer development (Gregori et al, 2011). Various downstream of maitake products are available ranging from the maitake mushroom tea, mycelia biomass and capsule of maitake extract with potent bioactivities (Wu et al, 2016).…”

Molecular Mechanism Induced by Beta-Glucans from Maitake to Recover T Cell-Subpopulations during Immunosuppression

“…In addition to stimulating macrophages, IL-1 promotes the cytotoxicity of splenic T cells, increasing their bactericidal activity [18]. Maitake can stimulate NK cells both in vitro and in vivo, through the increase of IFN-γ and TNF-α in mice [8,21]. In addition, in macrophages IL-12 secretion associated with NK activation is stimulated by the increased binding to perforins in target cells, increasing tumor lysis [8,21].…”

“…Maitake can stimulate NK cells both in vitro and in vivo, through the increase of IFN-γ and TNF-α in mice [8,21]. In addition, in macrophages IL-12 secretion associated with NK activation is stimulated by the increased binding to perforins in target cells, increasing tumor lysis [8,21]. It has been suggested that NK cells are self-activated by the IFN-γ released by themselves [8].…”