Research Keyword: fungal secondary metabolites

Impact of Volatile Organic Compounds on the Growth of Aspergillus flavus and Related Aflatoxin B1 Production: A Review

Aspergillus flavus is a dangerous fungus that produces aflatoxin B1, a poison that can cause serious diseases and survives even when food is heated. Scientists have discovered that certain smelly chemicals called volatile organic compounds, produced by other organisms or plants, can stop this fungus from growing and making its toxin. This research suggests these natural chemicals could be used to protect our crops and food supply from contamination.

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Pleurotus spp.—an effective way in degradation mycotoxins? A comprehensive review

This review examines how oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) can break down mycotoxins—harmful compounds produced by molds in food and animal feed. These mushrooms produce special enzymes that can degrade toxins like aflatoxins and zearalenone, potentially reaching 30-100% degradation depending on conditions. This offers a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative to chemical detoxification methods currently used in the food industry.

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Strategy of employing plug-and-play vectors and LC–MS screening to facilitate the discovery of natural products using Aspergillus oryzae

Researchers developed new tools to make it faster and easier to discover useful compounds from fungi. They created improved genetic vectors that allow scientists to insert multiple genes into Aspergillus oryzae more conveniently, and developed a quick screening method using mass spectrometry to identify successful transformants directly on culture plates. This approach saves about 10 days compared to traditional methods, significantly accelerating the discovery of new natural products with potential medical and agricultural applications.

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Influence of Culture Conditions on Bioactive Compounds in Cordyceps militaris: A Comprehensive Review

Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal fungus used in traditional medicine to treat fatigue, boost immunity, and fight disease. This comprehensive review explains how different growing conditions—including the type of food (substrate), light exposure, temperature, and nutrient ratios—affect the production of powerful healing compounds like cordycepin and polysaccharides. The review compares growing methods using grains versus insects, showing that insect-based cultivation produces higher concentrations of beneficial compounds. Key recommendations for the future include developing standardized growing protocols and integrating advanced research techniques to scale up production sustainably.

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Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Psilocybe Mushrooms: Gaps and Perspectives

This review examined research on Psilocybe mushrooms and their chemical compounds, particularly psilocybin and psilocin, which show promise for treating depression and anxiety. The authors found that while these psychoactive compounds have been extensively studied, many other chemical substances in these mushrooms remain unexplored. Additionally, preliminary studies suggest these mushrooms may have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, though more research is needed. The review highlights significant gaps in understanding the full potential of Psilocybe mushrooms for medical applications.

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A carnivorous mushroom paralyzes and kills nematodes via a volatile ketone

Scientists discovered that oyster mushrooms kill parasitic worms using a toxic gas stored in tiny bulb-shaped structures called toxocysts. The toxin is a common chemical called 3-octanone that ruptures the worms’ cell membranes, causing calcium to flood into cells and leading to rapid paralysis and death. This ‘nerve gas in a lollipop’ strategy could inspire new ways to control parasitic worms in agriculture and medicine.

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