Leishmanicidal and Anticandidal Activity of Constituents of Indian Edible Mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus

Abstract

Two new lanostane-type triterpenes, 1 and 2, were isolated from Astraeus hygrometricus. The structures were established by IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallographic experiments. The triterpenes exhibited excellent in vitro toxicities against Candida albicans, comparable to standard antifungal antibiotics. The triterpene 2 significantly inhibited the growth of Leishmania donovani promastigotes in vitro. The triterpene skeleton may be considered a template structure in search for new compounds with anticandidal and leishmanicidal activity.

Bioactive potential of the wild mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus in South-west India

“…Acacia auriculiformis, Anacardium occidentale, Artocarpus hirsutus, Holigarna arnottiana, Hopea parviflora, H. ponga, Phyllanthus emblica and Syzygium cumini ) (Pavithra et al 2015). It is known for several medicinal properties like immunoenhancement, splenocyte activation, cardioprotection, hepatoprotection, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, free radical-scavenger, lipid peroxidation inhibition, anticandidal and anti-leishmanial activities (Chakraborty et al 2004; Biswas et al 2010a, 2010b, 2011a, 2011b, 2012; Lai et al 2012; Biswas and Acharya 2013; Mandal et al 2015; Shameem et al 2015). As A. hygrometricus is one of the widely consumed mushrooms in the South-west India, the aim of this study is to project its nutraceutical properties in uncooked and cooked state by assessing bioactive principles and antioxidant properties.…”

Successful Therapy of Murine Visceral Leishmaniasis with Astrakurkurone, a Triterpene Isolated from the Mushroom Astraeus hygrometricus, Involves the Induction of Protective Cell-Mediated Immunity and TLR9

“…To date, a very limited approach has been made to establish the mushrooms or mushroom-derived metabolites as therapeutic or immunostimulatory agents against Leishmania infection. As few as only seven reports, including three from our group, have been documented up to 2015 regarding the antileishmanial effect of extracts or active constituents of wild mushrooms (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). The first breakthrough was made by Jin and Zjawiony in 2006, when they isolated a novel compound, 5-heptadeca-8=Z,11=Z,16-trienylresorcinol, from a polypore mushroom, Merulius incarnatus Schweinitz 1822 (Corticiaceae), which inhibited the Leishmania growth in vitro (50% inhibitory concentration [IC 50 ] of 3.6 g/ml) with no toxicity on Vero cells up to 25 g/ml (10).…”

A Comprehensive Review on Food and Medicinal Prospects of Astraeus hygrometricus

“…48 Powder form of this mushroom found useful for healing burns, wounds and used as haemastatic agent in Chinese folk medicine. 45 Apart from nutritional data, scientific evidences acquired from the combination of in vitro and in vivo study of A. hygrometricus has provided a basis for its health-promoting effects. In this section, selected biological activities of A. hygrometricus has been discussed in relation to its profess medicinal benefits.…”

“…66 Further extension of this observation lead to the isolation of two pure lanostane type triterpenoid which showed remarkable anticandidal activity against the pathogenic strain, Candida albicans, which is completely resistant to antifungal drugs such as nystatin, fluconazole, and amphotericin-B. 45 Leishmania donovani, a harmful protozoan parasite is the causative agent of visceral Leishmaniasis that has caused high morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Antileishmanial drugs that are available in market, have raised questions due to their ineffectiveness, severe toxicity and side effects.…”

“…45 The mechanism behind the promastigocidal activity of astrakurkurone was unveiled by Mallick et al (2015) where the proliferation of L. donovani promastigotes were inhibited by astrakurkurone by selective ROS production leading to mitochondrial dysfunction as well as depleting reduced glutathione. Astrakurkurone seen to be quite effective against clinically important intracellular amastigotes, with significant low IC 50 of 2.5 µg/ml.…”