Exploring the Bioactive Potential of <i>Calostoma insigne,</i> an Endangered Culinary Puffball Mushroom, from Northeastern Thailand
Worachot Saengha,
Thipphiya Karirat,
Nathanon Pitisin,
Supawadee Plangklang,
Luchai Butkhup,
Piyachat Udomwong,
Nyuk Ling Ma,
Ampa Konsue,
Pornwipa Chanthaket,
Teeraporn Katisart,
Vijitra Luang-In
Affiliations
Worachot Saengha
Natural Antioxidant Innovation Research Unit, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Thipphiya Karirat
Natural Antioxidant Innovation Research Unit, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Nathanon Pitisin
Natural Antioxidant Innovation Research Unit, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Supawadee Plangklang
Natural Antioxidant Innovation Research Unit, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Luchai Butkhup
Natural Antioxidant Innovation Research Unit, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Piyachat Udomwong
International College of Digital Innovation, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Nyuk Ling Ma
BIOSES Research Interest Group, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus 21030, Terengganu, Malaysia
Ampa Konsue
Thai Traditional Medicinal Research Unit, Division of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand
Pornwipa Chanthaket
Ban Khwao Forest Temple, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand
Teeraporn Katisart
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Vijitra Luang-In
Natural Antioxidant Innovation Research Unit, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand
Calostoma insigne puffball mushrooms are only found in forests with rich biodiversity in very few countries including Thailand, and their biofunctions remain largely unexplored. This study used the agar disk diffusion assay, the anti-glucosidase assay, and the 3, 4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to evaluate the bioactive potential of these endangered puffball mushrooms. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene analysis identified C. insigne, a puffball mushroom with green, globose, and spiny spores. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the polysaccharide structure while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a fiber-like network. The ethanolic gelatinous fruiting body extract exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-scavenging capacity (57.96%), a ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value of 1.73 mg FeSO4/g, and α-glucosidase inhibition (73.18%). C. insigne cytotoxicity was effective towards HT-29 colon cancer cells using the MTT assay (IC50 of 770.6 µg/mL at 72 h) and also showed antiproliferative capacity (IC50 of 297.1 µg/mL). This puffball mushroom stimulated apoptotic genes and proteins (caspase-3, Bax, and p21) via an intrinsic apoptotic pathway in HT-29 cells. In the laboratory, the medium formula consisting of 20% potato, 2% sucrose, and 0.2% peptone was optimal to increase fungal mycelial biomass (2.74 g DW/100 mL), with propagation at pH 5.0 and 30 °C. Puffball mushrooms are consumed as local foods and also confer several potential health benefits, making them worthy of conservation for sustainable utilization.
