Mossy Maze Polypore (Cerrena unicolor)
A common European bracket fungus that decomposes dead hardwood, known in biotechnology mainly as a source of the enzyme laccase — with no culinary or supplement history and no studies in humans.
Number of studies
2
Safety
Moderate
Time to effects
Not applicable — the species is not used as a supplement
Who it's for
Table of contents
TL;DR
A common European bracket fungus that decomposes dead hardwood, known in biotechnology mainly as a source of the enzyme laccase — with no culinary or supplement history and no studies in humans.
- →Antiviral and immunostimulatory activity of the laccase and polysaccharide fractions shown exclusively in vitro
- →Cytotoxic effect of certain fractions against cancer cell lines in laboratory culture
- →Enzymatic potential (laccase) in industrial biotechnology
| Latin name | Cerrena unicolor |
|---|---|
| Family | Polyporaceae |
| Active compounds | Laccase (an enzyme), exopolysaccharide, uncharacterized cytotoxic compounds |
| Form | No consumer form — only purified enzymes and laboratory fractions |
| Research level | Early — in vitro only, zero animal or human studies |
| Interactions | Not applicable |
| Status | Inedible saprotrophic fungus; no supplement market |
Understand
Overview
Cerrena unicolor is a widespread saprotrophic fungus that causes white rot in hardwood. It forms thin, fan-shaped fruiting bodies with a felted, greenish-gray upper surface. The fruiting bodies are hard and corky — the fungus is considered inedible.
Cerrena unicolor has no culinary or supplement tradition whatsoever. In the literature it appears in two contexts: ecological (its symbiosis with horntail wasps) and biotechnological, as a source of the enzyme laccase studied for bioremediation applications.
Who could this be useful for? Currently, no one, as a source of a supplement or food — the fungus is inedible, no form exists for consumption, and all described effects come exclusively from cell cultures in a test tube. The entry may interest researchers in enzymatic biotechnology tracking laccase applications in bioremediation, as well as mycologists and entomologists interested in the fungus's symbiosis with horntail wasps.
Where it's found
Cerrena unicolor is widely distributed across Europe, North America, and Asia, growing as a saprotrophic fungus on dead hardwood. Notably, it forms a symbiosis with horntail wasps (Tremex), which implant the fungus's spores into wood along with their eggs.
Mechanism of action
No mechanism of action relevant to human health has been established. Laboratory studies describe three fractions with in vitro activity: purified laccase (active against HSV, an antiviral effect), an exopolysaccharide fraction (stimulating macrophages), and compounds cytotoxic toward cancer cell lines.
Laccase is a copper-dependent oxidoreductase enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of phenolic and aromatic compounds at the cost of reducing molecular oxygen to water. The same catalytic activity that showed antiviral action against HSV in a test tube is used in biotechnology to break down hard-to-degrade environmental pollutants.
Laccase catalysis
A copper-dependent oxidoreductase enzyme oxidizes phenolic and aromatic compounds, reducing molecular oxygen to water.
Breakdown of environmental pollutants
The same catalytic activity is studied for degrading aflatoxin B1 and pesticides in bioremediation.
Antiviral activity in vitro
Purified laccase showed antiviral activity against HSV in cell culture.
Macrophage stimulation by the exopolysaccharide
A separate polysaccharide fraction stimulated macrophage activity under laboratory conditions.
Evidence: early-stage — based on 2 studies in this database.
Benefits
Common myths
MythSince Cerrena unicolor produces compounds with antiviral activity in a test tube, it can be used similarly to reishi or lion's mane.
FactAll results come exclusively from in vitro studies — no studies have been conducted in animals or humans.
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Practice
Frequently asked questions
No. The available studies concern only purified enzymes and laboratory fractions used in industrial biotechnology.
Dosage & timing
Typical dose
Not applicable — no supplement form or established human dose exists
Form
No commercial products
All available data comes from in vitro studies. Treating Cerrena unicolor as a functional mushroom would be an overinterpretation of the current state of knowledge.
Best times to take it
- Not applicable
Safety
Side effects & contraindications
Possible side effects
No data on adverse effects in humans
Fruiting bodies are considered inedible due to their hard texture
Contraindications
No established contraindications, given the complete absence of use in humans
Interactions
No documented interactions
Is it worth taking?
Who it's for
- Mycologists and biologists studying wood decomposition
- Researchers in enzymatic biotechnology
Not for
- No established contraindications, given the complete absence of use in humans
Evidence
Worth knowing
Female horntail wasps (Tremex) carry C. unicolor spores and implant them along with their eggs into hardwood.
Laccases from C. unicolor are the subject of biotechnological research into the degradation of aflatoxin B1 and pesticides.
Studies
An in vitro study of three fractions from Cerrena unicolor showed antiviral activity of laccase against herpes simplex virus (HSV), macrophage stimulation by the polysaccharide fraction, and cytotoxicity toward cervical cancer cells.
Mizerska-Dudka M. et al., International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2015
Fungus Cerrena unicolor as an effective source of new antiviral, immunomodulatory, and anticancer compounds
Early-stage evidenceMizerska-Dudka M, Jaszek M, Błachowicz A, et al. · International Journal of Biological Macromolecules · 2015
An in vitro study of three fractions showed antiviral activity of laccase against HSV, macrophage stimulation by the polysaccharide fraction, and cytotoxicity toward cervical cancer cells.
View studyCerrena unicolor Laccases, Genes Expression and Regulation of Activity
Early-stage evidencePawlik A, Ciołek B, Sulej J, et al. · Biomolecules · 2021
An experimental paper on the regulation of laccase gene expression under the influence of metal ions and temperature — a purely biotechnological study.
View studySources & bibliography
Citations are illustrative for this demo version and require full bibliographic verification by the editorial team before production publication.
Compare with similar entries
About the authors of this entry
Author
Michał NowakClinical Dietitian
Michał started out as a long-distance runner, before an injury forced him to rethink his career. Looking for a faster way back into shape, he discovered sports nutrition and never left — fascinated by the gap between the research and what "everyone knows" at the gym. He completed a degree in clinical dietetics, earned a sports-nutrition coaching certification, and ran his own practice for several years before joining VitMode. His writing keeps returning to one theme: a supplement won't replace the basics, but the right one, at the right time, makes a real difference — and that's the difference he tries to describe precisely, with citations instead of slogans. He still runs, though these days, as he puts it, purely for the fun of it.
154 publications on this site
Medical review
dr Piotr ZielińskiEndocrinologist
Piotr has practiced endocrinology for more than fifteen years, mostly in male hormonal disorders and metabolic health. He joined VitMode as a scientific consultant because, as he jokes, he got tired of explaining the same testosterone questions at every appointment and decided to write the answers down properly, once. He reviews content on hormone therapy, supplement pharmacology and drug interactions, making sure articles never turn into encouragement to self-supplement in situations that genuinely need diagnostics and medical supervision. His professional motto — "evidence first, enthusiasm second" — has come up more than once with a patient who arrived with a supplement plan they found online.
268 publications on this site
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Comments (2)
- KW
Kasia W. 2 weeks ago
Very clearly explained, especially the interactions section — I hadn't seen it laid out this well anywhere else.
- MT
Marek T. a month ago
Are you planning to update this with the newest study from this year? I saw an interesting meta-analysis.