Alternative medicine advocates cite the side effects of conventional drugs as one of the primary reasons to go "natural." However, a study proves that it is likely to come up with medications with zero side effects, and they did that by looking into toxic mushrooms.
A team of researchers from Michigan State University worked with Amanita mushrooms (Amanita muscaria), also known as fly amanita and fly algaric. It is characterized by their bright color on the head with flecks of white. Although cases of poisoning are rare, the mushroom is still toxic.
The toxicity of the mushroom may be attributed to its enzyme called POPB. What it does is to change the structure of the enzyme from linear to cyclic. Then it's able to correctly identify its target, which is the human liver, and destroy it.
The study, which is already published in Chemistry and Biology, doesn't encourage the consumption of the mushroom. But they studied the way these enzymes work in the hopes that we may be able to produce medicine with only a specific purpose, thereby reducing or even eliminating possible side effects as the drugs don't need to affect the other organs. Moreover, the peptides of these enzymes, which are interestingly used by drug manufacturers in creating medicine, may be customized for various diseases from bacterial infection to cancer.
These peptides are known to survive high temperatures and strongest acids such as those of the stomach but they are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, making it more ideal for medicine. Easy absorption means higher potency.
The researchers were also able to harness the peptides, removing their toxic component. Now the challenge is to test its effectiveness in certain diseases. They're currently looking for people who can pass the screening process.
