King of the Fungal: Exploring the Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Microbial Properties of Lion鈥檚 Mane (Hericium erinaceus) Polysaccha
Alth茅a de Freitas Branco Saiyad '25
Molecular Biology, Cognitive Neuroscience, with a minor in Psychology
Lion's Mane is a fungus that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries, particularly for its anti-inflammatory and probiotic effects on the gut. Throughout the past decades, preclinical research has revealed additional benefits of Lion's Mane polysaccharide extracts, such as potential antimicrobial effects. My thesis explores the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects of these polysaccharide extracts, where they were found to induce a plateau in bacterial growth (bacteriostatic effect) and exert a mild anti inflammatory effect.
What drew you to explore this topic?
The world of fungal biotechnology, particularly within medicine, is a field which has been amassing a considerable amount of promising outcomes in recent years, and having the privilege to contribute to such research was a very exciting prospect to me.
What鈥檚 the next chapter in your journey post-graduation?
Before completing a Master's degree in biotechnology or bioinnovation, I will be taking a gap year to complete internships with companies working within the field of (fungal) biotech, in order to obtain more experience and be able to apply my knowledge and interests further!