Fungal Species: Ganoderma species

Ganoderma lucidum methanolic extract as a potent phytoconstituent: characterization, in-vitro antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity

Researchers tested a medicinal mushroom extract (Reishi/Ganoderma lucidum) to see if it could fight cancer and bacterial infections. The extract showed promising results, being particularly effective against blood cancer and breast cancer cells while being less toxic to normal healthy cells. It also killed bacteria better than some standard antibiotics, suggesting it could potentially be developed into a new type of medicine for treating cancer and infections.

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Exploring the Potential of Fungal Biomass for Bisphenol A Removal in Aquatic Environments

Researchers discovered that mushroom fruiting bodies can effectively remove bisphenol A (BPA), a harmful plastic component, from water. Five mushroom species were particularly efficient, removing between 72-82% of BPA from solutions. The mushroom biomass works best at room temperature and neutral pH, can be reused multiple times after treatment with ethanol, and could potentially clean enormous volumes of contaminated water using small amounts of material.

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White Rot Fungi as Tools for the Bioremediation of Xenobiotics: A Review

White rot fungi are nature’s cleanup crew that can break down many toxic chemicals in our environment, from industrial dyes to pesticides. These special fungi produce powerful enzymes that can degrade pollutants that normally resist breakdown, making them promising tools for cleaning contaminated soil and water. Scientists are studying how to better harness these fungi’s abilities to treat industrial wastewater and restore polluted environments.

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The complete mitochondrial genome of medicinally important wood-decaying fungus Tyromyces fissilis within the family Incrustoporiaceae, Polyporales

Scientists have sequenced the complete genetic blueprint of a wood-rotting mushroom called Tyromyces fissilis for the first time. This fungus is medicinally important and has the ability to break down wood and produce therapeutic compounds. By analyzing its mitochondrial genome and comparing it with related fungi, researchers found that it is most closely related to another fungus called Phlebia radiata and belongs to a previously understudied fungal family. This genetic information will help scientists better understand how these fungi are related and may lead to new medical applications.

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Biosynthesis of mushroom-derived type II ganoderic acids by engineered yeast

Scientists successfully engineered baker’s yeast to produce ganoderic acids, potent anti-cancer compounds from medicinal mushrooms, at much higher levels than found in farmed mushrooms. By identifying key enzymes responsible for converting simpler compounds into active ganoderic acids, researchers created yeast strains that produce these valuable compounds 100-10,000 times more efficiently than traditional mushroom farming. This breakthrough could make these expensive medicinal compounds more accessible and affordable for medical research and potential drug development.

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Heavy Metal Remediation by Dry Mycelium Membranes: Approaches to Sustainable Lead Remediation in Water

This research shows that dried mushroom root networks (mycelium) can effectively remove toxic lead from contaminated water, making it a natural and sustainable alternative to expensive chemical treatments. When enhanced with phosphate treatment, mycelium can remove over 95% of lead even at high concentrations. The mycelium membranes work well in continuous water filtration systems while being biodegradable and environmentally friendly, offering promising solutions for households and communities dealing with lead-contaminated drinking water.

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Cytotoxic activity of Ganoderma weberianum-sichuanese isolated from the Lower Volta River Basin of Ghana against human prostate carcinoma (PC-3), leukemic T cell (Jurkat), and plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC)-derived acute leukemia (PMDC05) cell lines

Researchers tested a fungus called Ganoderma weberianum-sichuanese from Ghana’s Lower Volta River to see if it could kill cancer cells. They found that extracts from this fungus could effectively suppress the growth of three types of human cancer cells—prostate cancer, T-cell leukemia, and a rare dendritic cell leukemia—without harming normal liver cells. The most promising components were found in certain fractions of the extract, suggesting this natural fungus could potentially be developed into new cancer treatments.

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