Sophie Krouse: A Brief Summary of the Medicinal Uses of Laetiporus sulphureus

Laetiporus sulphureus, or more commonly known as Chicken of the Woods for its similar taste to chicken (when prepared properly), is a common wood-decaying (lignin-decaying) fungus, and a frequent cause of brown-rot disease in trees. Though most wood-decaying fungal species have shown little use in the medical field, recent studies have shown the potential of Laetiporus sulphureus in medicinal use.

Extracts of Laetiporus sulphureus have shown the ability to decay cells as well (cytotoxic), while provides promising anticancer abilities in attacking cancer cells. This cytotoxic ability also translates to antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, as bacterial cells can be decayed by the fungus thereby relieving inflammation caused by bacterial infections. On the opposite end of the spectrum, ethanolic extracts of Laetiporus sulphureus have shown antioxidant abilities as well, in which they slow down the decaying process of cells exposed to free radicals, making the medicinal uses of this organism very diverse and promising for future medical research.

Posted on October 16, 2021 08:22 PM by sophiekrouse