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Researchers study bitter ginger for its ability to prevent food spoilage

April 22, 2019 -

In the study, the researchers looked at the effects of extracted oil from bitter ginger against fungal species Aspergillus flavus and A. ochraceus. A. flavus can infect seeds of corn, peanuts, cotton, and nut trees, while A. ochraceus is often found in grains, soil, and salted food products. These species belong to the genus Aspergillus, which is known to produce the toxin ochratoxin A, one of the most common mycotoxins that contaminate food, and citrinin. Aspergillus ...

Natural remedy: Honey found to have comparable effects to antifungal medications, but more affordably and without the side effects

January 10, 2018 -

Therefore, there is a need to develop effective, safe, and affordable antifungal agents from natural sources – and one of them is honey, which is known for its therapeutic effects. A study found that honey has similar antifungal properties as antifungal drugs, but is cheaper and without side effects.A team of researchers from the University of Peshawar, Quaid-i-Azam University, and Hazara University Mansehra in Pakistan carried out out an investigation on the antifungal ...

Ancient tomb fungus linked to “King Tut’s curse” may hold key to revolutionary cancer treatment

June 27, 2025 -

For decades, archaeologists whispered about the dreaded "mummy’s curse" after a string of mysterious deaths followed the 1922 opening of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. The same sinister fungus blamed for those fatalities, Aspergillus flavus, has now emerged as an unlikely hero in the fight against cancer. In a stunning twist of fate, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that this very organism, once feared for its lethal respiratory ...

Study proves the antifungal potential of thyme essential oil

January 24, 2019 -

Over the last decade, more incidences of fungal infections caused by opportunistic pathogens Candida, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Penicillium, and Fusarium have been recorded. This has become a major problem due to the increasing population of drug-resistant fungi. Moreover, the increasing number of immunodeficient patients, such as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), raises the risk of severe and invasive infections.

Essential oils have shown great potential in ...

The bark of a mountain tree in India shows antimicrobial properties more powerful than antibiotic drugs

February 14, 2019 -

With more and more bacteria becoming resistant to modern antibiotics and turning into untreatable superbugs, an increasing number of scientists are turning to nature to find effective weapons against these tiny killers.

The bark of the Ulmus wallichiana Planch, or Himalayan elm, has been used for centuries in India as a natural treatment for wounds and for human and animal bone fractures.

Researchers from the Sardar Bhagwan Singh Post Graduate Institute of Biomedical ...

Can essential oils prolong the shelf life of bread?

May 28, 2019 -

The authors of the review reported that the potential of essential oils as antifungal food preservatives had been demonstrated in many studies. However, despite numerous reports, only a few studies have used essential oils to preserve bread or other bakery products. The impact of essential oils on dough and bread production, as well as on the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory quality of bread need to be explored. Essential oils, according to the Belgian researchers, ...

Experts warn: Eating MOLDY food could be more dangerous than you think

November 09, 2025 -

It's a dilemma most of us have faced – reaching into the fridge or cupboard for a snack only to find that it's speckled with blue, white or gray mold. The question arises: Can you simply cut off the moldy bit and eat the rest, or does it belong straight in the bin?

According to toxicology experts, the answer depends on the food. But often, it's safer not to take the risk. While there are no official guidelines on what's acceptable to salvage, ...

Broad-leaved croton and bitter leaf extracts found to be effective against several bacterial and fungal pathogens

July 01, 2020 -

According to researchers at Raya University in Ethiopia, people in their country still use traditional medicines to treat various diseases. Of the 7,000 different medicinal plants in Ethiopia, about 12 percent are native to the country. These plants are used in 95 percent of the preparations Ethiopians use to address human and animal diseases, especially those caused by pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

In a recent study, the researchers investigated the antibacterial and ...

Aflatoxins pose serious health risks to humans and animals

October 05, 2022 -

Aflatoxins are among the most poisonous mycotoxins and are produced by certain molds (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus), which grow in soil, decaying vegetation, hay and grains.

It is easy for people to unknowingly consume aflatoxin-contaminated food because it is colorless, tasteless, odorless and cannot be destroyed by normal cooking processes. Only through laboratory testing can aflatoxins be detected in cereal (corn or maize, pearl millet, ...

Space cooties: Should astronauts be worried about fungi on space stations?

September 23, 2019 -

Experts know very little about the potential pathogenic properties of these microorganisms. The study urged other researchers to investigate the possibility of fungal infections in astronauts with compromised immune systems.

A team from Ghent University evaluated the existing pool of knowledge about mycotoxins, the chemical compounds produced by fungi that might make humans sick. They tried to determine if any of these applied to the species and strains that make it ...

Survival tips and tricks: 5 NATURAL antibiotics in your kitchen

September 08, 2020 -

1. Garlic

Allicin is a compound released by garlic when crushed or chopped. It helps reduce symptoms of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This potent compound also has antimicrobial properties, which makes it effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In fact, allicin also works well against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Additionally, research shows that allicin, when inhaled in aerosol form, can effectively kill lung-pathogenic ...

Fungal strains found naturally in the soil, including a relative of penicillin, could be an alternative to herbicides

September 21, 2018 -

The discovery was made by Nigerian researchers from the University of Ilorin, who were looking for local microbes that could reduce the need for chemical weed-killers that polluted the environment and damaged local ecosystems. They looked at fungi that produced bio-active secondary metabolites with phytotoxic (deadly to plant cells) properties that could serve as bio-control agents for weeds.

The study identified the Penicillium citrinum strain as a potentially effective ...

Why your weed might literally contain human feces

April 13, 2019 -

Lead researcher Manuel Pérez Moreno says that drug traffickers are wrapping the hash in some plastic and swallowing it to get it past authorities. After the hash is concealed in their intestines, the traffickers use a laxative to get the hash out of their body so it can be retrieved and sold illegally on the streets.Most street hash in Spain is heavily contaminated with human poop, making people sick

Those looking for medical marijuana on the streets of Spain are actually ...

Umeboshi is a natural immune system booster: Just eating 2 plums a week can result in DRAMATIC changes to your health

October 11, 2018 -

Legend has it that Samurai used the umeboshi fruit to increase their stamina, prevent fatigue and support healing between battles.

The alkalinity of umeboshi is part of what makes it such a beneficial food. As sources explain, conventional Western diets tend to increase acidity, so foods that promote alkalinity (like umeboshi) are key to maintaining balance and supporting overall health. But one of umeboshi's most impressive benefits is its ability to support immunity ...

Dust from GMO plants contains toxic mold

a long time ago - Natural.News

Natural Health News & Self-Reliance

Dust from GMO plants contains toxic mold

October 7th, 2015, by Vicki Batts

A farmer recently sent crop dust from his brother and father’s neighboring farms, where they grow Liberty Link and Roundup Ready corn, out for analysis. Crop dust is dirt and other pollutants that accumulate mainly during harvest season, and the farmer found it settling around his hog building. The results were so shocking; the lab actually contacted ...

Mycotoxins are contaminating these 10 food staples

April 01, 2013 - Mycotoxins are contaminating these 10 food staples

Monday, April 01, 2013 by: Lance JohnsonTags: mycotoxins, aflatoxin, foods

Aflatoxin's damage to the human body

Aspergillus, the most common fungi consumed

10 common sources of mycotoxins

Detoxification is key

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No wonder mold is so hard to kill: Study findings reveal that it can withstand space radiation doses that would even kill humans

February 03, 2020 -

It turns out that one of the most common types of mold on the ISS, Aspergillus, can survive X-ray exposure at 200 times the dose that can kill a human being. This is according to Marta Cortesao, microbiologist at the German Aerospace Center, who presented her findings at the 2019 Astrobiology Science Conference. These and other kinds of mold spores are already known to be able to withstand extreme conditions, such as very low or very high temperatures, ultraviolet light and ...

Essential oils for the treatment of fungal diseases

September 25, 2020 -

In a recent review, researchers at SNDT Women's University in India discussed the potential of various essential oils as antifungal agents. They specifically highlighted the oils derived from plants that belong to the genera Melaleuca (tea tree), Cymbopogon (lemongrass), Cinnamomum (cinnamon) and Thymus (thyme) because of their strong antifungal activity against common fungal pathogens.

Their full research was published in the Journal of Essential Oil Research.The ...

Chronic exposure to aflatoxins is linked to numerous health problems, such as cancer and kidney damage

June 07, 2019 -

A. flavus and A. parasiticus can contaminate crops in the field, at harvest, and during storage. The aflatoxins they produce are commonly found in corn and corn products, peanuts and peanut products, cottonseed, milk, and tree nuts like Brazil nuts, pecans, pistachio nuts, and walnuts. The most common and deadliest aflatoxin is aflatoxin B1. (Related: How the environment may be promoting cancer (and how you can reduce these effects).)

There have been reports of people consuming ...

No-cook summer: Easy YELLOW MISO dressings and dips for hot days

July 07, 2025 -

Miso, a traditional Japanese fermented soybean paste, has long been celebrated for its rich umami flavor and impressive health benefits. Among its many varieties, yellow miso stands out for its balanced taste, which is milder than red miso but deeper than the white variety, making it a versatile ingredient in both savory and sweet dishes.

Beyond its culinary appeal, yellow miso is packed with nutrients, probiotics and health-supporting ...