Truffle sniffing dogs and pigs are used to find the European white truffle in the wild. It is ranked as one of the most expensive mushrooms in the world at $3,600 per pound. I would love to know what the European white truffle tastes like, but at such a price, I’m not holding my breath.
The most expensive mushroom in the world goes for $63,000 per pound. It is the Cordyceps sinensis, or yartsa gunbu, as it is colloquially referred to. Imagine a ghost moth caterpillar in the shadow of the Himalayans, exposed to a fungi, that ends up paralyzing the caterpillar, taking its life, and feeding off of it. The caterpillars become mummified and the fungi fruits grow into a cylindrical shape reminiscent of the caterpillar it grew off of. No thank you.
When it comes to medicinal value, mushrooms contain compounds that possess “pharmacological activities, including antiallergic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulating, antidepressive, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, digestive, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, osteoprotective, and hypotensive activities.”1 That is a very impressive list. Other researchers emphasize the “anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycaemic, and immunomodulatory effects.”2 These big words simply point to the potential role different mushrooms can have in fighting cancer, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, protecting the liver, kidneys, and bones, and keeping the immune system healthy.
A variety of biologically active compounds found in mushrooms are responsible for the diverse properties and benefits mushrooms provide. Among these are βeta-glucans—types of fiber that stimulate the immune system, activating macrophages and natural killer cells. This has the potential to protect the body from all kinds of infection, harmful organisms, and diseases, including cancer. “Studies have indicated that they can inhibit cancer cell growth, induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells, and impede the formation of new blood vessels required for tumor growth (angiogenesis). Furthermore, β-glucans have shown potential in enhancing the efficacy of conventional cancer treatments.”3
Some components of specific mushrooms appear to be unique to them. Hericenones and erinacines found in lion’s mane mushrooms are being researched for their role in protecting neurons and combating neuro-inflammation. These compounds have been proven to induce the production of nerve growth factor in nerve cells, which prevents neuronal death and promotes growth, just as its name implies. It is essential to maintain and organize neurons functionally. Deficiency of nerve growth factor is related to Alzheimer’s disease and plays a part in the disease process.4
Scripture speaks of God diversifying humanity by giving them different gifts. No one is excluded from receiving something by which they can bless others—mushrooms included.
- Venturella, G., Ferraro, V., Cirlincione, F., & Gargano, M. L. (2021). Medicinal mushrooms: bioactive compounds, use, and clinical trials. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(2), 634. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22020634
- Łysakowska, P., Sobota, A., & Wirkijowska, A. (2023c). Medicinal Mushrooms: Their bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production—A Review. Molecules, 28(14), 5393. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145393
- Varnosfaderani, S. M. N., Ebrahimzadeh, F., Oryani, M. A., Khalili, S., Almasi, F., Heris, R. M., Payandeh, Z., Li, C., Afjadi, M. N., & Bahrami, A. A. (2023). Potential promising anticancer applications of β-glucans: a review. Bioscience Reports, 44(1).
https://doi.org/10.1042/bsr20231686 - Ma, B., Shen, J., Yu, H., Ruan, Y., Wu, T., & Zhao, X. (2010). Hericenones and erinacines: stimulators of nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis in Hericium erinaceus. Mycology: an International Journal on Fungal Biology, 1(2), 92–98.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21501201003735556
