An analytical study of medicinal fungi using MeFSAT carried out by researchers from Chennai shows that some chemicals they secrete may find use as novel drugs.

What is MeFSAT?

• MeFSAT (Medicinal Fungi Secondary Metabolites and Therapeutics) is a database that compiles information on 184 medicinal fungi, including mushrooms.
• It is a manually curated database that compiles information on secondary metabolites and reported therapeutic uses of medicinal fungi from published research articles and specialized books on the subject.

Why in news?

• Chennai-based researchers analysed the structure of 1,830 secondary metabolites of medicinal fungi.
• Secondary metabolites are chemical compounds that fungi produce when they are stressed.
• They enhance the fungus’ ability to survive.

What are medicinal fungi?

• Medicinal fungi belongs to two taxonomic divisions namely, basidiomycota and ascomycota.
• Mushrooms belong to the basidiomycota division. An example is Agaricus bisporus, the button mushroom, which can be consumed.
• Fungi belonging to the ascomycota division are generally not mushrooms.

Examples of fungi-based medicines

• Cordycepin, a secondary metabolite produced by Cordyceps species of fungus, is known to have anti-tumor properties.
• Not only cordycepin, in general, but several secondary metabolites are also known to be beneficial for humans in terms of both therapy and health.

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