Wine Waste to Superfood, 20-Day Biodegradable Plastics, and Psilocybin Brain Data

Hi Shroomers. Happy Friday the 13th. This date has earned its dark reputation from medieval superstition and events like the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, but fear of the unfamiliar runs deeper than folklore. Mushrooms have long lived in that same shadowy space, once blamed on witches and decay, now recognized for their nutrients, resilience, and quiet intelligence — which feels like the perfect reminder that what we fear often turns out to be powerful.

Immune switchboard 💻 Edible and medicinal mushrooms flip on the body’s main immune control panels including TLR, Dectin-1, MAPK, and NF-κB, which tell immune cells when to attack and when to calm down. Their β-glucans and immune-active proteins increased key defense signals and boosted pathogen-clearing activity up to 2.3-fold, helping white blood cells respond faster and more effectively. In real-world terms, this means better frontline protection against infections, stronger vaccine and antiviral responses, and smarter inflammation control so the immune system stays active without tipping into chronic overdrive.

Cancer support framework 🧬 Edible and medicinal mushrooms influence tumor biology through immune activation, gut microbiome shifts, antioxidant defense, and regulation of pathways like NF-κB, MAPK, and apoptosis that control cancer cell growth and survival. Compounds such as β-glucans and triterpenes can enhance natural killer cell activity, improve cytokine signaling, and help the body better recognize and attack abnormal cells, while also reducing treatment-related inflammation and oxidative stress.

Radiation shield cells ☢️ White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) polysaccharide protected developing sperm cells from X-ray damage by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR survival pathway, a core cellular repair system. Pretreatment improved cell viability, reduced oxidative stress, lowered inflammatory signals like IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, suppressed pro-death genes (Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Bax), and increased the protective gene Bcl-2, effectively keeping cells alive under radiation stress.

Alcohol liver defense 🍷 Golden mushroom (Floccularia luteovirens) polysaccharides (200–800 mg/kg for 14 days) lowered key liver damage markers in alcohol-exposed mice while sharply reducing inflammatory signals. Treatment suppressed oxidative stress by decreasing ROS and MDA in liver tissue and boosting antioxidant enzymes that reinforce the liver’s internal repair systems. Mechanistically, the mushroom helped shut down the inflammatory cascade that drives alcohol-related liver injury.

Probiotic power boost 🦠 Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) polysaccharides significantly enhanced probiotic performance in lab models, increasing beneficial bacterial growth and boosting adhesion of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum by up to 30% at just 50 μg/mL. The extracts also showed antioxidant activity and preserved over 70% probiotic survival after 90 days of freezing at −20°C. In practical terms, lion’s mane may help probiotics grow stronger, stick better to the gut lining, and survive storage and digestion.

Skin support ✨ Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) extract showed measurable anti-aging activity by inhibiting elastase by 51.99% and suppressing collagenase activity, targeting the enzymes that break down elastin and collagen in aging skin. The extract maintained over 90% viability in human keratinocytes up to 200 μg/mL and demonstrated moderate antioxidant capacity. A topical cream formulated at skin-compatible pH ~5.5 remained stable under accelerated aging conditions, suggesting shiitake is as a safe, enzyme-targeting ingredient for wrinkle support.

Radiation synergy 🎯 Oral shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mycelia extract strengthened the immune response to radiotherapy by increasing key tumor-fighting cells from 44% with radiation alone to 62% when combined with the extract, while shrinking tumors from ~1613 mm³ to ~632 mm³ in treated models. The extract worked through the gut, activating dendritic cells that “train” cytotoxic T cells to recognize and attack cancer more effectively. In practical terms, shiitake acted as an oral immune amplifier, helping radiation therapy trigger a stronger and more coordinated anti-tumor response.

Trial reality check 🧪 A National Network of Depression Centers task group outlined four recurring challenges in psychedelic clinical trials: treatment nonresponse, expectancy effects and functional unblinding, post-session psychological difficulties, and contagion effects between participants. In one Phase 2b psilocybin study referenced in the paper, suicidal ideation occurred in about 1.9% of certain dose groups, underscoring the need for tight screening and monitoring. The authors argue that rigorous participant selection, structured safety protocols, and clearer trial design are essential if psychedelic therapies are to scale responsibly beyond research settings.

Network flexibility surge 🧠 In a double-blind crossover study of 22 healthy adults, 15 mg psilocybin significantly increased global brain connectivity compared to placebo and 20 mg 2C-B, while reducing Default Mode Network integrity during peak effects. Brain imaging showed more frequent transitions between connectivity states, meaning networks became less rigid and more dynamically interconnected across the acute window. Connectivity changes closely tracked subjective intensity ratings, suggesting psilocybin temporarily loosens fixed communication patterns in mood and self-processing circuits.

TBI self-reporting 🤕 In a global psychedelic survey of 6,171 respondents, 208 people (3.4%) reported using psychedelics to manage brain injury symptoms, with 145 specifically citing traumatic brain injury. Among the TBI group, 74.5% had used psilocybin, 26.9% rated it the most effective substance, and those users reported an average symptom relief score of 63.7 out of 100, while overall effectiveness across substances averaged 48.7/100. Notably, 90% reported some level of improvement, mood symptoms showed stronger perceived benefit than cognitive or somatic complaints, and 9.7% reported no benefit.

Plastic from fungi ♻️ Waste biomass from oyster mushroom (Pleurotus florida) cultivation was transformed into biodegradable bioplastic using a solvent-casting method, producing films just 0.32 ± 0.001 mm thick with 12.6 ± 0.32% moisture absorption. The material fully biodegraded in soil within 20 days and dissolved in water over 30 days, while also showing improved thermal stability and antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Instead of discarding spent mushroom substrate, this approach turns agricultural waste into plastic-replacement solutions.

Oil spill cleanup ⛽ African oyster mushroom (Lentinus subnudus) and milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) significantly reduced toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil–contaminated soil over 12 weeks, with milky mushroom cutting Benzo(G,H,I)Perylene by 96.37% and Benzo(B)fluoranthene by 52.62%. Copper levels dropped by up to 78.94%, while beneficial soil bacteria increased by 95.83% during treatment, indicating active ecosystem recovery. These edible mushrooms didn’t just absorb pollutants, they helped detoxify oil-damaged soil and restore microbial balance.

Protein upgrade strategy 🍔 Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) adds fiber, antioxidants, and functional texture to meat products while lowering fat and improving stability. At just 2% inclusion in sausages, it reduced cooking loss, lowered lipid oxidation, and increased water-holding capacity. Nutritionally, it contributes fiber, potassium, and vitamin D, while remaining very low in fat.

Ham saver hack 🥓 Adding oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) powder to ham at just 0.5–3% helped it stay fresher longer by slowing down the “fat going rancid” process during storage. Over 49 days, oxidation stayed low, the ham kept a better red color, and bacteria stayed extremely low.

Cookie nutrition boost 🍪 Reishi (Ganoderma sessile) and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) solid-state–fermented flours significantly improved the nutritional profile of sugar-snap cookies, increasing total protein by up to 54% and soluble protein by up to 2250% before baking while raising polyphenol and antioxidant levels. Even with 20% wheat flour replacement, cookie hardness, spread ratio, and overall structure remained statistically unchanged.

Wine-waste harvest 🍇 Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) can turn grape pomace into edible biomass, creating a clean “waste-to-food” loop for wineries and growers. Per liter of wine, about 0.16–0.17 kg of grape pomace is generated (roughly 1 kg per 6 liters), and using it as a substrate can support mycelial growth and fruiting while boosting “functional” components in the harvested mushrooms with reported increases include ergosterol, β-glucans, resveratrol, and antioxidant activity.