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Updated: May 31, 2026
Extraction of Plant-based Capsules for Microencapsulation Applications
Published on: November 9, 2016
Anti-UV activity of Lentinus edodes mycelia extract (LEM)
Toshiyuki Nanbu1, Tomohiko Matsuta, Hiroshi Sakagami
1Division of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama 350-0283, Japan.
Background:
Using our recently established simple method for evaluating protective activity from ultraviolet ray injury (referred to as 'anti-UV activity'), the effectiveness of various antioxidants and plant extracts was investigated.
Materials And Methods:
HSC-2 human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells were exposed to UV irradiation (wavelength: 253.7 nm, 6 J/m²) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS(-)) containing various concentrations of samples and then incubated for 48 hours in regular culture medium to determine the viable cell number by the MTT method.
Results:
Among the representative antioxidants, sodium ascorbate showed the most potent anti-UV activity, whereas catalase and N-acetyl-L-cysteine were inactive. Lentinus edodes mycelia extract (LEM) showed comparable anti-UV activity to sodium ascorbate. Hot water extracts of green tea and coffee, and PET-bottled of green tea extract showed slightly less, but noticeable anti-UV activity. On the other hand, hot water extracts of black tea and Jasmine tea, and PET-bottled of oolong tea, barley tea and Kohki tea were inactive. LEM was separated by gel filtration chromatography into four fractions from high to low molecular weight: polysaccharide, large and small lignin-carbohydrate complexes, and sugars. Anti-UV activity was shown by the lignin-carbohydrate fractions, but not the polysaccharide and sugar fractions. LEM, at high concentration, slightly enhanced the anti-UV activity of sodium ascorbate.
Conclusion:
LEM may be applicable as a UV-protective agent.