Bojana Boh

Ganoderma lucidum and its pharmaceutically active compounds

Ganoderma lucidum is a wood-degrading basidiomycete with numerous pharmacological effects. Since the mushroom is very rare in nature, artificial cultivation of fruiting bodies has been known on wood logs and on sawdust in plastic bags or bottles. Biotechnological cultivation of G. lucidum mycelia in bioreactors has also been established, both on solid substrates and in liquid media by submerged cultivation of fungal biomass. The most important pharmacologically active constituents of G. lucidum are triterpenoids and polysaccharides. Triterpenoids have been reported to possess hepatoprotective, anti-hypertensive, hypocholesterolemic and anti-histaminic effects, anti-tumor and anti-engiogenic activity, effects on platelet aggregation and complement inhibition. Polysaccharides, especially beta-d-glucans, have been known to possess anti-tumor effects through immunomodulation and anti-angiogenesis. In addition, polysaccharides have a protective effect against free radicals and reduce cell damage caused by mutagens.

Submerged cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum biomass and immunostimulatory effects of fungal polysaccharides

Original Ganoderma lucidum strain MZKI G97 isolated from Slovenian forests was cultivated in a liquid substrate based on potato dextrose and olive oil. The influences of inoculum and oxygen partial pressure in batch and fed batch cultivation in a 10-l laboratory stirred tank reactor were studied. Fungal biomass was found to be oxygen and shear sensible. Using a 17% (wet weight) 6 days old vegetative inoculum, 9.6 g l(-1) of dry biomass in batch cultivation and 15.2 g l(-1) in fed batch process were obtained. Extracellular (9.6 g l(-1)) and intracellular (6.3 g l(-1)) polysaccharide fractions were isolated. Extracellular polysaccharide fraction and four intracellular polysaccharide fractions were obtained. Polysaccharides were further separated by ion-exchange, gel and affinity chromatography. The isolated polysaccharides were mainly beta-D-glucanes. Immunostimulatory effects of isolates were tested on induction of cytokine (tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)) synthesis in primary cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from a buffy coat. The TNF-alpha inducing activity is comparable with romurtide, which has been used as a supporting therapy in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Effect of the antifungal activity of oxygenated aromatic essential oil compounds on the white-rot Trametes versicolor and the brown-rot Coniophora puteana

Abstract Essential oils and their constituents have a long history of applications as antimicrobial agents, but their use as wood preservatives has not yet been reported. In this study, 22 essential oil phenols, phenol ethers, and aromatic aldehydes have been tested for their antifungal activity against the wood-decaying fungi Trametes versicolor and Coniophora puteana . Minimal inhibitory concentrations of the selected compounds added to potato dextrose agar (PDA) in defined concentrations were determined by a screening test with the agar dilution method. A significant difference in the tolerance of the tested fungi towards the selected compounds was discovered and attributed to the differences in their metabolic characteristics. The influence of the chemical structure of the tested essential oil compounds on their antifungal activity is also discussed.

Submerged cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum and the effects of its polysaccharides on the production of human cytokines TNF-α, IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-17.

An original strain of Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.:Fr.) Lloyd, MZKI G97 isolated from Slovenian habitats was grown by a submerged liquid substrate cultivation in a laboratory stirred tank reactor. Five fractions of extracellular and cell-wall polysaccharides were obtained by extraction, ethanol precipitation, and purification by ion-exchange, gel and affinity chromatography. The capacity of isolated polysaccharide fractions to induce innate inflammatory cytokines, and to modulate cytokine responses of activated lymphocytes was investigated. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were activated in vitro with polysaccharide fractions, in order to induce innate inflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL) 12 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). For the immunomodulation capacity, polysaccharide fractions were cultured with ionomycine and phorbol myristate acetate (IONO+PMA) activated PBMC, and the concentrations of induced IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-17 were measured. The results showed that polysaccharides from G. lucidum induced moderate to high amounts of innate inflammatory cytokines. Fungal cell-wall polysaccharides were stronger innate inflammatory cytokines inducers, while extracellular polysaccharides demonstrated a higher capacity to modulate cytokine responses of IONO+PMA induced production of IL-17. The results indicate that G. lucidum polysaccharides enhance Th1 response with high levels of IFN-γ and IL-2, and display low to no impact on IL-4 production. A similar pattern was observed at regulatory cytokine IL-10. All of the polysaccharide fractions tested induced IL-17 production at different concentration levels.

Data structuring and classification in newly‐emerging scientific fields

Purpose – The article seeks to address a methodological procedure based on keyword analysis and the structuring of data into information systems in the field of functional foods, a newly‐emerging scientific field within the broader scope of food sciences and technology.Design/methodology/approach – An experiment was undertaken by selection of a research field or research subject, selection of search profile, selection and processing of relevant databases, keyword analysis, and the arrangement of data (keywords) according to tree‐structures. Keyword analysis was employed to identify narrower research fields within the broader scientific field. The structuring of data into systems was used to classify the terms within the particular narrow field. Keywords with higher and lower frequency were identified. A classification tree was set up, based on keywords (thesaurus‐based descriptors) extracted from the FSTA (Food Science and Technology Abstracts) database available online. The tree was supplemented and upgr...

Solid-state cultivation of Grifola frondosa (Dicks: Fr) S.F. Gray biomass and immunostimulatory effects of fungal intra- and extracellular β-polysaccharides

Grifola frondosa strain GF3, was cultivated on solid-state substrate consisting of milled whole corn plant (Zea mays) and olive press cake supplemented with mineral additives and olive oil. Maintenance of the moisture content in the solid substrate is of crucial importance. Moistures higher than 70% promote growth of G. frondosa mycelium and polysaccharide production. Four fractions of pure extracellular beta-D-glucans with total mass 127.2mg and four fractions of intracellular polysaccharides with total mass 47.2mg were isolated. Polysaccharides were further separated by ion-exchange, gel and affinity chromatography. Isolated polysaccharide fractions from fungal mycelium proved to induce moderate amounts of TNF-alpha in PBMC cells in vitro. The extent of TNF-alpha induction was up to 322pgmL(-1) at a polysaccharide concentration of 200microgmL(-1) for the intracellular fraction. The TNF-alpha inducing activity is comparable to romurtide, which has been used as a supporting therapy in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Patent informatics: The issue of relevance in full‐text patent document searches

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the issue of relevance in full‐text patent document searches from the viewpoint of end‐users in science and technology. It aims to present three cases of patent document analysis for relevance, with an additional case of improved search profile with increased relevance, and to summarise the findings in the form of instructions for users. Design/methodology/approach – Two methodological approaches were used for the analysis of patent documents: value‐added processing of the bibliographic part of patent documents for the identification of trends; and structuring of data into systems for the determination of patent relevance. Overall, four sets of full‐text patent documents were analysed, covering the topics of: microencapsulated phase change materials; digital photography and image sensors; patent document processing; and patent analysis. Findings – Value‐added analysis of the bibliographic parts of patent documents is a quick and useful option for the recognition of research trends. However, where non‐relevant patent documents are present in a data set, automatic bibliographic analysis may lead to conclusions that are mathematically and statistically correct, but that are not reliable or may even be incorrect for the users research. Non‐adequate terminology is one of the main obstacles to relevant patent searches, especially if well‐defined keywords are non‐existent, as with cases of newly emerging and fast developing scientific and technological fields. Originality/value – Based on the bibliographic and content analyses of patent documents, the paper provides instructions for users in the form of ten general rules for increasing the relevance of full‐text patent document searches.

Reducing the toxicity of pesticides

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Slovenia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia, Slovenian industries (Aero, Agroruše, Helios and Krka), and the UNESCO-MIRCEN-BITES program. The project teams consisted of the following researchers: (1) Microencapsulated animal repellents: University of Ljubljana—ICCS: B. Boh, A. Kornhauser, D. Dolnicar, D. Hodžar, D. Kardoš, T. Požek Novak, N. Zupančič Brouwer, K. Voda; University of Nairobi: J.O. Midiwo; Agricultural Institute of Slovenia: V. Škerlavaj, G. Urek; Institute for Hop Research and Brewing: I. Košir, M. Kovačevič; Aero Chemical, Graphic and Paper Industry: E. Knez, M. Kukovič, V. Pipal; Agroruše: A. Škvarc; (2) Non-toxic pesticide: University of Ljubljana—ICCS: A. Kornhauser, B. Boh, A. Krumpak, A. Musar; Agricultural Institute of Slovenia: V. Škerlavaj; Helios Chemical Company: J. Perkavac, C. Colnar, Krka Pharmaceutical Industries: M. Pokorny, F. Novosel; Rast Horticulture: B. Kaiser.

An information method for achieving value‐added processing of bibliographic databases in science and technology

The article presents and discusses a methodological procedure based on the functional density of information, which can be used for value‐added processing of bibliographic databases with scientific and technological information to predict and recognise trends in research and development fields. The concept of functional information density can be applied in processing bibliographic databases by specific search fields, such as: number of documents by the publication year, number of articles and patents by year, patent assignee, patent applications and granted patents by country, international patents classification codes, and journal titles. The proposed information procedure was tested on the research topics microencapsulation technology, microencapsulated pesticides, microencapsulated repellents and superabsorbents, and was used as an information support for design of research hypotheses, planning of research, development and marketing of products.

Biodegradation of PAHs by Ligninolytic Fungi Hypoxylon Fragiforme and Coniophora Puteana

ABSTRACT White-rot and brown-rot fungi degrade structural components of wood. The possibility of PAHs degradation by these fungi is based on their structural similarity with lignin (primary degraded by white-rot fungus) and hemi-cellulose and cellulose (degraded by brown-rot fungus). This study compares biodegradation level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using the two ligninolytic fungi Hypoxylon fragiforme (HF) and Coniophora puteana (CP). The biodegradation of ten PAHs was performed in liquid media (2% w/v in water, of malt extract and 0.5% w/v in water, solution of glucose). After 3 weeks of incubation, non-degraded pollutants were extracted by benzene and determined using the GC/MS technique. Both fungi completely degraded 1-methylnaphthalene and 2-methynaphthalene. 1-methylfluorene was also completely degraded by HF while about 62.7% of it was degraded by CP. The remaining PAHs were degraded by HF and CP fungi, respectively, in the following percentages: 82.0 and 79.0 for acenaphthene; 90.3 and 80.0 for acenaphthylene; 17.8 and 41.3 for anthracene; 5.8 and 53.8 for 1,2-benzanthracene; 0.0 and 20.3 for benzo(k)fluoranthene; 50.5 and 15.8 for byphenil; 85.8 and 74.8 for fluorene; 65.5 and 47.5 for phenanthrene; 42.5 and 50.5 for pyrene.