maitake or other mushrooms neuroprotection glaucoma?

Have any of you seen any lit on this?

thanks so much,

Lilian 

Here is one abstract that you might find interesting :

Neuroprotective Activity of p-Terphenyl Leucomentins from the Mushroom Paxillus panuoides
In-Kyoung LEE (1), Bong-Sik YUN (1), Jong-Pyung KIM (1), In-Ja RYOO (1), Young-Ho KIM (2) and Ick-Dong YOO (1)
1) Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
2) College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University
(Received January 30, 2003)
(Accepted May 6, 2003)
      The neuroprotective mechanism of p-terphenyl leucomentins from the mushroom Paxillus panuoides was studied. Leucomentins showed potent inhibition of lipid peroxidation and H2O2 neurotoxicity, but free from any role as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers. Iron-mediated oxidative damage has been implicated in these processes, as a provider of ROS via iron. Leucomentins can chelate iron when DNA is present with iron and H2O2, and so inhibiting DNA single strand breakage. These results suggest that the neuroprotective action of leucomentins is dependent on their ability to chelate iron.

Here is one more that you might like:

Pharmacology    Planta Med 2003; 69: 513-517
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-40650 
 
p-Terphenyl Curtisians Protect Cultured Neuronal Cells against Glutamate Neurotoxicity via Iron Chelation
 
In-Kyoung Lee1, Bong-Sik Yun1, Jong-Pyung Kim1, Won-Gon Kim1, In-Ja Ryoo1, Seikwan Oh2, Young-Ho Kim3, Ick-Dong Yoo1
1 Laboratory of Antioxidant, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Daejon, Korea
2 College of Medicine, Ewha University, Yangchon, Seoul, Korea
3 College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Yusong, Daejeon, Korea
Abstract

The hyperactivity of ionotropic glutamate receptors has been implicated in the development of the neuronal cell death seen in many neurodegenerative processes including ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy. Thus neuronal protection against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity is considered as an appropriate therapeutic strategy for preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases. Whilst searching for blockers of glutamate-induced toxicity in mouse cortical cells, we isolated p-terphenyl curtisians A - D from the mushroom Paxillus curtisii. Curtisians protected cortical neurons from glutamate-induced toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Among the glutamate receptor subtypes, curtisians were found to block NMDA receptor-mediated but not AMPA/kainate-mediated cell death. In addition, we found that curtisians exhibited potent antioxidative activity against iron-mediated oxidative damage which was generated by H2O2 neurotoxocity and lipid peroxidation, but no activity was detected in the superoxide, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging systems, and in protection of N18-RE-105 cells subjected to glutamate-induced glutathione depletion. This effect was likely due to the iron chelating properties of curtisians. The iron chelation ability of curtisians was then further investigated on DNA single strand breakage (SSB) induced by the addition of iron and H2O2, and curtisians prevented DNA SSB like the iron chelator desferrioxamine. These results suggest that the neuroprotective action of curtisians is dependent on their ability to chelate iron as well as to block the NMDA receptor, and that in this context curtisians may be useful as neuroprotective agents against neurological disorders which result in neuronal cell death.

Hi Dave,

I posted this article in the glaucoma list earlier today.  Do you think it sounds promising?

Lilian 

Hi,

Yes, I am aware of mushrooms for cancer (my brother took it for brain tumor for years).  I still do not know from this article if mushrooms could either lower IOP or be neuroprotective.  Possibly the latter?

Lilian 

Lilian,

I can only offer my opinion. I always prefer an herbal combination product over a single ingredient. Traditional formulations (such as either TCM or Ayurvedic) are formulated to increase effectiveness and to reduce side effects compared to single ingredients. Mushrooms by themselves many not be the magic solution, but they can be an effective ingredient of a well formulated herbal combination.

I do know of an herbal formula for glaucoma that contains mushrooms in combination with other traditional herbs. I posted it in the Fit Eyes blog as a comment to the article at this link. The formula is called Trifolan and it includes poria mushroom (fu ling / Poria cocos) as an immune tonic together with both Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs. It has been used by many glaucoma patients and was written about in "The Eye Care Revolution" by Dr. Abel. The herbal formula is supposed to offer neuroprotection for glaucoma patients with elevated IOP.

Here is the way the benefits of combination products is explained by one Ayurvedic herbal product company (and I happen to agree with this):

Herbal Combinations are Best
Nature's health wisdom is a delicate balance that resides in the biological intelligence of a whole herb -- not in an isolated chemical:

"The whole is greater than the sum of the parts."

Ayurvedic herbal formulas are not single ingredients or nutrition cocktails that blend together the latest health fads. Ayurvedic vaidyas (experts or physicians) feel that it is better to have more than one ingredient in an herbal formula in order to ensure that while you are balancing one aspect of the mind and body, you don't imbalance another aspect of your mind and body. The ayurvedic texts describe precise combinations of herbs for this very reason.

Precise Combinations
Traditional Ayurvedic formulas are precise combination of herbs that are carefully selected and combined to strengthen the formula in different ways:

   1. The primary herbs target a specific area of health, such as the mind, immunity or energy.
   2. Bioavailability herbs increase the potency of the formula by improving the body's ability to assimilate and use the nutrients.
   3. Herbal cofactors remove impurities and the effects of poor digestion, nutrition and stress which can block the full benefit.
   4. Balancing herbs cancel out any potential discomforts or side effects that can come along with the benefits of a particular herb.

David 

Notice that there are several studies showing mushroom-derived antioxidants are particularly effective against iron-mediated oxidative damage. In the context of our discussion about mushrooms and neuroprotection for glaucoma, knowing more about iron metabolism in the eye is of interest. Therefore, I am posting the following summary on that topic. (Although this summary doesn't focus on glaucoma, it certainly helps tie together the neuroprotection research on mushrooms with glaucoma, given what we know about the involvement of oxidative stress in glaucoma.)

Pathological Consequences of Dysregulation of Iron Metabolism in the Eye

Iron is essential to life, however, excess iron can be a potent generator of free radical damage to tissues. Iron accumulates in many tissues with age, as it is absorbed from the diet throughout life but there is no mechanism for excretion. Several recent studies indicate that iron metabolism in the eye is dysregulated in aging and in a variety of ocular pathologies. Normally, tissues have specific mechanisms for protection from iron catalyzed damage. This is demonstrated by the unique properties of the corneal epithelium. Upon UV exposure, the iron storage protein, ferritin is translocated to the nucleus in these cells where it protects against oxidative damage (Linsenmayer). During human aging and in rodent models of retinal degeneration iron accumulates in the retina and may be responsible for oxidative damage associated with age related retinal disease (Courtois). Several lines of evidence suggest a possible role of iron overload in AMD pathogenesis. First, retinas from AMD patients have higher iron levels than controls. Second, knock-out of the iron regulatory proteins ceruloplasmin and hephaestin in mice causes pathological changes similar to those found in AMD in humans. Third, patients with retinal iron overload resulting from aceruloplasminemia have an early onset maculopathy resembling AMD (Dunaief). While iron can catalyze damaging free radical reactions, important new physiological roles of iron have been discovered. For example, iron regulates glutamate production and glutathione levels in the lens and retinal pigmented epithelial cells (McGahan) as well as the activity of hypoxia inducible factor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in these cell types. In addition, iron is an essential cofactor of RPE65, the isomerohydrolase catalyzing the transformation of all-trans-retinyl ester to 11-cis-retinol in the retinal pigment epithelium (Redmond). This is a critical step in the visual cycle and is essential for normal vision. While much has been learned recently about the control of cellular iron import and export, little is known about how cells control iron movements between intracellular compartments.