(1) CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
(2) III-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
(3) Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics/IBILI, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
(4) CNC.IBILI - University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
(5) Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Science Park of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Leioa, Spain
(6) Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
(7) Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
(8) Ministry of Education, Maputo, Mozambique
(9) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon University, Lisbon, Portugal
(10) Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy
(11) ) Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal
A research team, based in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra (FMUC) and in the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Portugal, has found that feeding adult mice with the mushroom Coriolus versicolor increased the complexity of new neurons (nerve cells) formed in the hippocampus, an area of the brain linked to emotions and memory. This finding may have implications for the development of a disease-modifying therapy to prevent or slow the cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
The researchers discovered that feeding the mice with Coriolus versicolor resulted in a significant increase in the length, volume and arborization (fine branching) of the dendrites (finger-like extensions of the neurons that allow them to communicate with each other) of newly-generated neurons in the hippocampus.
They also discovered that this increased ‘dendritic complexity’ was accompanied by an increase in the levels of the protein β-catenin within these neurons. β-catenin plays a major role in neurogenesis (the development of new neurons) through a process known as Wnt/β-catenin signaling.1,2,3
Thus, the positive effect of Coriolus versicolor on the dendritic complexity of hippocampal newly-generated neurons may be mediated, at least in part, by increased levels of β-catenin and enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The authors concluded that there is a thus-far unexplored neurogenic potential of Coriolus versicolor supplementation, and that it might represent a preventive strategy for neurological conditions that involve cognitive decline.
Oncotarget. 2018 Aug 31;9(68):32929-32942.
Link to article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30250640
Clinical Articles
The following section outlines the clinical papers, posters and proposals that refer to the clinical use of MRL mushroom nutrition products. This information is for healthcare practitioners only and should not be provided to members of the general public.
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Clinical articles
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Impact of Gastrointestinal Tract on Mushroom Biomass: Deciphering Their Potential on Gut Microbiota Modulation.
Helena Araújo-Rodrigues, Ana Sofia Salsinha, João Bettencourt Relvas, Freni K. Tavaria, Manuela E. Pintado Presented at the the 10th International Human Microbiome Consortium (IHMC) Congress held on June 22-25, 2024 in Rome Italy. -
Redox Modulation of Meniere Disease by Coriolus Versicolor Treatment, a Nutritional Mushroom Approach with Neuroprotective Potential.
Rosanna Di Paola, Rosalba Siracusa, Roberta Fusco, Marialaura Ontario, Gaetano Cammilleri, Licia Pantano, Maria Scuto, Mario Tomasello, Sestina Spanò, Angela Trovato Salinaro, Ali S. Abdelhameed, Vincenzo Ferrantelli, Antonio Arcidiacono, Tilman Fritsch, Gabriella Lupo, Anna Signorile, Luigi Maiolino, Salvatore Cuzzocrea, and Vittorio Calabrese.
Curr Neuropharmacol 2023 Dec 8. PMID: 38073105
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Mushrooms as Functional Foods for Ménière’s Disease.
Victoria Bell and Tito Horácio Fernandes.
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 12348. -
Antioxidants, Hormetic Nutrition, and Autism.
Modafferi Sergio, Lupo Gabriella, Tomasello Mario, Rampulla Francesco, Ontario Marialaura,
Scuto Maria, Trovato Salinaro Angela, Arcidiacono Antonio, Anfuso Carmelina Daniela,
Legmouz Maria, Azzaoui Fatima-Zahra, Palmeri Agostino, Spano’ Sestina, Biamonte Francesca,
Cammilleri Gaetano, Fritsch Tilman, Sidenkova Alena, Calabrese Edward, Wenzel Uwe and Calabrese Vittorio. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2023 Aug 17.