Microdosing Breakthrough, Reishi vs. Aging, and Fungi Protein

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IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 🥼 | Microdosing breakthrough

• 🧖‍♀️ | Reishi’s anti-aging power

• 🎨 | FUNGI art show

Hi Shroomer. There was a surprising amount of research on mushroom meat this week, from burgers to noodles to what people claim they want. This Memorial Day weekend, consider some mushroom burgers for the grill or go for big ol’ portobellos.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Breast cancer support 🎗️ Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), and cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) show strong promise as breast cancer allies. Reishi improved immune markers and reduced chemo side effects in clinical trials, while PSK from turkey tail is already an approved cancer therapy in Japan. These mushrooms may enhance treatment outcomes and patient quality of life—but broader adoption depends on large-scale trials and standardization.

Skin shield 🛡️ Eating oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eringii) and cross-bred Pleurotus species boosted skin protection against UVB damage in mice, thanks to their high levels of the antioxidant ergothioneine. At plasma concentrations achievable through diet, these mushrooms preserved moisture, reduced inflammation, and lowered oxidative stress, cutting skin damage risk dramatically.

Daily dose upgrade 💊 Mushrooms like button (Agaricus bisporus), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), and nameko (Pholiota nameko) are gaining recognition as powerful nutraceuticals. UV-exposed button mushrooms deliver stable, cook-safe vitamin D2, while compounds in nameko mushrooms improved insulin sensitivity in lab tests. With antioxidant-rich polysaccharides and liver-protective fiber, these everyday fungi are affordable, functional staples in preventive health.

Mitochondria matters 🧖‍♀️ Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) extract slowed visible skin aging by protecting mitochondrial function in UVA-damaged mice. It reduced oxidative stress, preserved membrane integrity, and stabilized mitochondrial numbers, all crucial for cellular energy and longevity. Researchers traced these effects to reishi’s rich triterpenoid content, highlighting its potential in both skincare and anti-aging wellness.

FORAGED FIND

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 PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Microdosing breakthrough 🥼 A gold-standard double-blind trial from McMaster University tested 2 mg of psilocybin weekly for 8 weeks in adults with mild-to-moderate depression. While depression scores didn’t significantly change, participants reported reduced anxiety and improved quality of life—without cognitive impairment. This study redefines microdosing as an unimpairing dose and sets a new benchmark for research in real-world mental health applications

Granite State shift 🍄 New Hampshire’s Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to decriminalize adult psilocybin use, reducing first-time possession to a $100 fine and keeping personal use offenses jail-free up to the third charge. While the bill now includes stricter fentanyl-related penalties, it marks the state’s first major psychedelic reform, reflecting growing bipartisan support and public backing for broader drug policy change.

Spore crackdown in Florida 🚫 And on the other end of the legal spectrum, Governor Ron DeSantis just signed a sweeping agriculture bill that makes it a crime to transport or possess psychedelic mushroom spores capable of producing psilocybin. Though spores don’t contain psilocybin themselves, the new law closes that legal gray area, making Florida one of the first states to explicitly ban spores. First-time violations now carry up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Equity in entheogens 🌎 A new legal analysis argues that Indigenous communities must be granted affirmative patent rights over traditional psychedelic knowledge to prevent exploitation in the booming psychedelic economy. From peyote to psilocybin, plant-based medicines have deep cultural roots, but current legislation risks repeating cannabis-era inequities. The article calls for proactive legal tools to ensure Indigenous inclusion in research, profit-sharing, and regulatory decisions.

Psilocybin for anorexia 🧠 A new review from Monash University explores how psilocybin may treat anorexia nervosa by improving cognitive flexibility and reward processing, two major challenges in the disorder. It highlights how psilocybin’s effects on both serotonin and dopamine systems help rewire brain circuits like the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Early evidence from both human and rodent studies points to meaningful, lasting neuroplastic changes that could offer hope for this difficult-to-treat condition

Pause before the dose 🚨 A new Colorado campaign, Before You Trip, is educating young adults on the risks of psychedelics like psilocybin, filling a major gap in harm reduction. Backed by scientists and families affected by psychedelic-related trauma, the campaign shares sobering stats: 8.9% of users report lingering impairment, and fatalities, though rare, are often misunderstood. With influencers, safety checklists, and science-backed info, it urges Gen Z to reflect before experimenting.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Hormone pollution 🌊 Researchers created eco-friendly adsorbents from reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and its calcined form to remove the hormone progesterone—an endocrine-disrupting chemical—from water. Under optimal conditions, the calcined reishi removed up to 118.1 mg/g, outperforming many conventional methods. Even better, the used adsorbents doubled as agricultural enhancers, improving seed germination by 95%, shoot-to-root ratio, and soil fertility, all while scoring a 94/100 on the eco-sustainability scale.

Soil rescue 🌽 Scientists turned leftover growing material from mushrooms into biochar, a charcoal-like substance, and used it to help corn (Zea mays) grow in toxic soil. The results were huge: nearly double the grain yield, 50% more chlorophyll, and a 94% drop in heavy metals like cadmium in the corn.

Waste to water filter 💧 Leftover growing material from shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) was turned into a powerful, reusable filter that traps and breaks down water pollutants. The team combined it with special light-reactive materials so it doesn’t just hold toxins like dye, it actually helps destroy them.

Protecting the cabbage 🥬 Extracts from oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), turkey tail (Trametes pubescens), and Lentinus mushrooms were used to fight fungi that rot cabbage crops. The most effective was turkey tail, which completely stopped the growth of four major pathogens in lab tests.

Olive waste boost 🫒 Adding olive mill waste to growing substrates increased beneficial compounds in lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) and king oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii). In lion’s mane, the olive waste raised levels of brain-supporting hericenones and erinacerins, while reducing unwanted toxins.

Independence through mushrooms 👩‍🌾 In rural India, women are turning to mushroom farming, especially oyster (Pleurotus spp.) and button (Agaricus bisporus) mushrooms, as a low-cost, high-impact way to earn income from home. In Odisha, one of India’s most climate-vulnerable states, women trained through agricultural centers are now producing up to 22 pounds of mushrooms daily using simple setups like straw and shaded huts. With little land or equipment needed, this work provides financial independence, food security, and sustainable farming skills in regions where women often have limited job opportunities.

GROWING & GOURMET

Mushroom meat 🍔 Edible mushrooms like king oyster (Pleurotus eryngii), lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), and shiitake (Lentinula edodes) are emerging as standout ingredients in the next generation of meat alternatives. Rich in protein, vitamin D, and medicinal compounds, mushrooms offer a savory flavor, meaty texture, and major health perks, like anti-inflammatory and heart-protective effects. Compared to soy or seitan, mushrooms are more sustainable, lower in allergens, and naturally umami-packed.

Mushroom noodles 🍜 Adding polysaccharides from enoki mushrooms (Flammulina velutipes) to rice noodles improved both texture and health benefits. At just 4%, the mushroom compound reduced post-meal blood sugar spikes by nearly 20% in mice, while also making the noodles chewier, more elastic, and less likely to break. It boosted resistant starch and lowered the predicted glycemic index.

The next super-protein 🥩 Edible mushrooms like king oyster (Pleurotus eryngii), enoki (Flammulina velutipes), and morels (Morchella spp.) are being selectively bred to produce high-quality proteins with health benefits beyond nutrition, like blood sugar control, immune support, and anti-tumor activity. Using tools like genome editing and fermentation tech, researchers are enhancing these proteins’ potency and yield.

Try this 🍽️ A new study found that 70% of people are willing to try fungi-based protein, ranking it just behind algae and well ahead of bacterial protein (54%) and lab-grown meat (55%). Fungi were also seen as more natural and healthy than cultured meat, key factors influencing consumer openness.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

From June 7–29, 2025, Brooklyn Mushroom and the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition will host FUNGI, an international art show exploring the mysterious, mycelial world through sculpture, sound, performance, video, and more. The juried exhibition features 40 works that blend science, psychedelics, and artistic imagination. Submissions are open to all artists 18+ until May 16, 2025 and sounds like a cultural spore burst not to be missed.

MUSH MORE

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