Question

Fungi secrete many chemicals that are beneficial to humans. Name two of these chemcials and the fungi that produce them.

Answer 1

Fungi are one of the important decomposers in ecosystem. Some fungi are used in food like mushrooms and also as fermenting agents. Some Fungi has chemicals that are useful to humans, particulary in phramaceutical industries in making drugs. Such medically important fungi include,
1. Pencilinium notatum which is used to produce Pencilin, an antibiotic drug. It was first discovered in 1928 by Alexander fleming.
2. Claviceps Purpurea which is also called Ergot, produces a chemical called Lysergic acid which is used in the preparation of psychotomimetic drug, lysergic acid diethylamide(LSD). Ergot is a source of other chemicals used in drugs that reduces labour in pregnant women.
Other chemical compounds called Statins are produced by different species of fungi including Pencilinium and Aspergilus. Statins are used in the preparation of drugs that lowers the production of cholesterol in the body.