The “small yellow polyporus varius mushroom.” (Image courtesy of the National Institute of Biological Resources)
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – A mushroom native to Ulleungdo that has already been confirmed to have anti-cancer and antioxidation effects has now been discovered to possess anti-inflammatory properties as well.
The National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR) announced on Wednesday that a mushroom native to Ulleungdo, the “small yellow polyporus varius mushroom,” first identified on Ulleungdo in 2017, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects.
The NIBR research team injected the extract of this mushroom into macrophages, which play a crucial role in controlling inflammatory reactions within the human body. The research revealed that the extract significantly suppressed the inflammation-inducing agent iNOS by over 80 percent and interleukin-1β, a protein involved in the inflammatory response, by more than 70 percent.
The results of this study are scheduled for publication in an international academic journal, and the application for related patents will be initiated.
In 2021, the small yellow polyporus varius mushroom was also confirmed to exhibit antioxidation activation, reaching up to 95 percent of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and a cancer cell-killing effect more than two times greater than the anti-cancer compound paclitaxel. Furthermore, the small yellow polyporus varius mushroom demonstrates fewer side effects when inducing cancer cell death.
The NIBR stated, “During the research, the sample used was artificially cultured, indicating its potential for swift mass production and significant potential for industrial use.”
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
