Ecology, Phylogeny, and Potential Nutritional and Medicinal Value of a Rare White “Maitake” Collected in a Mediterranean Forest

Abstract

Albino Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) Gray “maitake” mushrooms (described as G. albicans Imazeki and then placed in synonymy with G. frondosa) are particularly rare, and the few pertinent records are not treated in scientific publications. A field investigation carried out in Sicily (Italy) led to the collection of an unusual white Grifola specimen at the base of a living tree of Quercus pubescens Willd. s.l. The outcome of sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) indicated that it belongs to G. frondosa and provided an insight to the phylogenetic relationships within the genus. The results of nutritional composition analysis showed that the albino basidioma possesses relatively high contents of Ca, Fe, K, and Cu and is rather low in Na when compared with literature data on edible mushrooms. Vitamin (B1, B2, B3, B5, B9, and D2) contents ranged from 0.15 to 3.89 mg per 100 g of mushroom dry weight. The cold-water extract of this specimen was effective at inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 at the maximum screening concentration of 50% v/v. In addition, the extract slowed down the ability of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 to form biofilms. According to data hereby reported, the albino G. frondosa is a culinary-medicinal mushroom with a promising exploitation potential.

Decrease of α-defensin impairs intestinal metabolite homeostasis via dysbiosis in mouse chronic social defeat stress model

“…Final DNA concentrations were determined at 260 nm using a NanoDrop 2000 spectrometer (Thermo Fischer Scientific). 16S ribosomal RNA genes were amplified by PCR from each fecal DNA sample using universal primer set of Bakt 341F (5′-cctacgggnggcwgcag) and Bakt 805R (5′-gactachvgggtatctaatcc) which covers the V3-V4 variable region 16 , 52 , 53 . PCR amplification was performed in 25-μl-volume reaction mixtures containing 12.5 ng of template DNA, 200 nM of each primer, and 1 × KAPA HiFi Hot Start Ready Mix (Kapa Biosystems) under the following conditions: 95 °C for 3 min, 25 cycles of 95 °C for 30 s, 55 °C for 30 s, and 72 °C for 30 s, followed by 72 °C for 5 min.…”

Mycopharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals: Promising Agents to Improve Human Well-Being and Life Quality

“…The mycelial aqueous extract from Ganoderma lucidum demonstrated higher anti-candida activity, the study illustrates the preventive effect of G. lucidum against C. albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms [ 166 ]. Maitake mushroom ( Grifola frondosa ) revealed anti-biofilm activity against human pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus [ 167 ]. A 40 KDa unique protein, PEP, that was isolated from edible mushroom Pleurotus eryngii using MALDI-TOF proteomic analysis, was revealed to possess anti-inflammatory properties when tested on LPS-stimulated macrophage in the treatment of colon infection [ 168 ].…”

Combination Therapy Involving Lavandula angustifolia and Its Derivatives in Exhibiting Antimicrobial Properties and Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Challenges and Future Prospects

“…Therefore, due to the rapid spread and acceleration of life-threatening MDR-strains of pathogens, there is a dire need in researching for novel yet effective antimicrobial agents and possible alternatives involving natural products to mitigate the development of AMR. Various natural compounds with medicinal properties have been proposed as antimicrobial agents against MDR pathogens, especially when used in association with conventional antibiotics [20,21]. Plant-derived metabolites such as essential oils (EOs) have been investigated extensively for their tremendous use as antimicrobial agents [22,23].…”