@article {410, title = {A Comprehensive Review on Food and Medicinal Prospects of Astraeus hygrometricus}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {September 2017}, pages = {799-806}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {799}, abstract = {

Edible mushrooms contain unique flavours and textures. They have high nutritional and medicinal values and have been consumed worldwide. Astraeus hygrometricus (Pers.) Morg. a wild ectomycorrhizal mushroom recognized as a food by the local people in South-East Asia as well as in Bihar, Jharkhand, South west India and South-Western region of West Bengal. However, it is considerably unknown to the communities in other parts of the world and it remains underutilized so far. Recent investigations from our laboratory have manifested the potential role of this mushroom in human health. Basidiocarps of A. hygrometricus are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, crude fibre and essential amino acids with lower concentration of fat. Experiments on animal models reveal the hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and hypoglycaemic efficacy of the mushroom. Additionally, researchers have found this taxon to contain many bioactive compounds shown to be responsible for antitumor, anti-leishmanial, anticandidal, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity. The present review, summarized the scattered literature on A. hygrometricus with an emphasis on its nutritional and health promoting aspects.

}, keywords = {Antioxidant, Astrakurkurone, Immunomodulation, Medicinal Mushroom, Nutritive Value.}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2017.6.125}, url = {http://fulltxt.org/article/178}, author = {Gunjan Biswas and Sudeshna Nandi and Debashis Kuila and Krishnendu Acharya} } @article {187, title = {Bioactive Fraction from Datura stramonium Linn. Promotes Human immune Cells Mediated Cytotoxicity towards Lung and Breast Cancer Cells}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {Oct 2016}, pages = {435-439}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {435}, abstract = {

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate immune modulatory effect of fractions of D. stramonium L. leaves on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) followed by assessment of cytotoxic abilities of immunomodulated PBMC toward cancer cells. Material and methods: Bioassay (PBMC proliferation) guided fractionation of methanolic leaf extract of D. stramonium was performed to get active fraction and LC-MS was performed to identify the phytocompounds present in the bioactive fraction. The immunomodulatory potential of D. stramonium active fraction was assessed by i) MTT microcytotoxicity assay using A549 (lung carcinomas) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines and ii) analyzing the production of IL-2 and IFN-\γ by human PBMC in the presence of active fraction. Results: Chromatographic fractionation guided by PBMC proliferation assay of D. stramonium extract resulted in bioactive fraction (fraction-10) exhibiting significant immunostimulatory activity [EC50=19.1\±1.5 (\μg/ml)] on human blood lymphocytes. Fraction-10 pretreated PBMC displayed enhanced cytotoxicity towards A549 and MCF-7 (59\%\±2.1\% and 62\%\±2.3\% at 1:20 effector:target ratio respectively). Moreover, fraction-10 also enhanced the secretion of IL-2 (8 fold) and IFN-\γ (10 fold) by human PBMC. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of fraction-10 from D. stramonium showed the presence of terpenoids and steroids. LC-MS analysis depicted presence of four major phytoconstituents in fraction-10 as daturaolone, daturadiol, stigmasterol and sitosterol with corresponding mass spectrum (m/z) of 440, 442, 412 and 414 respectively. Conclusion: The present report concluded that active fraction-10 of D. stramonium possesses potential immunostimulators that are capable of enhancing anticancer responses of human blood lymphocytes.

}, keywords = {Anticancer, Cytokine, Cytotoxic, Datura stramonium., Immunomodulation, PBMC}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.5.4}, author = {Aditi Gupta and Sunil Kumar and Neeraj Mahindroo and Reena Vohra Saini} } @article {1512, title = {Immunomodulatory Effect of Water Soluble Polysaccharides Isolated from Metroxylon sagu in Animal Models of Immunosuppression}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {6}, year = {2014}, month = {2nd July 2014}, pages = {55-62}, type = {Original Article}, abstract = {

Aim: This study was aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of water soluble polysaccharides isolated from Metroxylon sagu (PSMS) by dilute acid extraction, ethanol precipitation in rats by using three different in-vivo experimental models of immunosuppression. Methodology: Three models of immunosuppression include metronidazole (MTZ) induced immunosuppression, pyrogallol induced immunosuppression and Ethanol-induced immunosuppression. Immunological indices like humoral antibody titer values, cellular immune response, percent change in phagocytosis, serum immunoglobulins were estimated. Histopathology of spleen was done in all control and treated groups. The doses of 500 and 250 mg/kg of PSMS were administered orally to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity. Results: Though PSMS was demonstrated to have immunostimulatory activity in almost all three models of immunosuppression, PSMS was found to be more effi cacious against ethanol-induced immunosuppression when compared with pyrogallol induced immunosuppression and MTZ induced immunosuppression. However, dose-dependent improvement in immunological indices was evident in all three models. Conclusion: In summary, water soluble polysaccharides isolated from M. sagu stimulate the immunity in the animal models of immunosuppression.

Key words: Immunomodulation, immunosuppression, Metroxylon sagu, oxidative stress, polysaccharides.

}, keywords = {Immunomodulation, immunosuppression, Metroxylon sagu, Oxidative stress, Polysaccharides}, author = {Sireesha Pulla and Nagarjuna Sannithi and Siva Reddy Challa} }