Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of an Extract Rich in Polysaccharides of the Mushroom Polyporus dermoporus

Abstract

Polyporus dermoporus mushroom, native to Brazil, is produced under natural conditions in the unexplored reserve of Mata da Estrela-Rio Grande do Norte-RN. These mushrooms were delipidated with chloroform:methanol (2:1 v/v), extracted with water at 100 °C, and fractionated with ethanol (one and three volumes) and then centrifuged. The ethanol precipitation showed a high total sugar level of 64.8% and 1% of protein. This precipitate contained a high glucan level, characterized by chemical methods and by NMR of (13)C and ¹H and spectroscopy. The (13)C NMR spectrum of these mushroom extracts showed the presence of β-glucose by a signal at 103.25 ppm. Studies with these glucans were made to elucidate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This extract of glucans inhibited the lipid peroxidation (42.9%) and superoxide radicals (83.3%) at 67 μg/mL. However, the inhibition of hydroxyl radical by the extract of this mushroom was 96% at 267 μg/mL. The action of this extract on induced pleurisy showed a 92.5% and 68.7% reduction in polymorphonuclears cells and nitric oxide, respectively, at 30 mg/kg. The glucans reduced the croton oil-induced ear edema by 65.6% at 30 mg/kg.

Keywords: Polyporus dermoporus; anti-inflammatory effect; antioxidant activities; glucan-protein; mushroom; polysaccharides.

Figure 1

¹ H NMR spectroscopy of Polyporus dermoporus glucan protein.

Figure 2

¹³ C NMR spectroscopy of Polyporus dermoporus glucan-protein.

Figure 3

Anti-inflammatory effect of P. dermoporus extract (PD) on carrageenan-induced pleurisy. The number of pleural exudate leukocytes in carrageenan-induced Wistar rats. The experimental animals were treated with P. dermoporus extract at 10 mg/kg (PD 10), 30 mg/kg (PD 30) and 50 mg/kg (PD 50). Data obtained from animal experiments are expressed as the mean ± SD. The differences between treatment and control were tested by ANOVA. A value of (***) p < 0.001 was considered statistically significant.

Figure 4

Effect of P. dermoporus polysaccharides on NO production from the pleural exudate of Wistar rats with carrageenan-induced pleurisy. The animals were treated with 10 mg/kg (PD 10), 30 mg/kg (PD 30) and 50 mg/kg (PD 50) of P. dermoporus extract. Control: Wistar rats with carrageenan-induced pleurisy. Data obtained from animal experiments (n = 7) are expressed as the mean ± SD. The differences between the treatment and control were tested using ANOVA. A value of (***) p < 0.001 was considered statistically significant.

Figure 5

The effect of P. dermoporus polysaccharides on the croton oil-induced ear edema assay in BALBc mice. The animals were treated with 10 mg/kg (PD 10), 30 mg/kg (PD 30) and 50 mg/kg (PD 50) of P. dermoporus polysaccharides. Data obtained from animal experiments are expressed as the mean ± SD. The differences between treatment and control were tested by ANOVA. A value of (***) p < 0.001 was considered statistically significant.

Figure 6

Histological analysis of ear edema with H & E stain 200× from animals submitted to the croton oil-induced ear edema test and treated with P. dermoporus polysaccharides: (A) positive control (croton oil); (B) negative control (saline); (C) P. dermoporus polysaccharides at 10 mg/kg (PD 10); (D) animals treated with 30 mg/kg (PD 30); (E) animals treated with 50 mg/kg (PD 50).