Mushrooms and their medicinal properties

Many edible mushrooms and not only play a major role in being able to increase energy levels, and keeping the immune system in good shape. Some of these mushrooms are called functional foods, because they are both, edible and healing. Some other ones are not edible but posses great healing properties and are great for general health.

Probably you’re familiar with Hippocrates’s famous quote ‘Let food be thy medicine and your medicine be thy food’ -this is valid for all functional foods including mushrooms.

Some of the medicinal mushrooms in various forms have been used to treat various diseases for centuries, today via scientific proof they are discussed in hundreds or thousands of peer reviewed publications.

Most studies were performed on mice and there’s some clinical evidence derived from human trials especially for the commonly known medicinal mushrooms like Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) or Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor). There’s still much to be done in this field but we’re on the right path to try, explore, and discover new mushroom medicine.

When used by themselves medicinal mushrooms are able to play a major role as key factors or catalysts in the treatment process of any disease known to man via direct or indirect action on the human body’s systems. But, when they are prescribed in the form of extracts together with a proper diet, herbs, exercise, water, fresh air, and some changes in lifestyle, and state of mind they can do miracles.

Life is energy and we may feel it: when we wake up in the morning we feel charged with energy; when we drink coffee we feel energized and then depleted; when we age that energy gradually decreases -there are simply lots of examples to admit that our life is governed by energy.  To keep life energy in a good shape or to increase that is a challenge for most of us. 

According to Hinduism and Buddhism there are 7 energy channels along the spine called chakras and any imbalance at the body/mind level may cause poor energy flow though these energetic channels. For example, when you eat bad food or let’s say when you drink diet coke -affects your g.i. tract, and its organs, so your body gets intoxicated -this requires part of your energy to be consumed for toxic waste removal and healing.

When some more such imbalances occur in your body you’ll feel energy depleted which is actually positively correlated to a decrease in your immune system. Mushrooms have the ability to increase your energy and boost your immune system and because everything is connected in your body this positively affects several organs and their systems. Below you may see some of the most important medicinal mushrooms and their therapeutic effects.

Note: antioxidant = A; antitumor = B; immunomodulating = C; antiinflamatory = D; antiviral = E; antibacterial = F; antidiabetic = G; cardiovascular disorders = H; blood preasure regulator = I; cholesterol reducer = J; hepatoprotective = K; kidney tonic = L; nerve tonic = M; sexual potentiator = N; respiratory system disorders = O; antifungal = P; antistress = Q.

As you may easily notice the king of medicinal mushrooms is Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) which together with Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) are among the top 10 medicinal mushrooms displayed in this list.

Today, they are grown or wildly collected and sold by themselves or as part of random formula blends, in capsules, powders, also in shampoos, soaps, tooth pastes, creams or beverages. Depending on the form administered, treatment period, extract concentration and so forth they are effective against various illnesses. Also they are used by active people to maintain good health and increase their energy level.

The ear mushroom (A. auricula and A. poytricha) is one of the functional foods very famous in Asian countries, especially China where it is grown, then dried and sold. One little cube of dried mushroom will be enough for about four people when served with rice, veggies and soy sauce.

When soaked in water or boiled this mushroom rehydrates itself and gains it’s previous consistency, shape and size. Enoki (Flammulina velutipes), Maitake (Grifola frondosa), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), Shimenji (Hypsizygus marmoreus), Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), and Shiitake are also functional foods and they all may be grown. These are very popular and you may find them at the local food market (except L. sulphureus which is somewhat tricky to grow).

The rest of the medicinal mushrooms present in the list above are conks belonging to the polypore family, they are hard as your shoes or tough and they represent valuable medicine. Mostly they are collected in the wild or even grown (especially those belonging to the Ganoderma family).

SOME OF THE MEDICINAL COMPOUNDS AND THEIR BENEFITS

Their use in the medical department is to be blamed on dietary fibers but mainly on chitin, a polysaccharide from the glucose family found in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and insects and beta glucans. The presence of specific bioactive compounds makes mushrooms therapeutically valuable for the immune system. They can prevent life threatening disease and work as cures for different illnesses. They are also known to exhibit antitumor, antiviral, antibacterial, hypotensive activities.

The carbohydrates in mushrooms are present in the form of monosaccharides, derivates, oligosaccharides, mannitol, trehalose. Trehalose is known for its potential to synthetize stress-responsive factors in human cells. Fungi rich in protein hold all the essential amino acids.

They also have unsaturated fatty acids especially linoleic and oleic acids. Linoleic acid is famous for its anti-carcinogenic benefits on almost all stages of tumorigenesis and it reduces tumor growth by altering the 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. It also contributes to mushroom flavor. The lipid fraction has antioxidant compounds like tocopherol. Regarding vitamins, they are rich in vitamin B complex and vitamin D. Under UV light, they produce D2 in great amounts.

MINERALS

If we were to talk about minerals, mushrooms have proven themselves to be carriers for potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Sodium is present in relatively small quantities making mushrooms suitable for hypertensive people’s diets. Mushrooms consumed fresh are known to lower the total cholesterol levels and support heart’s health. The presence of dietary fibers with non-dietary carbohydrates offers a wide range of health benefits.

Moreover, they are excellent functional and nutritional foods that contain selenium, ergothioneine, iron, etc. The bioavailability of any nutrient depends on the type of mushroom. They dry weight of ergothioneine varies between 0.2-2.0 mg/g. (king oyster, shiitake, oyster)

Their richness in dietary selenium contributes to their capability of reducing oxidative stress. Boletus edulis is said to have the highest concentration of selenium, 20 µg/g dry weight. Ergosterol under UV light exposure converts to vitamin D2. A study recorded the fact that UVB exposed mushrooms enhance mineralization and bone growth. Other nutrients like vitamin B12 present in fungi is quite similar to the one found in animal tissues making them perfect for a vegan’s diet.

Dried mushroom powder like shiitake and oyster added in the daily diet is responsible for boosting the blood hemoglobin concentration and iron levels.

ANTI TUMOR BENEFITS + OTHER BENEFITS

Mushroom nutraceuticals have been used since the ancient times for their medical benefits. Vitamin B is important for strengthening the nervous system, ß-glucans empower the immune system and other minerals have antioxidant capacity. The polysaccharide content has well known antitumor, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory benefits.

The antitumor activity is mediated through the thymus-dependent immune mechanism. A polysaccharide extracted from Agaricus bisporus exhibits a wonderful inhibiting action against human breast cancer. A novel heteropolysaccharide made form glucose units showed a great antitumor activity against HepG-2 cells.

PROTEINS

Proteins extracted from mushrooms are proved to have physiological activity in the gastrointestinal tract by enhancing nutrient absorption, inhibiting enzymes and modulating the immune system. Lecitins, ribonucleases and laccases have pharmaceutical attributes. Specific compounds also target free radical activity inhibiting the appearance of oxidative stress. Ganoderma lucidum, a mushroom used worldwide in therapy has more than 500 bioactive molecules like flavonoids, terpenoids, peptides and others. They are anti-diabetic, antioxidant, a free radical scavenger.

Article by Malina Puia & Dr T