A Water-Ethanol Extract from the Willow Bracket Mushroom, Phellinus igniarius (Higher Basidiomycetes), Reduces Transient Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Neuronal Death

Abstract

This study investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of a mushroom extract from Phellinus igniarius (Piwep) after transient cerebral ischemia. Ph. Igniarius, which has a history of traditional medicinal use, contains immunomodulatory compounds that have been described to have effects on the human immune system. Using a model of transient cerebral ischemia induced by both common carotid artery occlusion and hypovolemia, a water-ethanol extract precipitate of Ph. Igniarius (Piwep) was delivered intraperitoneally immediately after the insult and was injected subsequently every other day for the experimental course. Neuronal death was examined by Fluoro-Jade B staining 1 week after the insult. Piwep injection lead to decreased hippocampal neuronal death, suppression of oxidative injury, activation of microglia, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. We conclude that Piwep potently inhibits hippocampal neuronal death following ischemia and may have a high therapeutic potential for ameliorating stroke-induced neuron death in the clinical setting.

Selected Species of the Genus Phellinus – Chemical Composition, Biological Activity, and Medicinal Applications

“…The study used a model of transient cerebral ischemia and showed that the administered extract inhibited neuronal death in the hippocampus and prevented oxidative damage, microglia activation, and blood‐brain barrier disruption. Thus, it can be speculated that this extract has beneficial effects on stroke‐induced damage and may have high therapeutic potential in clinical conditions [44,45] . Similar results were obtained in the experiment with an ethanolic extract of P. igniarius containing numerous polyphenolic compounds.…”

Docking Studies and Biological Evaluation of a Potential β-Secretase Inhibitor of 3-Hydroxyhericenone F from Hericium erinaceus

“…A majority of medicinal mushrooms were reported to affect the nervous system namely, Lion’s Mane, H. erinaceus and Tiger Milk, Lignosus rhinocerotis . The latter two mushrooms can stimulate neurite outgrowth (Samberkar et al, 2015), whereas Phellinus igniarius can reduce transient cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal death, suppress oxidative injury and disrupt the blood–brain barrier via microglia activation (Kim et al, 2015). Agaricus blazei protects the brain against oxidative stress-induced damage and increases mitochondrial-coupled respiration (de Sá-Nakanishi et al, 2014).…”

Phellinus igniarius: A Pharmacologically Active Polypore Mushroom

“…Further, hispolon enhanced the expression of tumor protein p53, specific silencing of which almost completely reversed hispolon-mediated antitumor activity. Additionally, a potential neuroprotective effect of an extract from P. igniarius after transient cerebral ischemia has been demonstrated [26]. The authors of one of the reports suggested that P. igniarius extract may have a high therapeutic potential for ameliorating multiple sclerosis progression [27].…”