Medical Application of Substances Derived from Non-Pathogenic Fungi <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i> and <i>A. luchuensis</i>-Containing <i>Koji</i>

• Main Author: Hiroshi Kitagaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Journal of Fungi
• Subjects: medical application; <i>koji</i>; fermentation; non-pathogenic fungus; medicinal substances
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/4/243

Although most fungi cause pathogenicity toward human beings, dynasties of the East Asian region have domesticated and utilized specific fungi for medical applications. The Japanese dynasty and nation have domesticated and utilized <i>koji</i> fermented with non-pathogenic fungus <i>Aspergillus oryzae</i> for more than 1300 years. Recent research has elucidated that <i>koji</i> contains medicinal substances such as Taka-diastase, acid protease, <i>koji</i> glycosylceramide, <i>kojic</i> acid, oligosaccharides, ethyl-α-d-glucoside, ferulic acid, ergothioneine, pyroglutamyl leucine, pyranonigrin A, resistant proteins, deferriferrichrysin, polyamines, <i>Bifidobacterium</i>-stimulating peptides, angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor peptides, 14-dehydroergosterol, beta-glucan, biotin, and citric acid. This review introduces potential medical applications of such medicinal substances to hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and cognitive diseases, chronic inflammation, epidermal permeability barrier disruption, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and anti-cancer therapy.