Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of clonal bone marrow stem cell disorders characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis with dysplastic bone marrow leading to peripheral blood cytopenias a variable propensity for progression to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Neutropenia occurs in 50 % of newly diagnosed patients, more frequently in those with higher-risk (70–80 %) than lower-risk [...]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with an estimated 2–3% prevalence in the population above 65 years of age. The prevalence increases with age, from 1% at age 45–55 to 4% (men) and 2% (women) at age 85. Typical examples are the motor symptoms related to (nonreversible) loss of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra. [...]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neuronal loss, and neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, neuroinflammatory processes are thought to contribute to AD pathophysiology. Maitake (Grifola frondosa), an edible/medicinal mushroom, exhibits high nutritional value and contains many health-beneficial, bioactive compounds. It has been reported that proteo-β-glucan, a polysaccharide derived from Maitake (PGM), [...]

Lion’s Mane Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), an edible and medicinal mushroom species, is widespread across East Asia. Its medicinal properties have been known for several ages, as evidenced by its use in traditional Asian folk medicine. The bioactive compounds identified in Lion’s mane include indole, fenol, steroid, and lactone compounds, terpenoids (erinacines, hericerins, and hericenones.), alkaloids (hericirine), polysaccharides, [...]

Coriolus Versicolor (CV), also known as Turkey Tail, is a kind of folk medicine and edible fungus growing on tree trunks. The main components of CV are proteins, fats, polysaccharides, polysaccharide peptides, glucans, amino acids, and a variety of inorganic salts. Coriolus Versicolor polysaccharide (CVP) is one of the important bioactive substances in CV. It has [...]

As part of traditional Chinese medication regimens, cordyceps extract has previously been shown to ameliorate various diseases, including metabolic anomalies. However, it needs to be clarified what the bioactive ingredient in cordyceps extracts is and the molecular mechanisms through which these extracts elicit beneficial effects. Here we demonstrate that myriocin, a pharmacological inhibitor of ceramide biosynthesis in [...]

Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women worldwide, is a heterogeneous disease composed of a broad spectrum of tumor subtypes with different biological characteristics and clinical behavior. The primary breast cancer markers traditionally used in routine clinical practice to establish the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of the disease are estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), [...]

Several biological activities relevant to caries prevention have been identified through various in vitro and in vivo studies. These include induction of the detachment of cariogenic microorganisms from hydroxyapatite, changes in cell surface hydrophobicity, bactericidal activity against cariogenic organisms, and the disruption of signal transduction in Streptococcus mutans. Glucan is one of the major components of [...]

Alcoholic beverages are commonly consumed by adults and food worldwide and are enjoyed because alcohol stimulates our appetite and makes meals more delicious. However, excessive intake increases the risk of various diseases. Vegetable and fruit consumption reduces the risk of alcohol-induced gastric cancer, suggesting that food components may affect the absorption and metabolism of ethanol. Therefore, [...]