Mycotherapy Flashcards
What is Mycotherapy?
Mycotherapy is the use of mushrooms and their compounds as medicines or health-promoting agents.
How do fungi contribute to the ecosystem?
Fungi create a mycelial network that releases enzymes and acids to digest dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil.
What is the most common medicinal compound in mushrooms?
Beta-glucans, which are polysaccharides, are the most common medicinal compounds and support immune function and immunomodulation.
What medicinal effects do beta-glucans have on the body?
Beta-glucans promote immune function, exert anti-tumor activity, and stimulate immune cells like macrophages, neutrophils, and NK cells.
What are triterpenes, and what are their medicinal benefits?
Triterpenes are compounds found in mushrooms like reishi, with medicinal properties such as hepato-protective and anti-tumor effects.
What are sterols in mushrooms and their health benefits?
Sterols, like ergosterol, are precursors of vitamin D and have shown potential anti-cancer properties.
What role do lectins play in medicinal mushrooms?
Lectins agglutinate tumor cells, preventing their proliferation and acting as immune modulators.
Do medicinal mushrooms interact with drugs metabolized by CYP450 enzymes?
Research indicates that medicinal mushrooms do not significantly inhibit CYP450 enzymes, reducing the likelihood of drug interactions.
