Exploring the Synergistic Effects of Erinacines on Microglial Regulation and Alzheimer's Pathology Under Metabolic Stress.

Background: Hericium erinaceus mycelium and its constituents, erinacines A and S, have shown neuroprotective effects in APP/PS1 transgenic mice; however, the precise mechanisms by which they modulate microglial phenotypes remain unclear. Our study is the first to explore the effect of erinacines on microglia morphology and the underlying mechanisms using a novel primary mixed glia cell model and advanced bioinformatic tools. Furthermore, we emphasize the clinical relevance by evaluating erinacines in a metabolically stressed APP/PS1 mouse model, which more accurately reflects the complexities of human Alzheimer's disease (AD), where metabolic syndrome is a common comorbidity.

Repurposing Polysaccharide PG2 for Inhibiting ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 Spike Syncytial Formation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a serious threat to global public health. In an effort to develop novel anti-coronavirus therapeutics and achieve prophylactics, we used gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for drug screening and identified that polysaccharide (PG2), a mixture of polysaccharides purified from , could effectively reverse COVID-19 signature genes. Further biological assays revealed that PG2 could prevent the fusion of BHK21-expressing wild-type (WT) viral spike (S) protein and Calu-3-expressing ACE2.

Virofree, an Herbal Medicine-Based Formula, Interrupts the Viral Infection of Delta and Omicron Variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a threat with the emergence of new variants, especially Delta and Omicron, without specific effective therapeutic drugs. The infection causes dysregulation of the immune system with a cytokine storm that eventually leads to fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and further irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, the promising way to inhibit infection is to disrupt the binding and fusion between the viral spike and the host ACE2 receptor.

Extract Ameliorates Proteotoxicity in Aging and Age-Related Diseases in Model Systems.

Declines in physiological functions are the predominant risk factors for age-related diseases, such as cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, delaying the aging process is believed to be beneficial in preventing the onset of age-related diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that (GP) extract inhibits liver cancer cell growth and reduces the pathological phenotypes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patient IPS-derived neurons.