by Cheung Ka Wan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-128). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 - --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Plant Pathogens --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Virus --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Viroids --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Bacteria --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Fungi --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Mycoplasma like organisms --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Nematodes --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.7 --- Insects --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.8 --- Mammals --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- Pathogenicity --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Disease Development --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Primary infection --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Penetration to host --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Entry through wounds ^ / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Entry through natural openings --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- Direct penetration / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Colonization of pathogen --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Mechanisms of attack --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Symptom expression --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.6 --- Spread of disease --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Detection of Pathogen --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Traditional diagnostic methods --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Molecular diagnostic methods --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Advantages of molecular diagnostic tools over traditional detection methods --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Sensitivity of molecular diagnostic tools --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.5.1 --- Mechanism of PCR --- p.16 / Chapter 1.4.5.2 --- Application of PCR --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.6 --- Designation of specific primers in pathogen detection --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4.6.1 --- Nuclear ribosomal DNA genes --- p.18 / Chapter 1.4.6.2 --- Sequencing of ITS regions of rDNA --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5 --- Ganoderma lucidum Complex --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- History of Ganoderma lucidum complex --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Classification --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Macroscopic and microscopic structure --- p.21 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Species identification in G. lucidum complex --- p.22 / Chapter 1.5.5 --- Ganoderma species in Hong Kong --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5.6 --- Act as pathogen --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.7 --- Availability of tree hosts in Hong Kong --- p.25 / Chapter 1.5.7.1 --- Acacia confusa --- p.26 / Chapter 1.5.7.2 --- Listea cubeba --- p.26 / Chapter 1.5.7.3 --- Leucaena leucocephala --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5.8 --- Disease control for Ganoderma lucidum --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aims of Study --- p.29 / Chapter 1.7 --- Significance of the Study --- p.29 / Chapter 1.8 --- Project Strategies --- p.30 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- Survey on Ganoderma lucidum complex in Hong Kong --- p.30 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- Artificial infection --- p.30 / Chapter 1.8.3 --- Detection of pathogen --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 2 - --- Materials and Methods --- p.31 / Chapter 2.1 --- Collection of Ganoderma lucidum Species Complex in Hong Kong --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2 --- Tissue Isolation --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3 --- Molecular Identification --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Extraction of DNA --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Gel Electrophoresis --- p.45 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Sequencing of ITS 1 and ITS2 --- p.46 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Comparison of G. lucidum complex with other Ganoderma and related species --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Strain authentication by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (APPCR) --- p.49 / Chapter 2.4. --- Mating Compatibility for Species Delimitation --- p.49 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Protoplast isolation --- p.49 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Mon-Mon mating --- p.50 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Di-Mon mating --- p.50 / Chapter 2.5 --- Preparation of Samples for Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) --- p.51 / Chapter 2.6 --- Cytological Studies of Basidiocarps of G. lucidum --- p.52 / Chapter 2.7 --- Pathogenicity Study --- p.53 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Growth and spread of G. lucidum in soil --- p.53 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Colonization of G. lucidum on different organs of plants --- p.53 / Chapter 2.7.2.1 --- Determination of dry weight loss --- p.53 / Chapter 2.7.2.2 --- Chitin assay --- p.54 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- Artificial infection to tree seedlings --- p.54 / Chapter 2.7.3.1 --- Artificial infection of vegetative mycelia --- p.54 / Chapter 2.7.3.2 --- Artificial infection with basidiospores --- p.56 / Chapter Chapter 3 - --- Results --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1 --- Collection of Ganoderma lucidum Complex in Hong Kong --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Macroscopic characteristics --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Microscopic characteristics --- p.57 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- G. lucidum under scanning electron microscopy --- p.59 / Chapter 3.2 --- Field Observation --- p.62 / Chapter 3.3 --- Sequencing of ITS Region of G. lucidum Complex and Related Species --- p.64 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- ITS 1 Region of G. lucidum --- p.66 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- ITS 2 Region of G. lucidum --- p.68 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Relationship between Ganoderma and related species --- p.71 / Chapter 3.4 --- Species Delimitation of G. lucidum --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Arbitrarily-Primed PCR --- p.74 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Di-Mon mating --- p.77 / Chapter 3.5 --- Pathogenicity of G. lucidum --- p.81 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Growth and spread in soil --- p.81 / Chapter 3.5.2. --- Preference in colonization on different organs of plants --- p.81 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Artificial infection --- p.87 / Chapter Chapter 4 - --- Discussion --- p.98 / Chapter 4.1 --- Ganoderma lucidum Complex in Hong Kong --- p.98 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of G. lucidum complex and related species --- p.98 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Cytological studies --- p.99 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Field observation --- p.100 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Sequences of ITS regions of G. lucidum complex and related species --- p.101 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Species identification within G. lucidum --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2 --- Pathogenicity Test for G. lucidum --- p.108 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Growth and spread of G. lucidum --- p.108 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Colonization of G. lucidum on plants --- p.110 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Artificial infection by G. lucidum --- p.111 / Chapter 4.3 --- Further Investigation --- p.116 / Chapter Chapter 5 - --- Summary --- p.118 / Chapter Chapter 6- --- Conclusion --- p.120 / References --- p.121

Li Pik Ha Ivy. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-87). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.i / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / ABSTRACT --- p.viii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.x / DECLARATION --- p.xi / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter one --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma Lucidum --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Conventional methods for molecular weight (MW) determination of polysaccharides --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Osmometry --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Light Scattering --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Intrinsic Viscosity --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- Mass Spectrometry --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization Mass Spectrometry --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5 --- MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry of polysaccharides --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6 --- Outline of project --- p.15 / Chapter Chapter two --- Instrumental and experimental / Chapter 2.1 --- Instrumentation --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Laser-based ion source --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Time-of-flight (TOF) analyzer --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Ion deflector --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Detector and data acquisition system --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2 --- Experimental --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Isolation of water-soluble polysaccharides from Ganoderma Lucidum by water extraction --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Isolation of water-soluble polysaccharides from Ganoderma Lucidum by dimethyl ssulfoxide (DMSO) extraction --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Fractionation of water-soluble polysaccharides by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) --- p.27 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Bradford protein assay --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Phenol / sulfuric acid assay --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Sample preparation in MS --- p.28 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Calibration of MALDI-TOF-MS --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Data analysis --- p.29 / Chapter Chapter three --- Extraction and purification of water-soluble polysaccharides from Ganoderma Lucidum / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Experimental --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Extraction efficiency --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Dialysis --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Signal suppression effect --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Sevag method --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitation --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Bradford Protein Assay --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Phenol sulfuric acid assay --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Extraction efficiency --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Purification of crude polysaccharides --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Desalting --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Deproteination --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.4.1 --- Monitoring of protein contents --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.4.2 --- Monitoring of carbohydrate contents --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.4.3 --- Deproteination using Sevag and TCA procipitation method --- p.47 / Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusions --- p.54 / Chapter Chapter four --- Evaluation of MW and MWD of water-soluble Polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma Lucidum / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2 --- Experimental --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Aqueous DHB matrix --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Aqueous DHB/NH4F matrix --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Aqueous DHB matrix in TA solution --- p.58 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Aqueous DHB/NH4F matrix in TA solution --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Aqueous DHB/NH4F matrix with sodium salt in TA solution --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Aqueous DHB/NH4F matrix with potassium salt in TA solution --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Fractionation of water-soluble polysaccharide extracted by DMSO by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Ultra-violet absorption spectrometry (UV-VIS) --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Development of matrix and solvent system for water-soluble polysaccharides --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- MW and MWD of water-soluble polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma Lucidum --- p.64 / Chapter 4.3.2.1 --- Water extraction --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3.2.2 --- DMSO extraction followed by water-back extraction --- p.70 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusions --- p.79 / Chapter Chapter five --- Concluding remarks --- p.82 / References --- p.84

Ganoderma lucidum and Cordyceps sinensis are medicinal fungi commonly used in Chinese medicine. The allied species of G. lucidum, G. sinense and G. tsugae as well as the allied species of C. sinensis, C. militaris are also commercially available as health supplements. The present study aimed at evaluating and comparing the biological activities of the different parts of fruiting bodies of Ganoderma species (whole fruiting body, pileus, stipe, spores and spore oil) and Cordyceps species (whole fruiting body, stroma and larva/pupa). / The extracts of C. sinensis and C. mililaris could stimulate secretion in human airway epithelial cell Calu-3, implying the potentials of these extracts to modulate the mucociliary clearance. The potencies of the stimulatory effects of the stroma of fruiting bodies showed stronger effects than the larva/pupa. All parts of C. sinensis and the stroma of C. mililaris could modulate the proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the different potencies of immunomodulatory effects were also observed. / The results demonstrated that the hot water extracts of G. lucidum, G. sinense and G. tsugae possessed antiproliferative effects on human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. The extracts from the stipes showed stronger inhibitory activities on cancer cell proliferation than those from pilei. Furthermore, the extracts from the whole fruiting body and stipe of G. lucidum possessed strong antitumor effects on the nude mice bearing MCF-7 xenografts and the BALB/c mice bearing sarcoma S-180 allografts as well as strong immunomodulatory effects in terms of stimulating splenic lymphocyte proliferative responses. The oral administrations of spores and spore oil did not show significant inhibition on MCF-7 xenografts growth but they inhibited sarcoma allografts growth effectively. / The strong biological effects of the stipe of Ganoderma and the stroma of Cordyceps were showed for the first-time. This study sheds light on how the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma or Cordyceps should be used to achieve the most out of their pharmacological properties. This study also demonstrated the novel application of Cordyceps in promoting secretion in human airway submucosal glands, which reinforces the rationale of using this fungus for treating respiratory diseases. / Yue Gar Lee Grace. / "August 2006." / Advisers: Leung Ping Chung; Kwok Pui Fung; Bik San Clara Lau. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: B, page: 1584. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 318-340). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Chaga och Reishi svamparna har använts i ett flertal länder som t.ex. Kina och Ryssland som folkmedicin. I tidigare studier har Chaga och Reishi svamparna uppvisat ett flertal hälsoeffekter som antiinflammatoriska egenskaper, antivirala effekter, antitumorala effekter samt förhindrandet av mikrobiell tillväxt. Syftet med projektet var att studera Chaga och Reishi svampars antibakteriella effekt. Detta kan leda till nya alternativa bakteriehämmande medel för användning och bekämpning av den ökade spridningen av resistenta bakterier. För att utvinna de hälsobringande ämnena från Chaga och Reishi svamparna utfördes vatten- och etanolextraktioner. Tillväxtkurvor för grampositiva bakterien S. aureus och gramnegativa bakterien E. coli studerades för att se ifall Chaga och Reishi extrakten hämmade bakterietillväxten. Resultatet visade att tillväxtkurvorna med etanolextrakten visade en hämning på både den grampositiva bakterien och den gramnegativa bakterien medan tillväxtkurvorna med vattenextrakten visade svag hämning av bakterietillväxten förutom i tillväxtkurvan för S. aureus med Chaga vattenextrakt. MIC test utfördes för att se vid vilken koncentration som svampextrakten hämmade bakterietillväxten och endast vid koncentrationerna 125 mg/ml och 100 mg/ml hämmades bakterietillväxten med Chaga- och Reishi etanolextrakt. När det gällde Chaga- och Reishi vattenextrakt sågs ingen hämning av bakterietillväxten vid samtliga koncentrationer. / The fungi: Chaga and Reishi have been used in several countries for example China and Russia as folk medicine. In previous studies, Chaga and Reishi have shown numerous health effects such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti tumoral as well as preventing microbial growth. The aim of the project was to study the antibacterial effect of Chaga and Reishi. It may result in knowledge about more alternative bacteriostatic agents produced to combat the expansion of resistant bacteria. The extraction of the medicinal ingredients from Chaga and Reishi was carried out with aqueous- and ethanol extraction. Growth curves for the gram-positive bacterium S. aureus and the gram-negative bacterium E. coli was studied to see if Chaga and Reishi extracts inhibited the growth of the bacteria. The growth curves of ethanol extracts showed inhibition of these gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria, while the growth curves of aqueous extracts showed no further inhibition of bacterial growth, except in the growth curve of S. aureus with Chaga aqueous extract. MIC test was set up to see at what concentration Chaga and Reishi extracts inhibited the growth of the bacteria and at the concentrations of 125 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml the bacterial growth with Chaga- and Reishi ethanol extract was inhibited. Whereas for Chaga- and Reishi aqueous extract there was no sign of bacterial growth inhibition.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:13:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Raquel Terra Agostinho_DISSERT.pdf: 212655 bytes, checksum: afa93fe07c8ba1db5dc83395a1dc586d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-09-29 / Clinical evaluations have been made possible with radiobiocomplexes marked with tecnecium-99m (99mTc). Natural or synthetic drugs are able to interfere in the marking of blood structures with 99m Tc. Also, the toxicity of several natural products has been described. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) in the marking of blood constituents with 98m Tc and in the survival of Escherichia coli. Blood samples from Wistar rats were treated with reishi extract. Radiomarking procedure was performed. Samples of plasma (P), blood cells (CS), and insoluble (FI) and soluble (FS) fractions of P and CS were separated and the radioactivity was counted to determine radioactivity percentages (%ATI). Escherichia coli AB1157 cultures were treated with stannous chloride in the presence and absence of the reishi extract. Blood samples and bacterial cultures treated with NaCl 0.9% were used as controls. Data indicated that the reishi extract has significantly altered (p<0,05) the %ATI of P, CS, FI-P, FS-P, FI-CS e FS-CS, as well as it has increased survival of bacterial cultures treated with stannous chloride. Our results suggest that the Reishi extract would be able to present a redox/ chelant action by altering blood constituent marking with 99mTc and by protecting bacterial cultures against stannous chloride-induced oxydating lesions. The study had a multidisciplinary character, with the participation of the following areas of knowledge: Biophysics, Radiobiology, Botanics, Phytotherapy, and Hematology / Avalia??es cl?nicas t?m sido poss?veis com radiobiocomplexos marcados com tecn?cio-99m (99mTc). Drogas naturais ou sint?ticas s?o capazes de interferir na marca??o de estruturas sangu?neas com 99mTc, e tamb?m tem sido descrita a toxicidade de v?rios produtos naturais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de um extrato de Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) na marca??o de constituintes sangu?neos sang??neas com 99mTc e na sobreviv?ncia de Escherichia coli. Amostras de sangue de ratos Wistar foram tratadas com extrato de reishi. O procedimento de radiomarca??o foi realizado. Amostras de plasma (P), c?lulas sang??neas (CS) e fra??es insol?vel (FI) e sol?vel (FS) de P e CS foram separadas e a radioatividade foi contada para determina??o das porcentagens de radioatividade (%ATI).Culturas de Escherichia coli AB1157 foram tratadas com cloreto estanoso na presen?a e aus?ncia do extrato de reishi. Amostras de sangue e culturas bacterianas tratadas com NaCl 0.9% foram usadas como controles. Dados indicaram que o extrato de reishi alterou significativamente (p<0,05) a %ATI de P, CS, FI-P, FS-P, FI-CS e FS-CS, bem como, aumentou a sobreviv?ncia de culturas bacterianas tratadas com cloreto estanoso. Nossos resultados sugerem que o extrato de Reishi poderia apresentar a??o redox/quelante alterando a marca??o de constituintes sang??neos com 99mTc e protegendo culturas bacterianas contra les?es oxidativas induzidas pelo cloreto estanoso. O estudo teve car?ter multidisciplinar com a participa??o das seguintes ?reas do conhecimento: Biof?sica, Radiobiologia, Bot?nica, Fitoterapia e Hematologia

Aims. The objectives of this study were (i) to isolate and characterize by conventional column chromatography, structurally diverse triterpenes from G. lucidum to serve as chemical markers; (ii) to develop a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quality control and/or standardization of Lingzhi-containing products; (iii) to utilize and optimize operating conditions for the newer extraction technology: supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), in order to maximize yields of bioactive triterpenes, and to reduce time and costs. / Background. The dried fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum, commonly known as Lingzhi, has been used extensively as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for many centuries not only in China, but also in other countries such as Japan and Korea. In recent years, Lingzhi has also become a popular health supplement in many Western countries. The chemical composition of Lingzhi is complex, but it has been well documented that the lipophilic triterpenoid class of compounds possess a range of biological effects that include antitumor, immunomodulatory, cardiovascular, respiratory and antihepatotoxic activity. A major drawback in TCM research has been the lack of authentic chemical standards, and efficient methods for the extraction and analysis of bioactive fractions and/or single components. Conventional extraction methods for G. lucidum are time-consuming and laborious, and often result in low yields of useful chemical constituents. / Conclusion. This study enabled the development of a method for the simultaneous analysis of structurally diverse triterpenes with remarkably different chromatographic profiles. The isolated triterpenes, as chemical markers, and the HPLC method can readily be used for quality control and/or standardization purposes in evaluating Lingzhi-containing products. Optimization of operating conditions for SFE facilitated the rapid and selective extraction of acidic triterpenes from raw G. lucidum in significantly higher yields. / Methods. Raw material of G. lucidum was extracted with 80% ethanol; subjected to repeated column chromatography to purify triterpenes; and characterized by NMR (1H and 13C) and mass spectroscopy. Isolated lipophilic triterpenes were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC using an ODS column (150 x 4.6 mm) and PDA detection at 256 nm. The assay was validated over appropriate concentration ranges and benzophenone was used as an internal standard. Supercritical fluid extraction of G. lucidum was carried out using a commercial supercritical fluid extractor system Thar, SFE-1000M. Briefly, the raw powder of G. lucidum was soaked in ethanol containing 10% aqueous ammonia for 30 minutes prior to extraction. Extractions were performed at temperatures of 40, 50 and 60&deg;C; and pressures of 200, 250, 300 and 350 bar; 5% ethanol was used as the co-solvent; and the flow rate of CO 2 was set at 20 g/min. / Results. Eight compounds were isolated and identified from G. lucidum: four triterpenes; namely, lucidenic acid N, ganoderic acid B, ganodermanontriol, and ganodermadiol; two steroids; ergosterol-7, 22-dien-3beta-ol and ergosterol peroxide; and two fatty acids, oleic acid and tetracosanoic acid. The four triterpenes were utilized as chemical markers, and the developed HPLC method was able to simultaneously analyze the structurally diverse components with good resolution. The total analysis run time was 110 min, and retention times (tR) were 14.88, 18.96, 63.88 and 90.73 min respectively, and the eluting system was a mixture of three solvents, methanol (A), acetonitrile (B) and 2% acetic acid solution (C): 0-22 min, 5% A, 25% B and 70% C; 22-85 min, gradient elution, the ratio changed gradually to 5% A, 80% B and 15% C; 85-110 min, gradient elution, the ratio changed gradually to 5% A, 85% B and 10% C. The validated HPLC method and the isolated chemical markers were effectively applied to determine the triterpenoid contents in a variety of commercial Lingzhi products. Supercritical fluid extraction conditions of: pressure 300 bar and temperature 50&deg;C, gave the highest yields of triterpene-containing extracts. HPLC analysis of the SFE extracts showed predominantly acidic triterpenes such as lucidenic acid N and ganoderic acid B. / Hong Xin. / "December 2006." / Advisers: Ho Yee Ping; Albert H. L. Chow. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-09, Section: B, page: 5968. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-175). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Luk Wing Yan Vivien. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-239). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgment --- p.i / Abstract --- p.iii / 摘要 --- p.vi / Contents --- p.viii / List of Figures --- p.xiv / List of Table --- p.xxv / Abbreviations --- p.xxv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Ganoderma spp --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Bioactive components of Ganoderma spp --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Lingzhi polysaccharide --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Terpenes --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Ganoderma spp. as Chinese traditional medicine --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Artificial hybridisation of Ganoderma luciudm and G. tsugae --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Protoplast isolation and fusion of Ganoderma tsugae and G. lucidum --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Breast Cancer --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Anti-tumor effects of natural substances against breast cancer cell MCF-7 --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Anti-tumor effects of natural substances against breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Anti-proliferation of cancer --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.3.1 --- Cell cycle arrest --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5.3.2 --- Cell death --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Anti-proliferation assays --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.4.1 --- MTT assay --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.4.2 --- Trypan blue cell viability assay --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.4.3 --- BrdU assay --- p.18 / Chapter 1.6 --- Endocrine system and hormones --- p.19 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Estrogen --- p.23 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Estrogen receptors --- p.24 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Estrogen action --- p.29 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Estrogenicity assays --- p.32 / Chapter 1.6.4.1 --- Recombinant yeast assay --- p.33 / Chapter 1.6.4.2 --- E-screen assay --- p.35 / Chapter 1.6.4.3 --- Estrogen receptor competitor binding assay --- p.36 / Chapter 1.6.4.4 --- Endogenous estrogen-regulated gene expression assay --- p.39 / Chapter 1.6.4.4.1 --- Transforming growth factor --- p.39 / Chapter 1.6.4.4.2 --- Monoamine oxidase A --- p.40 / Chapter 1.6.4.4.3 --- pS2 --- p.40 / Chapter 1.6.4.5 --- Uterotrophic assay --- p.41 / Chapter 1.6.4.6 --- Comparison of in vitro and in vivo assay --- p.42 / Chapter 1.7 --- Aim of study --- p.45 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Objectives --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.47 / Chapter 2.1 --- Fungal culture --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2 --- Artificial hybridization of Ganoderma tsugae and G. lucidum --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Protoplast isolation of Ganoderma tsugae and G. lucidum --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Protoplast fusion of Ganoderma tsugae and G. lucidum --- p.48 / Chapter 2.3 --- Screening and selection of hybrid ´Ø --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Temperature screening --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- DNA fingerprint by Arbitarily-primed polymerase chain reaction --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Extraction of genomic DNA --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Arbitrarily-primed polymerase chain reaction --- p.50 / Chapter 2.3.2.3 --- Gel electrophoresis --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4 --- Confirmation test --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Somatic incompatibility test --- p.51 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- DNA fingerprinting by specific polymerase chain reaction --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.2.1 --- Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.2.2 --- Purification of PCR products --- p.52 / Chapter 2.4.2.3 --- Cycle-sequencing --- p.53 / Chapter 2.3.2.4 --- Sequencing --- p.54 / Chapter 2.3.2.5 --- Sequence analysis --- p.54 / Chapter 2.5 --- Characterization of the selected hybrid --- p.56 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) --- p.56 / Chapter 2.5.1.1 --- Preparation of specimens for scanning electron microscopy --- p.56 / Chapter 2.5.1.2 --- "Cytological studies of pileus, stipe and spores of G. lucidum, G. tsugae and hybrid" --- p.57 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Temperature effect --- p.57 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Submerged fermentation --- p.57 / Chapter 2.5.4 --- Fruiting test --- p.58 / Chapter 2.6 --- "Bioactive components of G. lucidum, G. tsugae and hybrid" --- p.58 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Sample preparation --- p.58 / Chapter 2 6.2 --- Lingzhi polysaccharide --- p.59 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Terpenes --- p.59 / Chapter 2.7 --- Effect of extracts against breast cancer cell lines --- p.60 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Cell culture --- p.60 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Lingzhi Extract preparation --- p.61 / Chapter 2.7.3 --- Optimization of cell density --- p.61 / Chapter 2.7.3.1 --- MTT assay --- p.61 / Chapter 2 7.3.2 --- Trypan blue cell viability assay --- p.62 / Chapter 2.7.3.3 --- BrdU assay --- p.62 / Chapter 2.7.3.4 --- Growth curve of MCF-7 --- p.63 / Chapter 2.7.3.5 --- Growth curve of MDA-MB-231 --- p.64 / Chapter 2.7.4 --- Anti-proliferative effect of extracts on MCF-7 cells --- p.69 / Chapter 2.7.4.1 --- MTT assay --- p.69 / Chapter 2 7.4.2 --- Trypan blue cell viability assay --- p.69 / Chapter 2.7.4.3 --- BrdU assay --- p.70 / Chapter 2.7.5 --- Study of cultured medium effect of biomass and pileus extracts on MCF-7 cells --- p.71 / Chapter 2.7.5.1 --- Cultured medium effect ofbiomass and pileus extracts --- p.71 / Chapter 2.7.6 --- mRNA expression assay (RT-PCR) --- p.71 / Chapter 2.7.6.1 --- Effect of extract on gene expression --- p.71 / Chapter 2.7.6.2 --- Time effect of extract on gene expression --- p.72 / Chapter 2.7.6.3 --- Isolation of RNA --- p.72 / Chapter 2.7.6.4 --- Quantification and qualification of DNA and RNA by spectrophotometry --- p.73 / Chapter 2.7.6.5 --- First strand cDNA synthesis --- p.73 / Chapter 2.7.6.6 --- Amplification of cDNA --- p.74 / Chapter 2.7.7 --- Effect of biomass and pileus lingzhi polysacchandes and terpenes on MCF-7 cells --- p.75 / Chapter 2.7.7.1 --- Effect of reconstitution of lingzhi polysacchande and terpenes on MCF-7 cells --- p.75 / Chapter 2.7.8 --- Effect of biomass and pileus extracts on MDA-MB-231 cells --- p.76 / Chapter 2.8 --- Estrogenicigy assay --- p.76 / Chapter 2 8.1 --- E-screen test --- p.76 / Chapter 2.8.2 --- Estrogen receptor competitor binding assay --- p.77 / Chapter 2.8.3 --- pS2 mRNA expression assay --- p.78 / Chapter 2.9 --- DNA microarray analysis --- p.79 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- mRNA purification --- p.79 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- RT and LPR (Linear Polymerase Reaction) labeling --- p.80 / Chapter 2 9.3 --- pre-hybridization --- p.81 / Chapter 2.9.4 --- Hybridization --- p.82 / Chapter 2.9.5 --- Detection --- p.82 / Chapter 2.9.6 --- Image acquisition and analysis --- p.83 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Result --- p.84 / Chapter 3.1 --- Artificial hybndization of Ganoderma tsugae and G. lucidum --- p.84 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- protoplast isomation and fusion of Ganoderma tsugae and G. lucidum --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2 --- Screening and selection of hybrid --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Temperature screening --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- DNA fingerprint by Arbitrarily-primed polymerase chain reaction --- p.86 / Chapter 3.3 --- Confirmation tests --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Somatic incompatibility test --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- DNA fingerprinting by specific polymerase chain reaction --- p.90 / Chapter 3.4 --- Characterization of selected hybrid --- p.100 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Scanning electron micscropy --- p.100 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Temperature effect --- p.103 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Submerged fermentation --- p.105 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Fruiting test --- p.107 / Chapter 3.5 --- "Bioactive components of G. lucidum, G. tsugae and hybrid" --- p.109 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Lingzhi polysaccharide --- p.109 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Terpenes --- p.109 / Chapter 3.6 --- Effect of extracts against breast cancer cell lines --- p.119 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Anti-proliferative effect of extracts on MCF-7 cells --- p.119 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Study of medium effect of biomass and pileus extracts on MCF-7 cells --- p.139 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- mRNA expression assay (RT-PCR) --- p.143 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Effect of biomass and pileus lingzhi polysaccharides and terpenes on MCF-7 cells --- p.150 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- Effect of biomass and pileus extracts on MDA-MB231- cells --- p.159 / Chapter 3.7 --- Estrogenicity assay --- p.166 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- E-screen assay on biomass and pileus extracts --- p.166 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- E-screen assay on biomass and pileus terpenes and lingzhi polysaccharide --- p.166 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Estrogen receptor competitor binding assay --- p.169 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- pS2 mRNA expression assay --- p.175 / Chapter 3.8 --- DNA microarray analysis --- p.177 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.184 / Chapter 4.1 --- Artificial hybridization of Ganoderma tsugae and G. lucidum --- p.184 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Protoplast isolation and fusion of Ganoderma tsugae and G. luciudm --- p.184 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Screening and selection of hybrid --- p.184 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Characterization of the selected hybrid --- p.185 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- "Nature of hybrid, mutant and variant" --- p.189 / Chapter 4.2 --- Effect of extracts against breast cancer cell lines --- p.190 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Anti-proliferative effect of extracts on MCF-7 cells --- p.190 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Study of effect of cultured medium of biomass and pileus extracts on MCF-7 cells --- p.193 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Effect of biomass and pileus extracts on MDA-MB231- cells --- p.194 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- mRNA expression assay (RT-PCR) --- p.195 / Chapter 4.3 --- Estrogenicity --- p.198 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- E-screen assay --- p.198 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Estrogen receptor competitor binding assay --- p.199 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- pS2 mRNA expression assay --- p.200 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Ganoderma spp. As hormonal therapy --- p.201 / Chapter 4.4 --- DNA microarray analysis --- p.201 / Chapter 4.5 --- Further investigation --- p.204 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.205 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Reference --- p.207

FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Este trabalho relata o estudo fitoquÃmico de duas espÃcies do gÃnero Heliotropium: H. indicum Linn e H. polyphyllum Lehm e do macrofungo Ganoderma lucidum, coletados no Estado do CearÃ. A anÃlise dos Ãleos essenciais das partes aÃreas das espÃcies de Heliotropium, por diferentes tÃcnicas de extraÃÃo, permitiu a identificaÃÃo de diferentes metabÃlitos secundÃrios, desde hidrocarbonetos, terpenÃides, Ãlcoois atà sesquiterpenÃides. No Ãleo essencial das raÃzes OEHI, foram identificados 17 constituintes quÃmicos, sendo o fitol (49,10%) o composto majoritÃrio. A investigaÃÃo fitoquÃmica do extrato etanÃlico das raÃzes de H. indicum resultou no isolamento, entre outros compostos, um alcalÃide pirrolizidÃnico denominado helindicina (HI-2). O estudo fitoquÃmico do extrato etanÃlico das partes aÃreas de H. polyphyllum permitiu o isolamento do alcalÃide licopsamina (HP-1). A anÃlise cromatogrÃfica dos constituintes fixos do extrato etanÃlico de Ganoderma lucidum permitiu o isolamento dos esterÃides ergostanos: ergosta-7,22,-dien-3-ona, ergosta-22-en-3,4,8-triol, ergosta-1,4,8(14),22-tetraen-3-ona e a mistura de ergosta-5,9,22-trien-3-ol e ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol. Uma sÃrie de derivados do esterÃide ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ona foi desenvolvida a partir da modificaÃÃo no carbono C-3 com obtenÃÃo de Ãlcoois, Ãsteres (formil e acetil) e oxima. A determinaÃÃo estrutural dos contituintes nÃo volÃteis e derivados foi realizada atravÃs de mÃtodos espectroscÃpicos EM, IV e RMN 1H e 13C, incluindo sequencias de pulso uni e bi-dimensionais. A identificaÃÃo dos constituintes volÃteis foi desenvolvida por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (CG/EM) para anÃlise qualitativa, enquanto (CG/DIC) para anÃlise quantitativa e ainda comparaÃÃo com dados descritos na literatura. / This work reports the phytochemistry study of two species of the genus Heliotropium: H. indicum Linn and H. polyphyllum Lehm, and of the macrofungal Ganoderma lucidum, collected in the State of CearÃ. The analysis of the essential oils from aerial partsâ of the species of Heliotropium, for different extraction techniques, allowed the identification of different secondary metabolic, from hydrocarbons, terpenoids, alcohols even sesquiterpenoids. For the essential oil from roots OEHI all 17 constituents chemicalents were identified and the fitol (49,10%) were the major compound. The phytochemistry investigation from etanolic extract of the roots of H. indicum resulted in the isolation, among others compounds, one pirrolizidine alkaloid that has been named as helindicine (HI-2). The phytochemistry study from extract etanolic for aerial partsâ of H. polyphyllum allowed the isolation of the alkaloid licopsamine (HP-1). The chromatographic analysis of the fixed constituints from etanolic extract of Ganoderma lucidum allowed the isolation of the steroids ergostane: ergosta-7,22,-dien-3-one, ergosta-22-en-3,4,8-triol, ergosta-1,4,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one, and the mixture of ergosta-5,9,22-trien-3-ol and ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol. A series of derived from steroid ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one was developed starting from the modification in the carbon C-3 with obtaining of alcohols, steres (formil and acetil) and oxima. The structural determination of all natural products, and derived was performed by mean of spectroscopic techniques such MS, IR, 1H and 13C NMR, including uni and bi-dimensional pulse sequences. The identification of the volatile constitution was performed by GC/MS for the qualitative analysis while GC/FID was used for the quantitative analysis, and still comparison to data published in the literature was also used for identification wherever the case.

Ganoderma lucidum is one of most popular medicinal mushrooms in oriental countries. The medicinal properties of Ganoderma lucidum in the treatment of various diseases have been documented for hundreds of years. In recent years, more and more attentions are paid on the studies of the action mechanisms of bioactive compounds purified from this mushroom. / In conclusion, the Ganoderma steroids EP and 9(11)-DHEP can induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in susceptible cancer cells via the mitochondria-mediated pathway. In vitro and in vivo studies suggested that these two fungal steroids have the potential to be used as natural chemopreventive agents. / Keywords: Ergosterol peroxide, 9(11)-dehydroergosterol peroxide, Ganoderma lucidum, Mycelia, Antitumor activity, Apoptosis / The antiproliferative activities of EP and 9(11)-DHEP were studied by flow cytometry. Exposure of cancer cells with these two fungal steroids resulted in an accumulation of cell population at the subG1 phase in a dosage- and time-dependent manner, indicating the induction of apoptotic cell death. Morphological apoptotic changes in HepG2 cells and A375 cells were observed using TUNEL assay and Annexin-V-FLUOS assay. The signaling pathway in apoptotic cell death induced by EP and 9(11)-DHEP involved the activation of caspase 3, 7 and 9, followed by the cleavage of PARP. In Colo201 cells, a change in the ratio of expression levels of Bcl-2/Bax was observed in cells treated with EP and 9(11)-DHEP. In A375 cells, exposure to EP and 9(11)-DHEP resulted in the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, the down-regulation of Mcl-1 and a slight up-regulation of Bak in a dosage-dependent manner. All these results indicated that apoptotic cell death in susceptible cancer cells induced by EP and 9(11)-DHEP was via the mitochondria-mediated pathway. / The in vivo antitumor activity of EP was demonstrated. EP was shown to suppress the growth of A375 cells in a nude mice xenograft model. Further studies showed that EP induced the cleavage of PARP and enhanced the total caspase 7 gene expression in the tumor cells. / Triterpenes and steroids are two important classes of Ganoderma lucidum metabolites of low molecular mass that are responsible for the antitumor activities of the mushroom. In this study, two fungal steroids, namely, 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (ergosterol peroxide (EP)) and 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,9(11),22-trien-3beta-ol (9,11-dehydroergosterol peroxide (9(11)-DHEP)) were purified from the mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum grown under submerged culture using activity-guided purification procedures against human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. In addition to MCF-7 cells, both of these two fungal steroids showed antiproliferative activities against other human cancer cells including hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, colorectal carcinoma Colo201 cells, esophageal squamous carcinoma KYSE cells and malignant melanoma A375 cells. However, EP and 9(11)-DHEP were less toxic to MCF-10-2A, non-tumorigenic human epithelial cells, and the normal human skin fibroblast Hs68 cells. / Zheng, Lin. / Adviser: Y. S. Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 71-01, Section: B, page: 0253. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-176). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Läderindustrin har funnits i flera århundraden och läder används ofta tack vare materialets slitstarka egenskaper. De senaste åren har kunskapen och även intresset kring hållbarhet och djurs rättigheter ökat. Detta har lett till ökande efterfrågan på veganska alternativ till läder. Begreppet “veganskt läder” definieras som alla läderimiterade material tillverkade utan animalistiska produkter. Det vanligaste veganska lädret är PU-läder, tillverkat av polyuretan. Piñatex är ett nonwoven-material tillverkat av ananasblad som annars brukar brännas. Reishiär ett material producerat av företaget MycoWorks, tillverkat av mycel; den vegetativa delen hos svamp. Syftet med studien är att analysera kromgarvat och vegetabiliskt garvat läder med deras veganska substitut, PU-läder, Piñatex och Reishi utifrån fyra olika parametrar; ekonomi, hållbarhet, funktionella egenskaper och djuretik. Studiens resultat visar att kromgarvat läder är det starkaste materialet, men det har även stornegativ påverkan på miljön. Anledningen till att PU-läder är det vanligaste veganska lädret är på grund av de låga produktionskostnaderna, detta avspeglas på materialets lågt presterandefunktionella egenskaper. Reishi är ett mycket innovativt material, med minst miljöpåverkan och bra egenskaper. Med stigande efterfrågan finns stort potential till att materialet kan utvecklas och användas i fler sammanhang. Ur ett djuretiskt perspektiv kan inte konventionellt läder vinna över veganskt läder. Produktionen av veganskt läder kräver inte direkt att några djur slaktas, men veganskt läder är inte helt utan negativ miljöpåverkan. Slutligen faller valet av material och dess etiska värde till var enskild individ och slutproduktens önskade egenskaper. / The leather industry has been around for centuries and leather is frequently used due to the materials durable qualities. In the past few years environmental responsibility and interest in the wellbeing of animals has increased. This has led to an increase in demand for vegan substitutes for leather. Vegan leather is defined as any leather imitating material that is produced completely without animal products. The most commonly used vegan leather today is polyurethane leather, also known as pleather. Piñatex is a nonwoven fabric produced by pineapple leaves which would otherwise be discarded. Reishi is a material produced by the company MycoWorks, made from fine mycelium, the vegetative part of a fungus. The purpose of this study is to analyze chrome tanned leather and vegetable tanned leather with their vegan counterparts, pleather, Piñatex and Reishi from four different perspectives; economic, environmental, functional and ethical perspectives. The result of the study shows that chrome tanned leather is by far the most durable of the materials, but it also has a high, negative environmental impact. The reason pleather is the most common vegan leather, is the low production cost of the fabric. This is mirrored by the low performance qualities of the fabric. Reishi is an incredibly innovative material, having the lowest environmental impact and with growing demand, the fabric has great potential to evolve and become more frequently used. Ethically speaking, vegan leather has an advantage over conventional leather, since no animals are harmed in the production process, but vegan leather is not without environmental impact. Ultimately, the choice and ethical value of each fabric comes down to the consumer and the desired qualities of the intended product.