''Astraeus asiaticus'' is a species of false earthstar in the family

Diplocystaceae Diplocystaceae (alternatively spelled Diplocystidaceae or Diplocystidiaceae) is a family of fungi in the Boletales order. The family was described by mycologist Hanns Kreisel Hanns Kreisel (16 July 1931 – 18 January 2017) was a German mycol ...

. Described as a new species in 2007, it was originally found in north and northeastern areas of Thailand, where it grows in sandy or

laterite Laterite is a soil type rich in iron and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by intensive and prolo ...

-rich soil in dry lowland

dipterocarp Dipterocarpaceae is a family of flowering plants with 22 genera and about 695 known species of mainly lowland tropical forest trees. Their distribution is pantropical, from northern South America to Africa, the Seychelles, India, Indochina, Indo ...

forests. The species has a wide distribution in Asia. Anti-cancer Properties: This mushroom found in the forests of Bankura and Birbhum districts of

West Bengal West Bengal (; Bengali language, Bengali: , , abbr. WB) is a States and union territories of India, state in the East India, eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabi ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

has been found to contain chemicals that fights against cancer. According to an article published in the science journal Nature, ‘kurkure chhatu’ (astraeus asiaticus), a wild edible mushroom commonly found in these regions, contains powerful bioactive compounds that can kill cancer cells while sparing the healthy ones. Researchers at the cancer research unit at Post-Graduate Department of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College,

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

have discovered potent anticancer and antioxidant properties in astraeus asiaticus. The extracts from the mushroom which is consumed by locals for its unique taste can significantly destroy cancer cells, particularly in cases of cervical, breast and lung cancers and prevent the growth of cancerous tumours leaving normal cells unharmed. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/birbhum-bankura-mushroom-can-fight-cancer-nature-publishes-rahara-rkm-scientist-study/articleshow/118743309.cms

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Astraeus Asiaticus Boletales Fungi described in 2007 Fungi of Asia Fungus species

See also

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