Bodoland University develops super mushroom for boosting immunity during pandemic

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: Bodoland University (BU) of Kokrajhar has developed a specialized fungal powder from a 'super mushroom' known as Cordycep militaris to help boost people's immunity during the pandemic.

"It was prepared by freezing C. militaris, powdered at –80°C. Natural Cordyceps is hard to get and if dried, costs at least Rs 8 lakh per kg. Our lab has been growing C. militaris since 2017 at a fraction of the cost," said Sandeep Das, Dean of BU's faculty of Science and Technology. The mushroom is well known for its immune-modulating effect, anti-aging, antiviral as well as energy booster effect.

Das also heads the Technology Incubation Centre on Mushrooms that is funded by the Central Government's Department of Biotechnology, in the varsity. Bodoland University has decided to provide Cordycep capsules for free to civilians to boost immunity to thwart COVID-19 and its capsulation process is underway.

Sources said the Department of Biotechnology of the varsity had already ordered capsules in two sizes from a firm based in Nashik, Maharashtra. Each capsule containing the powdered super mushroom would cost Rs 120 if produced commercially but the varsity is mulling to distribute it for free among people.