Researchers not too long ago got here throughout a uncommon mushroom known as Cordyceps militaris, a species of fungus recognized additionally because the “zombie mushroom,” within the Samandıra Forest on the Asian facet of Istanbul.
The “zombie mushroom” has turn out to be the topic of curiosity worldwide with the discharge of the world phenomena “The Last of Us” sequence.
Natural mushroom researcher Naim Güleç, who got here throughout the cordyceps militaris mushroom within the Samandıra Forest of Istanbul throughout analysis, and mycologist Selime Semra Erol, who conducts tutorial analysis on mushrooms used for medical functions, informed Anadolu Agency (AA) concerning the lesser recognized particulars associated to the mushroom.
Erol is engaged on his doctoral research on medicinal mushrooms at Düzce University and has been conducting tutorial research on medicinal mushrooms, their manufacturing and medicinal results for the final 5 years. She defined that cordyceps has had an essential place in Chinese conventional drugs for hundreds of years resulting from its pharmacological properties and that the mushroom household it belongs to is greater than 400 years previous. She additionally famous that it’s the genus with probably the most varieties in its species.
Stating that every mushroom species of the cordyceps genus is parasitic fungi that targets completely different bugs, together with caterpillars and pine processionary pupa, Erol stated, “What makes this mushroom important is that it has been used as a source of healing in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.”
Additionally, Erol additionally famous that the fungus grows in excessive altitudes within the Himalayas and Tibet, and is consumed as meals, particularly in India and China. Elaborating that a very powerful a part of the fungus is its cordyceps substance, Erol stated that the mushroom comprises energetic substances and compounds used within the therapy of kidney and liver ailments.
Stating that the mushrooms belonging to the cordyceps genus are used particularly in conventional Chinese drugs as a every day vitality degree booster and metabolism accelerator as nicely, Erol stated that it was revealed that the three runners who broke 5 world information within the 1,500, 3,000 and 10,000-meter races within the 1993 National Games held in Beijing had used Cordyceps sinensis.
Additionally, Erol famous that the invention of the fungus in Türkiye could be very thrilling for mushroom researchers. She added that she is making an attempt to supply mycelium from the mushroom samples she collected and that her research on the home manufacturing of this species are persevering with.
Güleç, a pure mushroom researcher who stated that he devoted himself profoundly to the invention of mushrooms, stated that greater than 2,500 mushrooms species have been found in Türkiye to this point, including that greater than 1,000 of those mushrooms are discovered within the forests. Moreover, he added that up till now, he had a possibility to review 219 of those mushrooms, figuring out them by their scientific Latin names.
Stating that probably the most fascinating of those is Cordyceps militaris, Güleç stated: “My mushroom adventure dates back about 20 years. I searched for this mushroom in the forests for many years and when I read in a foreign source that it has a connection with pine processionary beetles, I went to the forests looking for the pine sac insect, which is found on the pine trees.”
”As the sources say that the fungus seems on the bottom in chilly climate, I lastly discovered the cordyceps militaris fungus within the pine forests of Istanbul in 2015,” Güleç stated, including {that a} scientific article on it was revealed in 2016.
Güleç said that though it’s a small fungus, it may be simply observed when strolling resulting from its pink colour and that it ought to be sought in locations the place pine bushes are infested by pine processionary beetles.
‘Zombie utopia’
Güleç said that within the TV sequence “The Last Of Us,” which is at present being broadcast on a digital platform, a situation equivalent to the tip of the world evolves resulting from the truth that the cordyceps fungus causes a brand new epidemic that turns individuals into zombies.
“Some fear that cordyceps fungi will take over the human nervous system and switch them into zombies. This doesn’t appear scientifically attainable,” Güleç defined.
He added that the Cordyceps fungi can not develop in temperatures above 25 levels Celsius (77 levels Fahrenheit.)
”Therefore, the event of this fungus in people or different mammals with a physique temperature of 37 levels Celsius, taking on the physique and inflicting any hurt is unattainable from a medical perspective,” he assured.
Underscoring that the fungus carries significance within the context of preventive drugs, Güleç instructed extra analysis ought to be carried out on the mushroom.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
