This research shows that 2′-fucosyllactose, a natural compound found in breast milk, can significantly improve gut health in older mice. The treatment strengthened the intestinal barrier, reduced harmful inflammation, and increased beneficial bacteria populations. These findings suggest that 2′-FL could be developed as a food supplement to help older people maintain better digestive and immune health.
Researchers developed an improved method to extract beneficial polysaccharides from Ganoderma leucocontextum (white Ganoderma), a rare mushroom from the Tibetan plateau. The extracted compound GLSP-A1 showed strong anti-inflammatory effects by reducing inflammatory markers and reduced signs of aging in test organisms by decreasing harmful reactive oxygen species and cellular aging pigments. This work suggests the mushroom polysaccharide could potentially be used in dietary supplements to help slow aging.
Researchers studied chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) and found it helps muscles grow stronger and regenerate better. When mice were given chaga extract, their muscles became larger and stronger after injury, particularly through increased energy production in muscle cells. The mushroom works by activating specific proteins that promote muscle growth and boost the mitochondria (the energy factories) in muscle cells, suggesting it could help prevent age-related muscle weakness.
Potentilla anserina, a traditional Tibetan plant, can be grown as animal feed on salty, unused land. Researchers found that when the plant is fermented as silage, it becomes more nutritious and develops beneficial microbes that help it resist salt and drought. This makes it a promising sustainable feed option for livestock raised in areas with saline soils.
Scientists are discovering that creatures from the ocean produce powerful substances that can help our immune system fight diseases like cancer and inflammation. These marine organisms—from tiny algae to sponges to fish—create natural compounds that can either boost or calm down our immune response depending on what we need. Several of these ocean-derived medicines are already approved for treating serious diseases, and many more are being tested in clinical trials. The ocean covers 70% of our planet and most of it remains unexplored, suggesting there are many more beneficial compounds waiting to be discovered.
This article is a correction to a previous study about beneficial compounds found in edible mushrooms. The study examined how various mushroom-derived substances like polysaccharides and peptides can combat chronic inflammation by reducing oxidative stress in the body. Multiple mushroom species were analyzed for their antioxidant properties and mechanisms of action. The corrections ensure proper citation of the original research sources while maintaining the core scientific findings.
Different types of fungal DNA trigger different immune responses in the body. DNA from the common yeast Candida albicans promotes immune tolerance and protects T cells, similar to beneficial bacterial DNA. In contrast, DNA from the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans triggers strong inflammatory immune responses. This discovery reveals that fungal DNA itself, not just fungal cell wall components, plays an important role in determining whether fungi are treated as friendly commensals or dangerous pathogens by the immune system.