Exploration of nutritional, antioxidative, antibacterial and anticancer status of Russula alatoreticula: towards valorization of a traditionally preferred unique myco-food

Abstract

Healthy food trend is becoming popular these days fueling search for ingredients empowered by pharma-nutritional benefits. In contrast, numerous wild-growing mushrooms are traditionally cherished as health promoting gastronomies in India; although credibility of their effects has so far been limited. Hence the present study aimed to unveil a unique tribal cuisine, Russula alatoreticula, with nutritional, chemical and pharmacological relevance. The outcome demonstrated an excellent alimentary composition with carbohydrate and protein as prominent macronutrients in contrast to fat providing oleic acid (36.66%), linoleic acid (16.84%), palmitic acid (16.01%) and stearic acid (15.31%) indicative of profitable nutritive account. Conversely, ethanolic fraction enriched with phenolics (pyrogallol > cinnamic acid) presented effective antioxidant property in terms of radical scavenging, Fe²⁺ chelating and reducing power with EC₅₀ ranging from 785 to 2500 μg/ml. Remarkable antibacterial activity was also noted against the tested microorganisms (MIC of 72.5-1560 μg/ml) preferentially targeting Gram-positive one. Besides treatment of the preparation rendered Hep3B proliferation as evident by phenotypic changes, cell cycle interference, reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial membrane potential reduction, DNA fragmentation, change in Bax/Bcl2 ratio and activation of caspase9 signifying induction of intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Thus the study represents R. alatoreticula as a value-added bio-resource that could be featured in food and pharmaceutical industries for betterment of humankind.

Keywords: Fatty acid composition; Hep3B human liver cancer; High performance thin layer chromatography (HPLC); Intrinsic mitochondrial pathway; Newly-found ethnic macrofungus.

Fig. 1

Effect of ethanol extract from Russula alatoreticula on Hep3B cell proliferation was estimated by a WST (***p < 0.001 vs. control) b colony-formation and c wound healing assays

Fig. 2

Effect of ethanol extract from Russula alatoreticula on cellular morphology of Hep3B cells was investigated using a DAPI and b acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining methods

Fig. 3

Effect of ethanol extract from Russula alatoreticula on a cell cycle distribution b DNA fragmentation c intracellular ROS generation (*p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001 vs. control) and d mitochondrial membrane depolarization (***p < 0.001 vs. control) on Hep3B cells was detected flow cytometrically

Fig. 4

Influence of ethanol extract from Russula alatoreticula on Hep3B cells was determined with the help of a reverse transcriptase-PCR by assessing effect on transcription level of three different genes b Bax c Bcl-2 and d Caspase-9 (***p < 0.001 vs. control). e A diagrammatic representation