An Analysis of Oyster Mushrooms
While walking through the wooded parts of Mont Royal park, I found a grouping of fungi that peaked out of the crevices of the bark of a tree. After further observation of these white stacking fungi, I determined them to be Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), a mushroom that has been known to have many medicinal properties. Research published by Yashvant Patel has shown that extracting some nutraceuticals help with the ailment of certain maladies such as antiviral immune-stimulating properties and some host-mediated anti-tumor activities against Sarcoma S-180 tumors. In the realm of hypotensive states, Pleurotus have been found to have "the same effect associated partly with D-mannitol which inhibits antiotensin-I converting enzyme." Our knowledge of Pleurotus ostreatus is no where near complete, but there is substantial evidence to believe this fungi beholds many benefits to humans that we will eventually discover.
