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 examines how medicinal mushrooms contain natural compounds that can boost immune function, fight cancer cells, reduce inflammation, and protect nerve cells. Different mushroom species like reishi, shiitake, and maitake contain various active substances such as beta-glucans and triterpenes that work through multiple biological pathways. While laboratory and animal studies show promising results, more human clinical trials are needed to confirm effectiveness and establish safe dosing guidelines.
Researchers reviewed patents from 2009-2018 on using fungal mycelium to create eco-friendly materials. Instead of petroleum-based plastics, scientists grow fungi on agricultural waste like corn stalks and wood chips, where fungal threads bind the materials together into strong, biodegradable products. These fungal materials are being developed for packaging, car interiors, textiles, and insulation, offering sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics.
This study tested four different waste materials (cotton seed, paper waste, wheat straw, and sawdust) to grow oyster mushrooms. Cotton seed proved to be the best material, producing more mushrooms in less time and with higher efficiency. The research shows that farmers can use agricultural waste to grow nutritious mushrooms, creating a sustainable income source while reducing environmental pollution.
Scientists developed a method to purify laccase enzymes from oyster mushrooms using membrane filtration technology. They compared mathematical models to predict how membranes get clogged during filtration and found that using crossflow (tangential) filtration significantly reduces harmful clogging. Understanding these clogging patterns helps improve enzyme purification for use in industrial applications like textile processing and bioremediation.
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 research explores how specific genes in oyster mushrooms help them survive and grow better when exposed to heat stress. Scientists created mutant mushroom strains by either increasing or decreasing expression of three genes called PoMYB12, PoMYB15, and PoMYB20. They found that boosting PoMYB12 and PoMYB20 made mushrooms more heat-resistant and grow faster, while reducing PoMYB15 had similar beneficial effects. These discoveries could help farmers grow better oyster mushrooms during hot summer months when heat damage is a major problem.
This review examines how edible mushrooms, particularly Lion’s mane, Reishi, and Caterpillar mushroom, might help treat depression as part of a dietary approach. These mushrooms contain compounds that may influence brain chemistry, especially serotonin levels, which are important for mood regulation. While early studies show promising results, especially for Lion’s mane, more research is needed to confirm these benefits in larger groups of patients.
Scientists developed a genetic engineering technique to modify king stropharia (a cultivated edible mushroom) by inserting foreign genes into its cells. This breakthrough allows researchers to study how the mushroom grows and produces beneficial compounds. The technique uses a bacterium called Agrobacterium tumefaciens to naturally deliver genes into mushroom cells, similar to how it infects plants. This advancement could lead to improved cultivation practices and enhanced nutritional or medicinal properties.
King oyster mushrooms are susceptible to green mold caused by various Trichoderma fungi, which significantly reduces crop yields. Researchers developed a quick DNA test that can detect these harmful fungi in mushroom farms before they cause major damage. The test is sensitive enough to identify the fungus even when present in very small amounts mixed with mushroom tissue. This new detection tool will help mushroom farmers monitor their crops and prevent costly contamination losses.