Mushrooms from the Białowieża Forest in cancer therapy?

The Bialowieza Forest is home to nearly 1,700 species ofoin fungiow, and 190 of them are endemic species – they appear only in this region. The possibility of their use in medicine is being checked by scientists from the Department of Experimental Pharmacology of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Medical University of Bialystok and the Forestry Department of the Bialystok University of Technology in Hajnowce.

Researchers have created a bank of extractoin the fungusoin arboreal (growing on the wood of dead trees or on living trees) comprising about 150 species ofow. Many of the fungi have not been previously studied and have no defined composition or action.

Detailsolnie promising research on Pine Root (Heterobasidion annosum). The species is found throughout Poland and is controlled by forestersow, as it grows on trees and causes their diseased. However, it can helpoc in cancer therapy, especially colon cancer.

„Researchers from the Medical University of Bialystok and the Bialystok University of Technology are conducting pioneering research aimed at assessing the potential medical use of Pine Root. Heterobasidion annosum is considered by forestersoIn for one of the most dangerous fungusow. It causes a disease called root huba, leading to the death of entire standsow. Annual economic losses caused by this fungus in Europe are estimated to be at least 790 millionoin euro” – we read on the Bialystok University of Technology website.

„To date, scientific research has focused on the impact of this fungus on the forest environment. However, the results of recent studies have revealed anticancer potential. Researchers from both universities are testing whether Pine Root extract can treat cancer, especially colon cancer” – we read further.

The researchers conducting this work have received approval from the ethics committee for the. animal experiments to conduct further research on laboratory mice. The research has yielded extremely promising results. It turned out that comoDisease symptoms receded.

– Depending, of course, on the concentration used, it has a spectacular effect of inhibiting the growth of comocancer rec,” said the research leader, head of the UMB experimental pharmacology department Prof. Halina Car. – Studies have shown inhibition of disease progression by up to 80 percent. It also found no ill effects of compoundsow of the fungus on the physiology of the comorek – she added.

– The medical community has never turned its head away from the therapeutic potential thatory lies in the natural environment, m.In. In the world of plants, fungusow. The only problem is that from the postulated legendary properties of the – ktore found in folk tales or stories told by our grandmothers and grandfathersow – move to a more systematic level. This is what our wspolne research – said at a press conference the pro-rector of the. Science of the Medical University of Bialystok prof. Marcin Moniuszko.

– Examination of the composition of the fungusow is a big problem, because they are usually compounds ktorych we cannot find in the chemical databases available worldwide. In view of the above, this is a huge potential, whichory lies in mushrooms, whichore perhaps we can use not only in the direction of cancerow – said in an interview with PAP Car.