therapeutic action: disease prevention

Regulatory effects of Poria cocos polysaccharides on gut microbiota and metabolites: evaluation of prebiotic potential

Poria cocos is a medicinal mushroom commonly used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine. This study found that its polysaccharides act as prebiotics by feeding beneficial gut bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium while reducing harmful bacteria. The fermentation produces beneficial compounds called short-chain fatty acids that support digestive health and may help prevent diseases like obesity and inflammation.

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Factors governing consumers buying behavior concerning nutraceutical product

This study examines why people buy nutraceutical products like health supplements and functional foods. Key factors include knowing the health benefits, product taste and packaging, affordability and availability, and recommendations from healthcare professionals. The study found that age, education, and gender affect purchasing decisions, and online shopping has become increasingly important. Companies should focus on innovative products with simple health messages to better serve different consumer groups.

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Essential Oil of Xylopia frutescens Controls Rice Sheath Blight Without Harming the Beneficial Biocontrol Agent Trichoderma asperellum

Researchers discovered that oil extracted from leaves of a Brazilian plant called Xylopia frutescens effectively kills the fungus that causes rice sheath blight, a serious disease that can destroy rice crops. The oil contains two main compounds that work against the fungus and can be applied before or after infection to prevent or treat the disease. Importantly, the oil doesn’t harm beneficial fungi like Trichoderma asperellum that farmers use as natural pest control, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fungicides.

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The Co-Evolution of Markets and Regulation in the Japanese Functional Food Industry: Balancing Risk and Benefit

This research examines how Japan regulates functional foods – products designed to promote health beyond basic nutrition. The study shows that food regulations have evolved alongside industry growth, trying to balance protecting consumers from unsafe products while allowing companies to innovate and make health claims. Using a framework that examines both safety concerns and consumer benefit information, the authors trace how Japan’s regulatory system changed from the 1960s to today, showing how regulations respond to industry needs and safety incidents.

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Amylase-assisted extraction alters nutritional and physicochemical properties of polysaccharides and saponins isolated from Ganoderma spp

Researchers studied how enzyme treatment improves extraction of beneficial compounds from reishi mushrooms. They found that using amylase enzyme significantly increased the amounts of healthy polysaccharides and saponins recovered, especially from cultivated black reishi canopies. These extracted compounds work as natural emulsifiers comparable to lecithin and remain stable even at very high temperatures, making them promising ingredients for functional foods and health products.

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Isolation and Identification of Postharvest Rot Pathogens in Citrus × tangelo and Their Potential Inhibition with Acidic Electrolyzed Water

Tangelo fruits suffer from fungal rot during storage caused primarily by two fungi: Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus sydowii. Researchers tested acidic electrolyzed water (AEW), a safe and environmentally friendly treatment, and found it effectively kills these fungi by damaging their cell membranes and causing them to leak their contents. This treatment could replace harmful chemical fungicides while keeping tangelo fruits fresh and safe for consumers.

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Antifungal Activity of Industrial Bacillus Strains against Mycogone perniciosa, the Causative Agent of Wet Bubble Disease in White Button Mushrooms

Researchers tested two special bacteria strains (Bacillus subtilis B-10 and M-22) to protect white button mushrooms from wet bubble disease, a serious fungal infection that can destroy entire crops. When applied to mushroom growing beds, both bacteria effectively prevented the disease-causing fungus from developing, with success rates between 50-99% depending on application method. This offers mushroom farmers a natural, chemical-free alternative to synthetic fungicides for protecting their crops.

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Association of mushroom consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among American adults: prospective cohort study findings from NHANES III

This study followed over 15,000 American adults for nearly 20 years and found that people who ate mushrooms had a lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who didn’t eat mushrooms. The more mushrooms people ate, the greater the benefit. Replacing red or processed meat with mushrooms was associated with even greater longevity benefits. Mushrooms’ beneficial effects likely come from their high antioxidant content, particularly compounds called ergothioneine and glutathione.

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Interference with sexual mating of Sporisorium scitamineum by verrucarin A isolated from Paramyrothecium sp

Scientists discovered that a naturally occurring fungus called Paramyrothecium sp. produces a compound called verrucarin A that prevents sugarcane smut disease. This compound works by stopping the mating process between fungal spores, preventing the disease from developing without harming the sugarcane plant. Greenhouse experiments showed that using this natural compound reduced disease occurrence from 80% to just 37%, offering a safe and eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for protecting sugarcane crops.

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