Research Topic: Medicinal

Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials

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.

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Improved mental health outcomes and normalised spontaneous EEG activity in veterans reporting a history of traumatic brain injuries following participation in a psilocybin retreat

Researchers studied how psilocybin mushrooms given in a retreat setting could help military veterans with traumatic brain injuries who also experienced mental health problems like PTSD and depression. Veterans participated in guided psilocybin ceremonies and showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and overall quality of life, along with positive changes in their brain activity patterns measured by EEG. The study suggests that psilocybin retreats may be a promising therapeutic approach for this vulnerable population and supports the need for larger research studies.

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Associations Between Escitalopram and Psilocybin Therapy and Brain Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Major Depressive Disorder

This study compared how two depression treatments—a common antidepressant called escitalopram and psilocybin therapy—affect brain connectivity and depression symptoms. Both treatments reduced feelings of lacking pleasure and impulsive behaviors in depressed patients. The research found that while both worked, they affected different parts of the brain’s reward system in distinct ways, suggesting they may work through different mechanisms.

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New perspective on sustained antidepressant effect: focus on neurexins regulating synaptic plasticity

This review explores how hallucinogens like ketamine and psilocybin produce long-lasting antidepressant effects by changing how brain cells communicate. The key mechanism involves special molecules called neurexins that sit at the connections between neurons and control whether those connections strengthen or weaken. By understanding and potentially targeting neurexins, scientists hope to develop new depression treatments that work longer and more effectively than current medications.

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Microbiota-based interventions for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review of efficacy and clinical potential

This comprehensive review examines how modifications to gut bacteria through probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal transplants can help children with autism. The research found that while all these treatments showed some promise, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) produced the most consistent improvements in both autism-related behaviors and digestive symptoms. These microbiota-based approaches work through the gut-brain connection and were generally safe, making them potentially valuable additions to autism management strategies.

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Overcoming Solubility Challenges: Micronization of Berberine Using the GAS Antisolvent Technique

Berberine is a traditional medicinal compound that could treat many diseases but doesn’t work well in the body because it doesn’t dissolve in water. Researchers used a special technique with pressurized carbon dioxide to break berberine into much smaller particles. This made the particles dissolve 18% better in water, which could make berberine-based medicines more effective at treating diabetes, high cholesterol, and other conditions.

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Application of Exercise/Training Models to Evaluate Food Functionality with Special Focus on Preventing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress and Enhancing Exercise Performance

This review explains how different types of exercise affect your body and how specific foods can help. Moderate exercise like walking benefits from antioxidant-rich foods to reduce inflammation, while intense training requires more careful supplement selection because too much antioxidants can actually harm your training gains. The research shows that personalized approaches considering your genetics, gut bacteria, and individual responses work best for optimizing performance and health.

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Exploring the Prebiotic Potentials of Hydrolyzed Pectins: Mechanisms of Action and Gut Microbiota Modulation

Pectins are fiber-like compounds found in fruits and vegetables that can benefit gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria. When pectins are broken down into smaller pieces (oligosaccharides), they work better as prebiotics, promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria that produce beneficial substances called short-chain fatty acids. These compounds may help improve digestive health, strengthen immunity, and reduce inflammation.

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Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Ganoderma lucidum in Cancer

Ganoderma lucidum, a mushroom used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, shows promise in fighting certain blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. The mushroom contains special compounds that can kill cancer cells in multiple ways—by triggering cancer cell death, boosting the immune system, and preventing cancer cell growth. While laboratory studies are very encouraging, more testing in humans is needed before it can be used as a standard cancer treatment.

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Valorization of agro-forest wastes (oak acorns, vineyard pruning, and olive pruning) through the cultivation of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushrooms

Researchers tested growing shiitake mushrooms on locally available waste materials like oak acorns, olive pruning, and grape vine pruning instead of the traditionally used oak sawdust. The study found that mushrooms grown on oak acorns or combinations with grape pruning produced similar quantities while having better nutritional content and faster harvest times. This approach helps reduce environmental impact by using agricultural waste and offers sustainable alternatives for mushroom farmers.

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