High processing tolerances of immunomodulatory proteins in Enoki and Reishi mushrooms

J Agric Food Chem. 2008 May 14;56(9):3160-6. doi: 10.1021/jf800205g. Epub 2008 Apr 19.

Abstract

This study investigated the processing tolerances of two mushroom proteins with immunomodulatory activities, including FVE from Enoki ( Flammulia velutipes ) and LZ8 from Reishi ( Ganoderma lucidum ) mushrooms, under food processing treatments such as heating, sterilization, frozen storage, extraction in acid/alkaline conditions, and dehydration. Results showed that the capability of these two proteins to induce IFN-gamma secretion by murine splenocytes remained after 100 degrees C heating for 30 min, 121 degrees C autoclaving for 15 min, and -80 degrees C freezing. The retained activities of both proteins on cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production did not decrease at 0.6 M hydrochloric acid (at pH 2) but strikingly dropped at 5 M sodium hydrate (at pH 13). After vacuum dehydration, FVE and LZ8 retained most of their activities on cell proliferation; nevertheless, the IFN-gamma secretion decreased to about half of the initial values. These findings suggest that these two mushroom proteins have a good thermal/freezing resistance, acid tolerance, and dehydration stability and are candidates for processing in food and nutraceutical utilization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agaricales / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Desiccation
  • Drug Stability
  • Female
  • Food Handling / methods*
  • Freezing
  • Fungal Proteins / analysis
  • Fungal Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Ganoderma / chemistry*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Immunity / drug effects*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Sterilization

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • LZ-8 protein, Ganoderma lucidum
  • Interferon-gamma