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Therapeutic Potential of Bioactive Compounds in Edible Mushroom-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Isolation and Characterization of EVs from Pleurotus eryngii

Summary

Scientists have isolated and studied tiny capsule-like particles called extracellular vesicles from the oyster mushroom Pleurotus eryngii. These vesicles, which are naturally produced by the mushroom, contain beneficial compounds like antioxidants that help protect cells from damage. The researchers found that vesicles from mushroom mycelium (the root-like part) were of higher quality and had stronger antioxidant effects than those from the fruiting body. These findings suggest that mushroom-derived vesicles could potentially be developed into health supplements or therapeutic treatments.

Background

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are bilayer-lipid nanoparticles released by living organisms that play essential roles in intercellular communication. While EV research is well-established in mammals and bacteria, research on fungal and plant-derived EVs remains limited. Pleurotus eryngii is an edible mushroom with bioactive compounds including polysaccharides, polyphenols, and sterols that exhibit anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties.

Objective

To isolate and characterize extracellular vesicles from both fruiting bodies and mycelium of Pleurotus eryngii in order to investigate their potential applications as nutraceuticals and evaluate their biochemical composition and antioxidant properties.

Results

Mycelium-derived EVs displayed superior purity and quality compared to fruiting body EVs. The 40 K mycelial fraction exhibited a clean, homogeneous profile with average particle sizes of 130-140 nm. Metabolomic analysis revealed complex polar metabolites including amino acids, nucleosides, and bioactive polyphenols such as (−)-epicatechin, caffeic acid, and gallic acid. Mycelium-derived EVs demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant capacity across all assays compared to fruiting body EVs.

Conclusion

P. eryngii mycelium-derived EVs, particularly the 40 K fraction, represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds with promising antioxidant properties. These EVs show potential as natural nanocarriers for nutraceutical and therapeutic applications. Further in vivo studies are required to validate functional impact and assess biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy.
  • Published in:Pharmaceuticals (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 41011231, DOI: 10.3390/ph18091362
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