🧃 Reishi Confusion, Blood Sugar Breakthrough, and Fixing Plastic Waste

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 🍦 | Insulin resistance

• 🧺 | Reshaping farming

• 🥤 | Biodegradable plastics

Hi Shroomer. Most people think of “reishi” as a single mushroom, but Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma lingzhi are distinct species. In today’s edition, we break down this mycological mix-up.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Insulin resistance 🍦 Edible mushrooms contain polysaccharides and vitamin D, which help lower blood sugar, improve insulin resistance, and support pancreatic beta-cell function. Polysaccharides enhance insulin activity, while vitamin D boosts production and protects cells.

IBD relief 💢 Edible mushroom polysaccharides (EMPs) help fight inflammatory bowel disease by restoring gut balance and reducing inflammation. Found in Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, and Lentinula edodes, EMPs support beneficial gut bacteria and strengthen the intestinal barrier. With 10–50% polysaccharide content, they work through key pathways (NF-κB, Keap1/Nrf2) to ease symptoms.

Glucose uptake 💗 Pholiota nameko mushroom extracts show great promise in boosting glucose uptake and fighting insulin resistance. The hot water extract, rich in antioxidants, improved glucose handling by enhancing GLUT4 protein, essential for glucose absorption.

Breast cancer breakthrough 🧪 A combination of 6-glucans from Pleurotus ostreatus and Paclitaxel (PTX) shows promise in overcoming chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer. In 3D tumor models, 2.0 mg/mL of 6-glucans with 3.0 µg/mL PTX significantly reduced cancer cell growth, migration, and stem-like cell survival. This dual therapy increased apoptosis by sixfold, disrupted mitochondrial function, and lowered ATP levels in aggressive breast cancer cells. With a 16-point synergy score, this natural-polysaccharide-based approach could enhance chemotherapy effectiveness and reduce resistance.

Cancer treatment innovation 🥼 Fungi isolated from the bark of Taxus globosa trees have shown promising abilities to produce taxanes, crucial for cancer drugs like paclitaxel. Strains of Aspergillus and Trichoderma are particularly effective, producing significant quantities of baccatin III, a precursor to Paclitaxel.

A boatload of antioxidants ⛵️ The medicinal mushroom Sanghuangporus sanghuang is rich in antioxidants that combat aging and disease with nearly 500 bioactive compounds. Its extract neutralized 72% of harmful free radicals and protected DNA from damage.

Elm oysters 🌳 Hypsizygus ulmarius packs potent health benefits for chronic diseases through its bioactive components like exopolysaccharides and phenolic compounds offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potential anticancer effects.

Fungal defense 🦠 Polypore mushrooms pack potent antimicrobial power—methanolic extracts hit hardest against bacteria, while water and ethanol extracts curb fungal growth, which could be key in developing new natural antibiotics.

Nano-encapsulation 💊 Ganoderma pfeifferi extract fights cancer cells, with a special nano-encapsulation method making it nearly 20% more effective (IC50: 16.6 µg/mL vs. 20.5 µg/mL). This helps the extract stay potent and work better, a promising boost for natural cancer treatments.

FORAGED FIND

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PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Healing neuroinflammation 🛡️ Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT are emerging as potential treatments for brain inflammation, which is linked to conditions like Alzheimer's and major depression, by activating serotonin receptors in the brain.

Psychedelic distress clinic 🏥 Johns Hopkins has launched a first-of-its-kind clinic to support individuals facing anxiety, dissociation, HPPD, and psychosis after psychedelic use. Led by psychiatrist Azin Bekhrad, the clinic takes a nonstigmatizing approach, combining therapy and medication as needed. Partnering with the Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, it also studies drug type, dosage, and psychiatric history to develop best practices for post-psychedelic care.

Parkinson’s help 💢 A 43-year-old woman with Parkinson’s saw reduced anxiety and depression after four high-dose psilocybin sessions. Optimism doubled, improving her emotional adaptation and willingness to adjust treatment, though motor symptoms remained stable.

Neural communication ☎️ MRI scans in awake rats showed dose-dependent increases in brain activity, especially in sensory and motor regions. At 0.3 mg/kg, females were more sensitive than males. Psilocybin also strengthened brain-wide connectivity, particularly with the cerebellum, highlighting its potential to enhance neural communication.

Ups and downs 🪜 During the come-up, 34% of users report nausea, 28% feel anxiety, and 21% experience restlessness—an acute stress response that may aid therapeutic breakthroughs. The come-down brings a shift to positive states, with 34% feeling pleasant, 22% peaceful, and 17% reflective. This emotional transition could be key to psilocybin’s healing effects.

Essential transporters 🛣️ Mice lacking the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) do not exhibit the typical behavioral responses to psilocybin, such as head-twitch and increased locomotion, observed in normal mice. This underscores the importance of 5-HTT in how psilocybin affects behavior, suggesting that similar mechanisms may influence its therapeutic effects in humans, particularly for conditions like depression and anxiety where serotonin pathways play a key role.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Biodegradable plastics 🥤 A field study in Germany found that soil fungi colonizing biodegradable plastics vary by farming method and climate. Organic farming boosted fungal diversity by 18% and sped up PBS plastic breakdown, likely due to higher microbial activity. Climate shifts changed fungal composition but not richness.

Self-digesting battery 🔋 Researchers at Empa have developed a biodegradable microbial fuel cell using 3D-printed fungi that generate electricity. The system combines yeast and white rot fungi, which work together to release and transfer electrons, producing enough power to run a temperature sensor for days. Once depleted, the fungi break down the battery from within. This offers a non-toxic, sustainable power source for remote environmental sensors—activated simply by adding water and nutrients.

Water filters 💧 Scientists repurposed Flammulina filiformis waste to create a biodegradable nanocellulose filter for oil/water separation. The material achieved 96%+ efficiency, with water flux rates of 19,316 L/m²/h (diesel) and 14,899 L/m²/h (vegetable oil)—all while boosting production by up to 799%.

Ring the alarm 🚨 Mycorrhizal fungi play a crucial role in plant networks by detecting stress cues and communicating them across the network, enhancing plant defense and community resilience.

Antarctic fungi ❄️ Scientists found that cold-loving fungi from Antarctica can break down toxic pollutants called PAHs, which linger in the environment. One strain, Schizophyllum sp. LAMAI 2452, reduced harmful anthracene levels by nearly half in 42 days.

GROWING GOURMET

Reshaping farming 🧺 Research on fungal biocontrol and biofertilizers has grown 33.7% over 50 years, with the U.S. (885 papers) and China (862) leading the way. Beauveria bassiana is key for pest control, Trichoderma spp. fight plant diseases, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) boost growth and stress resistance. With Trichoderma producing 350+ bioactive compounds, fungi are replacing synthetic inputs, driving a shift toward sustainable agriculture.

Better cucumbers 🥒 Combining AMF with chicken manure (ChM) boosts cucumber yield and quality. AMF alone increased phenolics, flavonoids, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The best root growth and chlorophyll levels came from AMF + ChM, while 12 ton/ha produced the highest fruit yield and antioxidants.

MSG alternative 🧂 A study in Malaysia found shiitake-based mushroom seasoning could effectively replace MSG, offering similar umami flavor with potential health benefits. Sensory tests showed no significant taste difference from MSG.

GANODERMA CLARITY

Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma lingzhi are distinct species often mislabeled as "reishi." G. lucidum originates from Europe, while G. lingzhi (also known as G. sichuanense) is the true species used in traditional Chinese medicine. The term "reishi" is more accurately associated with the Asian species G. lingzhi. Despite this, a 2018 study found that 93% of "G. lucidum" grow kits and 50% of dried mushroom products actually contain G. lingzhi. The two species differ in chemical composition, with G. lingzhi having higher triterpenic acid content.

TELLURIDE MUSHROOM FESTIVAL

Tickets to the 45th Telluride Mushroom Festival are on sale. The fungi-rich forests of Colorado are calling. From Aug. 13-17, 2025, bask in the San Juan Mountains, and attend guided forays, cultivation classes, and fungal art workshops.

MUSH MORE

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