Medicinal – Page 48

Mushroom-Based Supplements in Italy: Let’s Open Pandora’s Box

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Researchers tested 19 mushroom supplement products sold in Italy and found serious quality problems. Many supplements didn’t actually contain the mushroom species listed on their labels. Some products also contained toxic substances or inconsistent amounts of beneficial compounds. The study highlights the need for better regulation and manufacturing standards to ensure these popular health products are safe and effective.

Emerging Nonthermal Technologies for the Production of Postbiotics

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Postbiotics are dead or inactivated beneficial microorganisms and their components that support human health without needing to survive in the gut. Traditional heat-killing methods damage these beneficial compounds. This comprehensive review explores six emerging technologies that can produce postbiotics while better preserving their health-promoting properties, making them more stable and effective for food and supplement applications.

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

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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.

Immune regulatory functions of biologically active proteins from edible fungi

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This research compared how proteins from 22 different edible mushrooms affect immune system cells called macrophages. The study found that all the mushroom proteins tested boosted immune function by making macrophages more active and productive. Interestingly, expensive rare mushrooms like cordyceps and ganoderma lucidum had stronger immune-boosting effects than common grocery store mushrooms like oyster and button mushrooms.

The Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicines Regulate the Multi-Target Signaling Pathways of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

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This comprehensive review examines how traditional Chinese medicine ingredients can treat fatty liver disease through multiple biological pathways simultaneously. Unlike conventional drugs that target a single pathway, TCM compounds address the complex, interconnected causes of the disease including fat accumulation, inflammation, and tissue damage. The research identifies dozens of effective herbal compounds and proposes a new framework for designing TCM treatments tailored to individual patient needs.

Neuroprotective Effects of Mushroom Biomass Digestive Fractions and Gut Microbiota Metabolites in Microglial and Caenorhabditis elegans Models of Neurodegeneration

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This study tested whether common and medicinal mushrooms could protect against Alzheimer’s disease by reducing harmful reactive oxygen species in brain cells. Researchers tested three mushroom types using digestive simulation to see what the body could absorb, plus key compounds made by gut bacteria. The mushroom extracts and certain bacterial metabolites successfully reduced cellular damage markers and improved behavior in disease-model worms, suggesting mushroom-rich diets may help prevent neurodegeneration.

Biotechnological Applications of Mushrooms under the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Crucial Aspects and Prospects from Farm to Pharmacy

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Mushrooms are emerging as a powerful solution for solving global food, water, and energy challenges. Scientists are using biotechnology to produce tiny healing particles from mushrooms, clean up polluted soil and water, create renewable energy, and extract beneficial compounds for medicine and health. This review shows how integrated mushroom farming can help achieve sustainable development goals while reducing waste and supporting human wellbeing.

Would global warming bring an increase of invertebrate-associated cutaneous invasive fungal infections?

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This paper discusses how invertebrate bites (from insects, spiders, and other small creatures) can transmit dangerous fungal infections to humans by directly injecting fungi into the skin. These infections are rare but serious, often causing tissue death and requiring amputation. As global warming increases temperatures, insect populations will expand into new areas, become more aggressive, and fungi may adapt to survive at higher temperatures, potentially making these infections more common and dangerous in the future.

The protecting role of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on the retinal neurovascular units in rats with retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury

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This research demonstrates that polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma lucidum mushrooms can protect rat retinas from damage caused by blocked and then restored blood flow. The treatment reduced cell death, decreased harmful oxidative stress, reduced inflammation-like responses from support cells, and improved retinal electrical function. These findings suggest that Ganoderma lucidum could potentially be developed as a therapeutic option for eye diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy where blood flow to the retina is compromised.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Focus on Selenium and Antioxidant Phytochemicals

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Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a common autoimmune thyroid disease that often leads to symptoms like fatigue and reduced quality of life. While standard treatment uses thyroid hormone replacement, it doesn’t address the underlying inflammation and oxidative stress. This review explores how traditional Chinese medicine approaches, often combined with selenium, may help reduce thyroid antibodies and improve symptoms through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Research Topic: Medicinal