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Wild mushrooms are expected to be developed into anticancer drugs

Published: 2024-11-24 Author: mysheen
Last Updated: 2024/11/24, Seemingly common macrofungi, wild mushrooms commonly parasitic on tree trunks, may also have been developed into antibacterial and even anticancer drugs. A research group of four lecturers and their students from the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences of Nanyang Polytechnic University of Singapore has classified and studied more than 400 species of local wild mushrooms in the past two years. It was found that two varieties contained anticancer ingredients and 30 varieties contained antibacterial ingredients. So far, they have successfully identified the chemical structure of one of the anti-cancer wild mushrooms and confirmed

Seemingly common macrofungi, wild mushrooms commonly parasitic on tree trunks, may also have been developed into antibacterial and even anticancer drugs.

A research group of four lecturers and their students from the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences of Nanyang Polytechnic University of Singapore has classified and studied more than 400 species of local wild mushrooms in the past two years. It was found that two varieties contained anticancer ingredients and 30 varieties contained antibacterial ingredients.

At present, they have successfully identified the chemical structure of one of the wild mushrooms with anticancer properties, and confirmed that its chemical structure can effectively cause programmed death (PCD), also known as apoptosis (apoptosis), in seven kinds of cancer cells, such as liver tumor, breast cancer, cervical cancer and so on. In other words, researchers are expected to turn the local wild mushrooms collected in Wuji Zhima Nature Reserve into anti-cancer drugs in the future.

Will apply for a patent for the new discovery

Dr. Li Wenjian, head of the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences, said at a press conference yesterday that the Polytechnic will apply for a patent for the new discovery in the next few weeks. Since its establishment in 2001, the department has patented two scientific research achievements.

The research group began its research work in February 2005. With the approval of the National Park Service, they collected a large number of wild mushroom specimens in major parks such as Wuji Zhima Nature Reserve, classified them, and then cultivated them in the laboratory. Of the more than 400 varieties collected, 45% are suitable for growing in the laboratory, so it has become the focus of the research team to develop drugs.

Dr Li Wenjian said: "We have only completed the first phase of the research and made such a surprising discovery, which means that we no longer need to look at places such as Amazon or Xizang to look for pharmaceutical raw materials. There are also many new biological species to be discovered. We must know more about our own local ecological environment. "

Dr. Li Wenjian is very proud of this new discovery. He said: "it is generally believed that only scientific research centers like A*STAR (Singapore Science and Technology Research Council) can do good research, but we should not ignore the ability of polytechnics in scientific research. The discovery at this stage is only a start, and we are expected to be able to obtain multiple patents from this research. "

 
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