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.
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.
This study examined how different cooking methods affect radioactive caesium and potassium levels in wild bolete mushrooms collected from the Baltic Sea coast. The researchers found that blanching alone removes only about 15% of radioactive caesium, while blanching followed by pickling in vinegar removes about 55%. Despite the contamination concerns, a typical 100-gram serving of processed mushrooms provides only low levels of radiation exposure while still delivering about 7% of the daily recommended potassium intake.
Scientists optimized how to extract healthy compounds called polysaccharides from three wild mushroom species found in European forests. Using hot water extraction with carefully controlled temperature, time, and water amounts, they found that each mushroom type had different optimal conditions for getting the most beneficial compounds. The extracted polysaccharides showed strong antioxidant properties and could be used to develop new functional foods or supplements.
This study examined 18 types of wild mushrooms commonly eaten in Romania for their metal content and potential health risks. Researchers found that while mushrooms contain valuable nutrients like iron and zinc, some species accumulate toxic metals like lead and cadmium. Adults who eat these mushrooms generally face acceptable risks, but children are more vulnerable due to their smaller body size and higher food intake per kilogram of body weight.
Researchers tested wild mushrooms from forests in Poland to see if they contained dangerous radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. They measured radioactive cesium and potassium in 230 mushroom samples from 19 different species and compared them to soil samples. Good news: all the mushrooms were safe to eat according to food safety standards, with radiation levels below the legal limits. The study shows that mushrooms can be good indicators of how much radiation remains in forest environments.
This study examined 18 types of wild mushrooms commonly eaten in Romania to measure their metal content. Researchers found that while mushrooms provide important minerals like iron and zinc, some species accumulate harmful metals like cadmium and chromium. Children are at greater risk from eating these mushrooms than adults because their smaller bodies absorb proportionally more of the contaminants. Some mushroom species pose significant cancer risks from metal exposure.