Phytochemical investigation of two edible mushrooms: Cantharellus lutescens and Craterellus cornucopioides

Edible mushrooms Cantharellus lutescens and Craterellus cornucopioides were investigated in order to purify molecules active on HDAC and QR enzymes, these target having a central role in new therapies against Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. An induction activity on QR was demonstrated for different fractions of both mushrooms, while on HDAC test, C. lutescens showed an inhibition activity and C. cornucopioides an inducing one. A bioguided fractionation, through different chromatographic techniques mostly, led to the purification of two fatty acids from C. cornucopioides named here Tdmc’1 and Tdmc’2. During this process, HPLC and TLC analysis were periodically made on fractions in order to emphasize degradation phenomenon eventually occurring. Their structure was partially identified by 1H-NMR spectra even though not completely clarified. Bidimensional experiences COSY, TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC were also made on the polyunsaturated fatty acid Tdmc’1 with the aim of a better elucidation of its characteristics but mass data are still required. Further studies should be conducted on fractions obtained by both mushrooms and most of all, biological tests should run on them in order to demonstrate whether or not those compounds are responsible for the activity on HDAC and QR