About the lecture:
Edible/medicinal macrofungi, mostly from the Basidiomycota group and some from the Ascomycota group, are currently classified as functional foods. The term “medical functional foods” can also be used, as some culinary/edible mushrooms have significant medicinal properties, while many medicinal species are highly sought after for culinary purposes. Many bioactive compounds present in mushrooms have been shown to be responsible for their antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, strengthening, preventive properties in the prevention of osteoporosis, macular and neuronal degeneration, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and hypoglycemic properties. During the lectures, participants will learn about the importance of mushrooms in the prevention of lifestyle diseases.
About the speaker:
Prof. Bożena Muszyńska, MD, PhD, head of the Department of Plant and Medicinal Fungi Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, clinical pharmacist, specialist in pharmaceutical analytics, mycologist, botanist. For 36 years, the most important goal of her research has been to prove the therapeutic and dietary value of edible mushrooms and algae, and the goal of her research in the field of mushroom biotechnology is to propose mycelium cultures as a rich, alternative source of bioactive ingredients. Her latest research focuses on the antidepressant, pro-cognitive, neuroregenerative, immunostimulatory, osteoporosis-protective, and ergogenic potential of medicinal fungi, and her experiments aim to explain the mechanisms of these activities in the human body.
Author of scientific and popular science publications (scientific output includes 240 articles from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education list (152 works with IF, 240 with MNiSW scoring); 4 books and 22 chapters in textbooks, popular science publications (over 50) and numerous conference reports (over 300), as well as two patents and two patent applications), participant in radio and television programs and online publications on fungi, algae, and plants. Member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. Scientific editor of the journal Grzyby i Zdrowie (www.grzybyizdrowie.com).Member: Board of the Polish Pharmaceutical Society, Krakow branch (Deputy Chair of the Clinical Pharmacy Section), Member of the Main Board of the Doctors of Hope Association, the Stop Illegal Pharmaceuticals Association, the Polish Botanical Society, the Polish Mycological Society, and Deputy Chair of the Medical Mycology Board. She has supervised 9 doctoral dissertations and 55 master’s theses.