The serrated fungus or in scientific language is known as "Schizophyllum commune" which is a type of fungus that grows wild in nature and has unique characteristics and great potential in various fields. This fungus is often found attached to dead wood, both in forests and in rural environment, the shape resembles a small fan with edges with lots of fine hairs, the color is pure white when it is young and will turn brownish when the mushroom reaches maturity, one of the characteristics of this fungus is the ability of the blades under the fruit body to open and close according to humidity air, thus adapting This makes it able to survive in various environmental conditions.
Even though it is small in size and simple in shape, did you know that Schizophyllum commune has extraordinary ingredients, this mushroom contains bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, proteins and antioxidants, and one of the main components is Schizophyllan, although this mushroom is not as popular as oyster mushrooms in the culinary world. However, this mushroom also has a distinctive taste and is comfortable in the mouth, but because of its hard texture, this mushroom is more often processed into powder and used in various types of dishes. The taste of this mushroom is neutral and this is what really allows this mushroom to be used. Use it in various culinary delights because it does not interfere with the taste of the food.
Does the Schizophyllum commune mushroom have health benefits? yeah of course this mushroom has significant health benefits, here are some of the extraordinary benefits you can get from this little mushroom;
- Improves the immune system
The polysaccharide content contained in this mushroom, especially Schizophyllan, is known to be able to stimulate the activity of immune cells such as macrophages and lymphocytes. By consuming this mushroom regularly, this mushroom can help increase the body's resistance to bacterial infections, viruses and several other diseases.
- Supports cancer therapy
One of the main benefits of Schizophyllan is its potential in cancer therapy. This compound has been used in several studies to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy by strengthening the body's immune response to cancer cells. Apart from that, Schizophyllan also has a cytotoxic effect which can help inhibit tumor growth.
- Natural antioxidant
Schizophyllum commune mushrooms are rich in antioxidant compounds that help fight free radicals in the body, thus, this mushroom can help prevent cell damage caused by oxidative stress, and this is often associated with premature aging and various other chronic diseases.
- Antimicrobial
Several studies show that extracts from this mushroom have antimicrobial activity which is very effective in fighting certain pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and this is what makes it potentially used as a natural ingredient to fight infection.
- for heart health
The content of bioactive compounds in the Schizophyllum commune mushroom is known to have an anticoagulant effect which is very helpful in preventing blood pooling, thus, the Schizophyllum commune mushroom is considered to greatly contribute to maintaining heart health and preventing cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks.
With these various health benefits, it can be confirmed that Schizophyllum commune is not only an important part of biodiversity which acts as a decomposer of organic matter in the wild, but the bioactive content possessed by the Schizophyllum commune fungus has enormous potential for natural human health.
Do you want to get the health benefits of this mushroom?
To get maximum benefits from the Schizophyllum commune mushroom, it is very important to pay attention to how it is processed, this mushroom has a hard texture so it is more often processed into extract or powder compared to consuming it directly in fresh form, Schizophyllum commune mushroom extract or powder is usually mixed into soups, stir-fries, traditional dishes to make it easier to consume, but you can also consume whole mushrooms by soaking these mushrooms for three days in salt water so that the mushrooms are a little soft and easy for you to consume.
You also need to ensure that these mushrooms are processed hygienically, especially if you find these mushrooms directly in the wild, then the proper cleaning and processing process is very important to pay attention to, this is done to avoid microbial contamination or dangerous substances attached to them. on mushrooms.
It is important to remember that even though the benefits are very diverse, using the Schizophyllum commune mushroom as a natural ingredient to treat certain diseases such as cancer and other chronic diseases, you should do this under the supervision of medical personnel or health professionals, this is very important to understand and acknowledge. that to ensure the right dose and method of consumption according to individual health can only be confirmed by a health professional, so you need to make wise decisions.
with the development of research on this mushroom, its potential in the world of health is increasingly promising, not only as a natural supplement to improve general health, but also as a basic ingredient in the development of modern medicines, therefore, the Schizophyllum commune mushroom is clear evidence that Nature provides potential solutions to maintain and improve the quality of human life.
Thank you very much for reading my blog, see you in the next post 🥰
I have attached several photos to help you detect the Schizophyllum commune fungus that grows in your environment.