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.
Pharmaceutical drugs that we take end up in our water systems because our bodies don’t fully process them. Fungi, especially types of mushrooms, have powerful enzymes that can break down these drug residues and clean contaminated water. Scientists are studying how to use these fungi in treatment systems to remove medications from hospital wastewater and drinking water sources.
Textile factories produce large amounts of colored wastewater containing harmful dyes like Reactive Black 5. Researchers optimized an enzyme-based treatment using laccase from a fungus called Coriolopsis gallica to remove these dyes from water. By carefully balancing enzyme concentration, pH, temperature, and a chemical booster called HBT, they achieved 82% dye removal in just 2 hours, offering a cleaner and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical treatments.
Researchers isolated a fungal strain that produces bright orange natural pigments through fermentation on wood chips and other agricultural waste. By optimizing growing conditions such as pH and moisture, they achieved high pigment yields with antibacterial properties. The pigments identified in this study showed effectiveness against harmful bacteria and could replace synthetic dyes in food, cosmetics, and textile products.
This study developed a new analytical method to detect and measure organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in water samples. Researchers tested whether certain fungi, particularly white-rot fungi like Ganoderma lucidum and Trametes versicolor, could break down these toxic chemicals that are difficult to remove by conventional water treatment. The results show these fungi can effectively degrade some OPFRs, offering a promising biological treatment option for contaminated wastewater.
Researchers successfully grew oyster mushroom mycelium on textile waste to create eco-friendly biocomposites that could replace plastic packaging. The fungus naturally binds textile fibers together, creating lightweight materials with useful structural properties. This approach transforms textile waste into sustainable products while addressing plastic pollution, offering a promising solution for converting unwanted clothing and fabric scraps into useful materials.
This research explores how medicinal mushrooms, especially a species called Cerrena unicolor, could be used to improve human health through functional foods and dietary supplements. These mushrooms contain natural compounds that fight cancer, bacteria, viruses, and free radicals that damage our cells. Scientists have found that incorporating these mushroom extracts into foods, particularly dairy products, could create powerful health-promoting foods that help with cancer treatment, diabetes management, and wound healing.
Indigenous communities in Mexico have developed sophisticated systems for naming and classifying wild mushrooms based on where they grow, what they look like, and cultural beliefs. This study documents how the Chatino, Chontal, and Chinantec peoples of Oaxaca name 32 different mushroom species using their own languages. Older community members know more indigenous mushroom names than younger people, showing that this traditional knowledge is gradually being replaced by Spanish terms. Understanding these traditional naming systems helps preserve cultural heritage and ensures communities can safely identify which mushrooms are safe to eat.
This review explores how medicinal mushrooms, particularly Cerrena unicolor, can be used to improve health through functional foods and supplements. The mushroom contains natural compounds with powerful properties including fighting cancer cells, killing harmful bacteria and viruses, and protecting the body from oxidative stress. Research shows these mushrooms could be incorporated into dairy products and other foods to create innovative health-promoting products for consumers.
Researchers isolated and studied a new polysaccharide from the wood-decaying mushroom Spongipellis borealis. This polysaccharide is composed mainly of glucose, galactose, and mannose sugars and acts as a natural stabilizer for important enzymes used in biotechnology. When this polysaccharide is added to enzyme preparations, it significantly improves their stability and performance under various conditions, making it promising for industrial and medical applications.