Research Keyword: pharmacology

Synergistic, multi-level understanding of psychedelics: three systematic reviews and meta-analyses of their pharmacology, neuroimaging and phenomenology

This comprehensive study analyzed three classic psychedelic drugs—LSD, psilocybin (from magic mushrooms), and DMT—across three levels: how people experience them, how they affect brain activity, and how they interact with brain receptors. Researchers found that LSD produces more intense visual experiences than psilocybin, and all three drugs significantly alter brain connectivity patterns. The study highlights the importance of standardizing research methods to better understand how these compounds might help treat depression and addiction.

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Toxicology and Analysis of Psychoactive Tryptamines

Tryptamines are a growing class of psychoactive drugs that can cause hallucinations and other dramatic changes in perception. These substances, including compounds like DMT and psilocybin from magic mushrooms, work by affecting serotonin receptors in the brain. While some research explores their potential medical use for treating depression and anxiety, they also carry serious risks including dangerous changes in heart rate, body temperature, and mental state. Scientists have developed new laboratory methods to detect these drugs in blood and urine samples to help doctors diagnose and treat overdoses.

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mGem: How many fungal secondary metabolites are produced by filamentous fungi? Conservatively, at least 1.4 million

Scientists have discovered about 30,000 fungal compounds with useful properties, from life-saving antibiotics like penicillin to cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, new research suggests that fungi actually produce somewhere between 1.4 million and 4.3 million different chemical compounds, meaning we’ve only discovered about 1-2% of what’s out there. By studying the genomes of fungi, researchers estimate that for every fungal medicine we know about, there could be 50-100 more waiting to be discovered, representing an enormous opportunity for developing new drugs and therapies.

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How Should the Worldwide Knowledge of Traditional Cancer Healing Be Integrated with Herbs and Mushrooms into Modern Molecular Pharmacology?

This comprehensive review explores how traditional healing practices from around the world use plants and mushrooms to treat cancer. The authors examine thousands of plant species and their active compounds that show promise in fighting various types of cancer through multiple mechanisms like stopping cancer cell growth and triggering cell death. The review emphasizes that proper scientific validation, standardization, and safety testing can help integrate these traditional remedies into modern cancer treatment alongside conventional chemotherapy.

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The Biological Activity of Ganoderma lucidum on Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Interplay between Different Active Compounds and the Pathological Hallmarks

Reishi mushroom, used in traditional Asian medicine for centuries, contains over 400 bioactive compounds that show promise in protecting the brain from degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The mushroom’s components work through multiple pathways to reduce inflammation, fight oxidative stress, and protect neurons from damage. While laboratory and animal studies show encouraging results, human clinical trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness as a treatment.

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Mushroom Bioactive Molecules as Anticancerous Agents: An Overview

Mushrooms contain natural compounds that show promise in fighting cancer by triggering cancer cell death and boosting immune function. Different mushroom species like oyster, shiitake, and button mushrooms contain substances such as beta-glucans and other polysaccharides that have demonstrated anticancer properties in laboratory and animal studies. While these mushroom compounds work through multiple mechanisms including preventing new blood vessel formation to tumors and stopping cancer cell division, more human clinical trials are needed to confirm their effectiveness as cancer treatments.

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