Shiitake for Skin Defense, Wine Cap for Recovery, and Psilocybin’s Nuance

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH SPORE

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• ⚖️ | Gut balance guardian

• 🧠 | Memory revival

• 🦪 | Antibiotic ally

Hi Shroomers. Mushroom science this week is focused on repair — how the body restores itself under stress. We’re looking at wine cap mushrooms helping immune function rebound after chemo, fermented shiitake offering liver support during strain, and a β-glucan from shiitake showing early potential in protecting the skin from UV-related damage. On the psychedelic side, we’re looking at where microdosing results don’t match the hype, how hormonal phases may shape psilocybin experiences, and what end-of-life care research is beginning to show. As always: these findings are early and vary in strength, but they help us understand where mushrooms may have meaningful roles, and where careful context still matters.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Immune rebound ❣️ Wine cap mushroom (Stropharia rugosoannulata) polysaccharides helped mice regain immune strength after cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy drug known to suppress immunity and strain the liver. The extract restored white blood cell balance, increased key immune signals (like IgA and IgG), and activated the TLR4 pathway that controls immune defense. It also protected liver tissue by lowering damage markers (ALT and AST) and improving antioxidant activity, helping the body recover more smoothly from treatment.

Liver shield ⚖️ Fermenting shiitake (Lentinus edodes) broth with multiple strains of beneficial microbes boosted its antioxidant strength and liver-protective effects. The fermented broth helped cells withstand oxidative stress and, in alcohol-treated mice, reduced inflammation, restored key antioxidant enzymes like glutathione, and lowered liver damage markers. It also improved cholesterol balance, suggesting fermented shiitake could support the body during periods of stress, especially when the liver is working harder than usual.

Skin defense 🌞 A β-glucan from shiitake (Lentinus edodes) helped protect skin cells exposed to UVB by lowering oxidative stress and reducing signs of cellular aging. In UV-exposed skin cell models, it decreased inflammatory signals and kept collagen-supporting structures more stable. The results suggest this β-glucan may help defend the skin under stress, though these findings are from cell and mouse models, not human studies.

Inflammation control 🛡️ Polysaccharides from king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) helped protect mice from mastitis by calming inflammation and supporting antioxidant defenses. In a mouse model, the extract lowered inflammatory signals, preserved mammary tissue structure, and strengthened the blood–milk barrier. It also shifted the gut microbiome toward more beneficial bacteria, suggesting its effects are partly guided through the gut–immune axis.

Immune tuning 🔄 A purified (1→3),(1→6)-β-D-glucan from a mushroom was tested in both cell and animal models, where it influenced immune activity and reduced inflammation. In lab immune cells, it shifted cytokine signaling and lowered inflammatory markers. In mice, it also reduced pain responses linked to inflammation. 

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PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION 

Trauma repair 🧠 In a rat model simulating brain injuries linked to intimate partner violence, psilocybin helped reverse long-lasting anxiety-like behavior and restored markers of neuroplasticity in the hippocampus. It also reduced inflammation-related cellular changes in injured brain regions.

Creativity question mark 🎨 Across three double-blind, placebo-controlled microdosing studies (171 participants total), microdosing psilocybin did not broadly increase creativity. The only consistent effect was a small improvement in the quality of divergent thinking—meaning participants generated slightly more original ideas—but no improvement was seen in coming to a single correct solution (convergent thinking). Placebo effects were strong, especially among people with prior psychedelic experience. The takeaway: microdosing may subtly shift how ideas emerge, but it does not reliably boost creativity overall, and expectations play a major role.

Hormone-aware healing 🌙 This review explains how hormonal states across the female lifespan—such as menstrual cycle phases, pregnancy and postpartum periods, perimenopause, menopause, and hormone therapy—may influence how the body and brain respond to psilocybin. Hormones like estrogen can shape serotonin signaling and neuroplasticity, suggesting that timing, dose, and integration may need personalization. This is theoretical, based on existing neurobiology and early clinical observations—not direct human trials linking cycle phase to psilocybin outcomes yet.

End-of-life relief 🌅 In a small open-label pilot with home-hospice patients, a single psilocybin-assisted therapy session (25 mg) was feasible and well tolerated, with no serious adverse events. Participants showed a meaningful reduction in demoralization three weeks later, even as their physical condition continued to decline. Sessions often centered on themes of grief, acceptance, and peace. The study was small and exploratory, but it suggests psilocybin therapy may be a compassionate option in end-of-life care, pending larger trials.

Safety check 🔍 This systematic review looked at how clinical trials of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy report side effects. Most trials did report adverse events, but the level of detail and consistency varied widely. Common effects included nausea, transient anxiety, and headache, while serious events were rare. The review highlights that better, more standardized safety reporting is needed so patients, clinicians, and the public can clearly understand what to expect, how common side effects are, and how they’re managed in therapeutic settings.

Bipolar nuance 🌗 A comprehensive review looked at reported experiences of psilocybin among people with bipolar disorder. Some individuals described mood relief, emotional processing, or reduced negative rumination — but others experienced mood destabilization, including hypomania or mania, particularly when doses were high, settings were unstructured, or other substances were involved. Because current evidence is based on self-reported and observational data, not controlled trials, psilocybin is not an established or clinically recommended treatment for bipolar disorder at this time.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Crop defender 🌾 Scientists extracted five natural compounds from tiger sawgill mushroom (Lentinus tigrinus) and tested them against major plant pathogens. One compound strongly blocked the fungus that causes rice blast — a disease responsible for huge global crop losses — by preventing spores from germinating. Another compound showed strong antibacterial activity.

Guano fertilizer 🦇 This study found that using bat guano as fertilizer can shift soil fungal communities in harmful ways, introducing fungi linked to plant disease, food spoilage, and even human infection. Soils treated with guano contained genera like Fusarium, Curvularia, Rhizopus, and Cladophialophora, while untreated soils did not show these pathogens. I also included this research because if you forage in high-guano areas, please keep this in mind when enjoying your edible foraging finds. As an Austinite, I’m neighbors to the world’s largest urban bat colony — the Mexican free-tailed bats who roost under the Congress Avenue Bridge.

Mushroom imagery in Christian art 🎨 This paper reevaluates the claim that medieval Christian art intentionally depicted Amanita muscaria as the Tree of Knowledge. While some images resemble mushrooms, the evidence suggests these shapes are consistent with common artistic styles of the period rather than coded psychedelic symbolism.

GROWING & GOURMET

Fresher pork, fewer additives 🧊 A preservative film made from oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) polysaccharides and green tea EGCG helped refrigerated pork stay tender and slowed protein breakdown compared to standard storage. The mushroom-based coating reduced oxidation and kept muscle structure intact for longer, suggesting a natural way to extend freshness and cut down on synthetic preservatives.

Wine cap from waste ♻️ Researchers tested whether tobacco stalks could replace typical substrates for growing wine cap mushrooms (Stropharia rugosoannulata). At around 20–30% tobacco stalk, the mushrooms grew well and the soil improved, showing better nutrients and enzyme activity, which supports long-term soil health. Too much tobacco stalk slowed growth, so balance was key.

Glyphosate exposure 🌾 Researchers grew oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) on substrates exposed to glyphosate herbicide and found measurable changes in growth and chemical composition. Higher glyphosate levels were associated with reduced yield and shifts in antioxidant and nutrient-related compounds.

Enoki safety check 🍱 Researchers traced the microbial communities on enoki mushrooms (Flammulina filiformis) from different farms and retail outlets. They found that the farm environment, not the supermarket vs. outdoor market, was the main factor shaping contamination, with similar bacteria found regardless of where the mushrooms were sold. This helps explain why raw enoki has been linked to outbreaks in the past.

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