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.
Researchers investigated using corncob, a corn industry byproduct, as a growing medium for Auricularia heimuer mushrooms instead of expensive sawdust. By analyzing which genes the mushroom activates at different growth stages, they identified key enzymes responsible for breaking down corncob’s tough cellulose structure. The findings show the mushroom can effectively adapt to use corncob as a substrate, offering a sustainable and economical alternative for mushroom farming while reducing agricultural waste.
This review examines how traditional Chinese medicine ingredients can boost the body’s natural ability to fight cancer when combined with tiny nanoparticles that deliver drugs more effectively. The nanoparticles help TCM compounds work better by improving how they dissolve, how long they stay in the body, and where they target. By activating immune cells like natural killer cells and dendritic cells while reducing immune-suppressing cells, this combination approach offers a promising new strategy for cancer treatment with fewer side effects.
Researchers extracted and studied special compounds called polysaccharides from the spores of Cordyceps cicadae, a medicinal fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine. When tested in mice treated with a cancer drug that suppresses immunity, one of these purified compounds (CCSP-2) successfully restored immune function and reduced harmful oxidative stress. The compound works by boosting the activity of immune cells and protecting the body’s natural antioxidant defense systems, suggesting it could potentially help cancer patients manage chemotherapy side effects.
This study identified the types of oyster mushrooms being grown by farmers in Nigeria and found that most were being misidentified by their appearance alone. Researchers used DNA testing to correctly identify two main species: P. ostreatus and P. pulmonarius. They also discovered that using palm oil waste mixed with rice bran as growing substrate produced better yields and lower costs than traditional sawdust methods, making commercial mushroom farming more economically viable for farmers.
This study investigated how lentinan, a compound from shiitake mushrooms, might help treat patients who have both gastric cancer and COVID-19. Researchers identified five genes that predict patient outcomes and found that lentinan may work by controlling immune cell activity and reducing inflammation. The study suggests lentinan could be a useful additional treatment for this challenging combination of diseases, though more research is needed.
This study explored ways to improve the farming of straw mushrooms (Volvariella volvacea) using empty fruit bunch pellets from palm oil production. Researchers tested different substrate weights, growing areas, and nutrient mixtures to find the best recipe for high mushroom yields. The best results came from adding black soil to the substrate, achieving a biological efficiency of 17.75%, which could help farmers grow more mushrooms profitably while reducing agricultural waste.
Scientists studied how special medicinal mushroom extracts can fight advanced colon cancer in mice. They found that a blend called Agarikon Plus, especially when combined with a common chemotherapy drug, significantly improved survival rates and slowed tumor growth. By analyzing all the proteins in tumor tissues, they discovered the mushroom extracts work by disrupting the cancer cells’ ability to make proteins they need to survive and grow. This research suggests mushroom-based treatments could become important new weapons in the fight against advanced colorectal cancer.
Mushroom mycelium grown in liquid fermentation produces many beneficial compounds like polysaccharides and proteins that support immune function and may help fight cancer and oxidative stress. These fermented mushroom products can be added to foods, beverages, and health supplements to boost their nutritional value and health benefits. Studies show that fermented mushroom mycelium sometimes contains higher levels of beneficial compounds compared to whole mushroom fruiting bodies, making it a promising ingredient for functional foods and health products.
This research review explores how mushroom compounds called polysaccharides may help manage diabetes by reducing harmful stress on cells caused by high glucose levels. Scientists found that 104 different mushroom polysaccharides have anti-diabetic properties and can protect insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. These natural compounds show promise as a complementary treatment to conventional diabetes medications, potentially with fewer side effects than synthetic drugs.