Fungi naturally produce many compounds that kill harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This review explores how these fungal compounds could replace antibiotics that no longer work due to drug resistance. These natural substances could be used not only as medicines but also in cosmetic products to prevent bacterial growth and improve skin health.
Shiitake mushrooms are more than just tasty food—they contain numerous compounds that work together to improve health. Unlike single isolated drugs, whole mushroom preparations offer multiple benefits including boosting immunity, protecting the heart, and potentially supporting cancer treatment. These mushrooms have been used safely in Asian medicine for over 2000 years and are becoming recognized worldwide for their health-promoting properties.
This research examined the genetic instruction manuals (mitochondrial DNA) of seven different Cordyceps fungal species. Scientists found that these fungi have varying amounts of genetic material, primarily due to differences in introns—sections that can be inserted or removed from genes. By comparing their genomes, researchers clarified how different Cordyceps species are related to each other evolutionarily, providing better tools for identifying and classifying these medically valuable fungi.
This comprehensive review explores how mushrooms can be used as natural medicines. Various mushroom species contain powerful compounds that can fight cancer, boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and treat infections. The paper details 15 important medicinal mushrooms and their therapeutic uses, showing that mushrooms are indeed a nature’s pharmacy with significant potential for treating many diseases.
Researchers successfully revived a beneficial fungus called Acremonium sp. MEP2000 that had lost its effectiveness through repeated cultivation by adding birch bark powder and medicinal mushroom powder to its growth medium. When used to treat the medicinal fungus Inonotus obliquus (chaga), this revitalized fungal culture dramatically improved the growth and production of healthy bioactive compounds like polysaccharides and triterpenoids. This breakthrough offers a practical solution for large-scale production of medicinal fungi with enhanced therapeutic potential for treating cancer, diabetes, and inflammatory conditions.
Researchers tested a natural mixture of five medicinal mushrooms combined with cannabidiol (CBD) on immune cells exposed to bacterial endotoxins. The formulation effectively reduced inflammatory response markers without harming the cells. These findings suggest the mixture could potentially be used to treat inflammatory conditions like asthma and arthritis, though more research is needed.
Mushroom-forming fungi, particularly species like shiitake and oyster mushrooms, naturally produce valuable compounds called terpenoids used in medicines, food, and cosmetics. Scientists are learning to genetically engineer these fungi to produce even larger amounts of these beneficial compounds, potentially making them as important to biotechnology as baker’s yeast and mold have been historically. This could create new sustainable sources for medicinal compounds and industrial chemicals.
Researchers studied how Shiitake mushrooms accumulate selenium and zinc from growth media, finding that these two elements form chemical complexes that interfere with absorption. When both elements are present together in the culture medium, they bind to each other instead of being taken up by the mushroom cells, reducing the final content of both nutrients. Understanding this interaction is important for developing enhanced mushroom-based dietary supplements containing both selenium and zinc.
Researchers used UV light to mutate fungal strains that naturally produce powerful medicinal compounds called perylenequinones. These compounds show promise for treating cancer and viral infections through photodynamic therapy. Through careful mutagenesis and screening, they developed a superior fungal strain that produces over 2100 mg/L of these valuable compounds, far exceeding previous methods. The breakthrough highlights that focusing on multiple beneficial compounds rather than just one can lead to better commercial applications.
Scientists are combining polysaccharides (natural compounds found in plants and organisms) with tiny gold particles to create better drug delivery systems. These hybrid nanoparticles can transport medicines directly to cancer cells while reducing side effects and improving treatment effectiveness. The review discusses how these gold-polysaccharide combinations can also fight bacteria and viruses, making them useful for various medical applications beyond cancer therapy.