Prospecting Russula senecis: A delicacy among the tribes of West Bengal

Abstract

Russula senecis, a worldwide distributed mushroom, is exclusively popular among the tribal communities of West Bengal for food purposes. The present study focuses on its reliable taxonomic identification through macro-, micro-morphological features and DNA barcoding, confirmation of its systematic placement by phylogenetic analyses, myco-chemicals and functional activities. For the first time, complete Internal Transcribed Spacer region of R. senecis has been sequenced and its taxonomic position within subsection Foetentinae under series Ingratae of the subgen. Ingratula is confirmed through phylogenetic analysis. For exploration of its medicinal properties, dried basidiocarps were subjected for preparation of a heat stable phenol rich extract (RusePre) using water and ethanol as solvent system. The antioxidant activity was evaluated through hydroxyl radical scavenging (EC50 5 µg/ml), chelating ability of ferrous ion (EC50 0.158 mg/ml), DPPH radical scavenging (EC50 1.34 mg/ml), reducing power (EC50 2.495 mg/ml) and total antioxidant activity methods (13.44 µg ascorbic acid equivalent/mg of extract). RusePre exhibited antimicrobial potentiality against Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, different parameters were tested to investigate its chemical composition which revealed the presence of appreciable quantity of phenolic compounds along with carotenoids and ascorbic acid. HPLC-UV fingerprint indicated probable existence of at least 13 phenolics of which 10 were identified (pyrogallol> kaempferol> quercetin> chlorogenic acid> ferulic acid, cinnamic acid> vanillic acid> salicylic acid> p-coumaric acid> gallic acid). Result from the present work suggests that the fraction, RusePre, may open novel prospect as a functional ingredient in antioxidant supplements and in drugs to treat infectious disease.

Alkaline extractive crude polysaccharide from Russula senecis possesses antioxidant potential and stimulates innate immunity response

“…Basidiocarps of R. senecis were collected from natural habitat of West Bengal in the month of July. Identity of the collected basidiome was confirmed based on morphological and DNA barcoding analyses as described in our previous publication …”

Functional Ingredients and Medicinal Prospects of Ethanol Extract from Macrocybe lobayensis

“…Thus, the main ingredients in the fraction were pyrogallol and cinnamic acid which have also been identified in other edible mushrooms. 11,[19][20] Total antioxidant capacity in extracts provide an integrated parameter rather than a simple sum of measurable antioxidants as it considers a cumulative action of all antioxidants present in sample. 28 Phosphomolybdenum method is a good system for evaluation of total antioxidant capacity.…”

“…Consequently, edible macrofungi have attracted more and more attention in recent times as commercial source of antioxidant and antibacterial agent. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] In spite of the increasing research, information concerning therapeutic activity of ethnically popular mushrooms still remains limited. One such less examined fungus is Macrocybe lobayensis that has long been accepted as food in Kerala, Uttaranchal and West Bengal of India.…”

Diversity and Distribution of Russula in India with Reference to Central Indian species

“…Russula ceae was established by Roze in 1876 and it is one of the largest ectomycorrhizal families. The members of this family form ectomycorrhizal association in different angiosperm and gymnosperm trees like Abies, Acer, Betula, Diospyros, Hopea, Larix, Myristica, al., 2002;Bhatt and Lakhanpal, 1988a, b;Kalita et al, 2016;Khatua et al, 2015;Semwal et al, 2014). The present paper provides a comprehensive database of diversity of Russula species in India.…”