Yang-Sup Kim

Biological Activities of Wild Sparassis crispa Extracts

Physiological activities of solvent extracts of Sparassis crispa were investigated for fibrinolytic, thrombin inhibitory, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. The fibrinolytic activity was the highest in ethyl acetate extract (2.03 plasmin units/ mL) followed by butanol extract (0.70 plasmin units/mL). The ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest anti-oxidative activity as assessed by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging rate with a value of 95.94%. The chloroform extract showed thrombin inhibitory activity up to 83.87%. The chloroform extract also showed the highest anti-inflammatory effects on the production of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These findings suggest that Sparassis crispa may be a useful material for development of drugs and functional foods.

Taxonomic Study on Volvariella in Korea

Abstract Diversities of Korean species belonging to the genus Volvariella have been studied through forty five dried specimens collected throughout the Korean peninsula for 28 years, from 1972 to 2000, and preserved in NIAST’s herbarium. We have found one unrecorded species of the genus Volvariella in Korea: V villosavolva (Lloyd) Sing, Stirp Taylori Korean common names were designated. Ten species of the genus Volvariella including the recorded Korean species of Volvariella have been identified and the keys to the species were constructed.

Taxonomic Study on Some Unrecorded Species of Korean Hydropus

Specimens belonging to the genera Mycena and Collybia which have been preserved in the herbarium of National Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Suwon, Korea were investigated. Among them, four species were confirmed to be Hydropus species viz Hydropus marginellus, H nitrata, H erinensis, and H flocdpes. Authors registered them to the Korean mycoflora with full descriptions, illustrations and Korean names.

Taxonomic Study on Inocybe in Korea

Abstract Dried specimens of the genus Inocybe collected from mountain areas throughout the Korean country from 1982 to 1998 and preserved in NIAST were investigated. Out of them, Inocybe hystrix were confirmed as an unrecorded species in Korea. In 1991 Lee et al., previously recorded Inocybe kasukayamensis only with its scientific name and korean common name. In this study we report it with full descriptions of morphological characteristics and diagnosis of micro-structures of this species.

Taxonomic Studies on the Genus Crepidotus in Korea

Abstract For investigation of the species diversity of the Genus Crepidotus in Korea and constructing a key to Korean Crepidotus species, a total of 65 specimens, collected from 18 locations from 1982 to 2002, were observed for morphological characters of carpophores and other features. All the specimens have been preserved in the herbarium of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, R.D.A., Suwon, Korea. The specimens were identified according to the classification systems given by Hesler and Smith (1965), Nordstein (1990), Orton (1960), Pilat (1948), Senn-Irlet (1991, 1992, 1993) and Singer (1951, 1973, 1986). In this study, a total of 10 Crepidotus species were confirmed. Among them, Korean common names were designated to six unrecorded species as follows: C. uber, “적귀버섯”; C. hygrophanus, “곤약귀버섯” C. latifolius, “꼬마무리귀버섯”; C. obscurus, “먼지귀버섯”; C. subverrucisporus, “분롬귀버섯”; and C. circinatus, “노년고리귀버섯”. A key to 10 Crepidotus species has been constructed.

Morphological Characteristics of Artificially Cultivated Dictyophora echinovolvata

This study was conducted to investigate morphological characteristics of veiled lady mushroom (Dictyophora sp.). Morphological observation of mycelium showed the presence of chlamydospore-like swelling cells, and typical mycelial champ connections. Fruiting body of the veiled lady mushroom consists of cap, velum, stipe, and vulva. Oval-shaped eggs were surrounded by exodermis, gelatin layers and endodermis, and the fruiting bodies remained inside volva as liquid gelatin layer. Dark green spore layer was formed at the top of cap. The surface eggs in the cultivated veiled lady mushroom was covered with white needle-shaped mycelial projection that was oval in shape. The velum of fruiting body stretched down to the top of volva. The net was regularly shaped, and smelled like fragrance with chestnut flower. The strain KACC 50650 was identified as Dictyophora echinovolvata based on the morphology of eggs and fruiting bodies, and named as Huin-Dol-Gi-Mang-Tae mushroom in Korean.

Hexane and Chloroform Fractions of Laetiporus sulphrueus var. miniatus Inhibit Thrombin-treated Matrix Metalloproteinase-2/9 Expression in Human Oral Squamous Carcinoma YD-10B Cells

Laetiporus sulphrueus var. miniatus is widely distributed worldwide, and has commonly been used as a medicinal mushroom. In the present study, we investigated the effects of water extract and solvent fractions from the Laetiporus miniatus as possible antioxidant, anti-thrombin and anti-invasive agents against phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)or thrombin-induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 activities. Samples were fractionated into n-hexane, CHCl3, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water fractions, and individually analysed. The water fraction had the highest extraction yield at 34.90% (w/w), while the n-butanol fraction demonstrated the highest anti-oxidative activity at 81.44%. In the thrombin inhibitory activity test, the water fraction exhibited the highest activity at 94.64%. Even at the concentration of 40 μg/mL, evaluation of anti-proliferating activity in YD-10B cells did not reveal any cytotoxic effects. Although MMP-9 expression in YD-10B cells increased after the addition of PMA and thrombin, MMP-2 did not. Additionally, MMP-2/-9 levels in PMA-treated YD-10B cells (i.e., both mRNA expression and protein activation) were highly inhibited in the hexane and chloroform fractions. Compared with MMP-2 levels, MMP-9 mRNA expression and proteolytic activity were inhibited to a greater extent by the hexane and chloroform fractions in thrombintreated YD-10B cells. Taken together, these results support that thrombin induces tumor invasion through MMP-2/9 and suggest that the L. miniatus may act as an effective functional food, conferring anti-oxidative, anti-thrombotic and anti-cancer activities.

Higher Fungal Flora from the Worldcup Park in Seoul

This survey was conducted in order to clarify the species diversity and distribution of mushrooms at Worldcup Park in Seoul, from May to November 2010 and 2014. In the survey, a total of 98 taxa, 98 species, 86 genera, 38 families, 12 orders, three classes, and two phyla were identified. A total of 250 specimens of Mushrooms were collected from Pyonghwa Park and 63 species, 71 genera, 36 families, 13 orders, three classes, and two phyla were identified. Coprinus atramentarius and Psathyrella candolleana were high in frequency, as ten times and nine times, respectively. In Noeul Park, 102 specimens were collected, 41 species, 42 genera, 19 families, 19 orders, two classes, and two phyla were identified. In Noeul Park mostly layed with lawn, Agrocybe semiorbicularis and Agaricus campestris were high in frequency, as ten times and nine times, respectively. There were no mushrooms in succession during three years. In Haneul Park, a total of 128 specimens of mushrooms were collected. 49 species, 57 genera, 30 families, 11 orders, three classes, and two phyla were identified. Agrocybe semiorbicularis and Phallus rugulosus were high in frequency, as four times. In Nanjicheon Park, a total of 68 specimens of mushrooms were collected. 31 species, 34 genera, 30 families, nine orders, one class, and one phylum were identified. Coprinus atramentarius and Psathyrella velutina were high in frequency, as three times. Investigation on the diversity of mushrooms at the Worldcup Park, piled up with the citys waste, will be of the great significance in the aspect of the ecological change. All specimens examined in this work are preserved in HCCN (Herbarium Conservation Center of National Academy of Agricultural Science).

Screening of Fibrinolytic Activities of Extracts from Wild Mushrooms Collected in Mt. Chilgap of Korea

Extracts of 67 wild mushrooms were tested for their fibrinolytic activities. The extract of Marasmius pulcherripes showed 112% higher increased activity as compared with a positive control, plasmin (0.75 U/ml). Helvella elastica and Psathyrella sp. showed 60% and 49% of activities to that of plasmin, respectively. Three mushrooms such as Lepista sordida, Fomitella fraxinea, and Leucoagaricus rubrotinctus showed 40% of plasmin activity. The other 60 mushroom extracts did not show any fibrinolytic activity.