Though it has ugly appearance, its scientific name is Xylaria nigripes (Klotzsch) Cooke, and locals also call it O Linh ginseng.
In medicine, it is a medicinal herb that has sedative effects, treats insomnia, stops bleeding, reduces blood pressure, burns…
Additionally, it can also help improve memory, protect the brain, nourish the kidneys…
For people after surgery, after giving birth or during breastfeeding, this is a miraculous medicinal herb.
Xylaria nigripes (XN) is a traditional medicinal fungus that is a member of the Xylariaceae family, according to ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. XN has long been used as a nerve tonic and to treat trauma and sleeplessness. The bioactivities of XN have been shown in both in vitro and in vivo studies. These activities include anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor prevention of spatial memory impairment, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, anti-depressant, improving insulin sensitivity, and neuroprotective properties.
The various chemical components found in XN, including internal and extracellular polysaccharides, adenosine, total polyphenols, and triterpenoids in mycelia, are responsible for these bioactivities.In PC12 cells, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can trigger mitochondrial dysfunctions that lead to oxidative stress and apoptosis. The current study employed PC12 cells treated with H2O2 as the cell model, and the protective effects of XN mycelia extracts—made from mycelia through submerged fermentation—on oxidatively damaged brain cells were assessed.