Magic of Mushrooms

These Underworld eaters grow and produce miraculous marvels.

Mushrooms are magical … and not just for creating psychogenic phenomena in vision quests. They are a seemingly never ending source of potential pharmaceuticals and biologics.

Azole antifungal drugs can inhibit the fungal sterol 14α-demethylase, a cytochrome P450-dependent enzyme involved in synthesis of ergosterol, a key component of the fungal cell wall, from the precursor lanosterol. The resulting backed up accumulation of the 14α-methylsterols, disrupts the fungal cell membrane, stopping further growth.

The mechanism of action of azole group antifungal agents: 1) inhibition of the conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol, 2) inhibition of ergosterol production, and 3) destabilization and disruption of the fungal cell membrane. -https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348163824_Drug_Delivery_NanoPlatforms_for_Oral_and_Dental_Applications_Tissue_Regeneration_Infection_Control_and_Cancer_Management/

These azole antifungal drugs that were developed to combat pathogenic yeast infections, were found to also inhibit the mammalian cytochrome P450-C19 aromatase/estrogen synthetase. [see Azole antifungal aromatase inhibitors - verifications and updates]. They block estrogen production, and are used in breast cancer treatment.