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Medicinal Value of Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing. (Agaricomycetideae). A Literature Review
Abstract
Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing., known historically in Japan as shiitake and in China as xiang gu, or "fragrant mushroom," is the second most commonly cultivated edible mushroom worldwide. Shiitake is an important ingredient in Chinese and Japanese cuisine, and is increasingly finding its way onto the tables of North Americans, Europeans, and other cultures. The health benefits of shiitake are not so widely known, but the number and quality of scientific studies are rapidly increasing, demonstrating its immune-modulating, antitumor, antiviral, and cholesterol-regulating effects. In North America, one out of three people will have cancer sometime in his or her life. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in technologically developed countries worldwide, and the proven protective effect and use in Japan of shiitake in combination with chemo- and radiation therapy may well increase its production and popularity over the next few years. While some excellent research has come out of Japan in the last 15 years, sparking international interest in the medicinal effects of shiitake, few controlled studies with humans exist. More randomized, double-blind, controlled studies need to be funded and carried out to clarify the benefits, dose, and therapeutic regimens for the use of shiitake in cancer and other diseases. Based on the existing literature, cooked shiitake fruiting bodies, powdered fruiting bodies and mycelium, and purified extracts seem to be extremely safe.
... Schottky]. It is well known as a dense, nutrient-rich food, and as a medicine for thousands of years (3,87). The mushroom has been proven to exert anticarcinogenic, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular and immunomodulating effects. ...
... It is also an excellent source of vitamins, including D2 and B 1, 2, 5 and 12. In addition, Shiitake contains a plethora of minerals, namely zinc, copper, phosphorus, manganese, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium and cadmium (87). ...
... L. edodes, a form of precious medicinal and edible mushroom that is rich in bioactive constituents, particularly polysaccharides, is one of the most studied mushrooms Polysaccharides from L. edodes have many activities, such as anti-tumor and anti-oxidation activity, and improve human immunity [26]. However, the low content and high price limit its application. ...
... L. edodes, a form of precious medicinal and edible mushroom that is rich in bioactive constituents, particularly polysaccharides, is one of the most studied mushrooms. Polysaccharides from L. edodes have many activities, such as anti-tumor and anti-oxidation activity, and improve human immunity [26]. However, the low content and high price limit its application. ...
The polysaccharides found in Lentinula edodes have a variety of medicinal properties, such as anti-tumor and anti-viral effects, but their content in L. edodes sporophores is very low. In this study, Fe2+ was added to the liquid fermentation medium of L. edodes to analyze its effects on mycelial growth, polysaccharide and enzyme production, gene expression, and the activities of enzymes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis, and in vitro antioxidation of polysaccharides. The results showed that when 200 mg/L of Fe2+ was added, with 7 days of shaking at 150 rpm and 3 days of static culture, the biomass reached its highest value (0.28 mg/50 mL) 50 days after the addition of Fe2+. Besides, Fe2+ addition also enhanced intracellular polysaccharide (IPS) and exopolysaccharide (EPS) productions, the levels of which were 2.98- and 1.79-fold higher than the control. The activities of the enzymes involved in polysaccharides biosynthesis, including phosphoglucomutase (PGM), phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI), and UDPG-pyrophosphorylase (UGP) were also increased under Fe2+ addition. Maximum PGI activity reached 1525.20 U/mg 30 days after Fe2+ addition, whereas PGM and UGP activities reached 3607.05 U/mg and 3823.27 U/mg 60 days after Fe2+ addition, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a strong correlation (p < 0.01) between IPS production and PGM and UGP activities. The corresponding coding genes of the three enzymes were also upregulated. When evaluating the in vitro antioxidant activities of polysaccharides, EPS from all Fe2+-treated cultures exhibited significantly better capacity (p < 0.05) for scavenging -OH radicals. The results of the two-way ANOVA indicated that the abilities of polysaccharides to scavenge O2− radicals were significantly (p < 0.01) affected by Fe2+ concentration and incubation time. These results indicated that the addition of iron provided a good way to achieve desirable biomass, polysaccharide production, and the in vitro antioxidation of polysaccharides from L. edodes.
... The most common type of mushrooms is umbrella shaped with a pileus (cap), a stipe (stem) and pores or pileus (lamellae) which bear the microspores. The increased interest in exploiting the properties of mushrooms for medicinal purposes reveals the importance of natural sources of biologically active substances (Hobbs, 2000). ...
The research was carried out to determine and compare the antimicrobial activity of different concentrations of acetonic and ethanolic extracts of a macrofungus Boletus variipes on three bacterial isolates: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, and two fungi: Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus in vitro. The acetonic extract showed relatively strong antimicrobial activity, inhibiting both bacterial and fungal growth in the range of 12.5mg/ml-100mg/ml. Maximum antimicrobial activity of the acetonic extract was found in E. coli with a minimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5mg/ml. The measured MICs for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans were 25mg/ml, 25mg/ml and 50mg/ml respectively while Aspergillus fumigatus was not inhibited. The ethanolic extract did not show any antimicrobial activity and this inactivity may be due to the insolubility of the active compounds of the sample in ethanol or the presence of inhibitors to the antimicrobial components. The inactivity of the ethanolic extract may also be attributed to the very low volatility of ethanol which tends to extract less of the active ingredients or compounds from the macrofungus Boletus variipes sample, unlike the high volatility acetone.
... The most common type of mushrooms is umbrella shaped with a pileus (cap), a stipe (stem) and pores or pileus (lamellae) which bear the microspores. The increased interest in exploiting the properties of mushrooms for medicinal purposes reveals the importance of natural sources of biologically active substances (Hobbs, 2000). ...
... This is because A. aegerita has a lectin that is resistant to being broken down by digestive enzymes in the human intestinal tract. (Chihara, 1992), (Wang et al., 1996); (Arola et al., 1999); (Hobbs, 2000); (Ooi & Liu, 2000 Polyacetylene compounds with antibacterial characteristics are primarily found in the genera Aleurodiscus, Clitocybe, Marasminus, Polyporus, Tricholoma, etc. Agaricus bisporus was reported to have antibacterial properties and quinoid and phenolic derivatives in antibacterial activity in the genera that parasitize trees, such as Fomes, Ployporus and Trametes. (Kakraliya, 2020) Anti-fungal Effect Sparossol produced by Sparassis ramosus, Lentinus edodes, cortenellin, Coprinus comatus, and Oudemansiella mucida are a few edible fungi that have anti-fungal properties. ...
The purpose of this paper is to review and evaluate published literature on mushroom cultivation and production and the range of benefits and therapeutic potential. A systematic method was used to gather the relevant literature. A total of twenty-six research papers published between the years 1970 to 2022 were selected and utilized in this review. Tables were used to present the results and relevant figures were used to place emphasis on contents discussed. In this paper five (5) benefits and nine (9) therapeutic potentials were evaluated and reported on. Some medicinal mushrooms and their uses and bioactive compounds were also discussed in this paper. Additionally, mushroom cultivation and production was addressed as well as challenges associated with mushroom farming and an assessment of their nutritional content compared to other food consumed by humans. The published papers established that mushrooms have been massed produced and harvested for a long time and their benefits are well documented in countries outside the neotropics. More studies to investigate the uses of mushrooms should be done, in Guyana and other neotropical countries as there is a paucity of information in this region with high natural biodiversity.
... The peripheral macrophage cytotoxicity against metastatic tumors is increased by lentinan. It can activate the normal and alternative pathways of the complement system [150]. Lentinan can stimulate dendritic cells, which is essential for immunomodulation and antitumor effect. ...
The human uses of mushrooms and cultured mycelium products for nutrition and medicine are detailed and supported by available human studies, which in many cases are clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals. The major medically active immunomodulating compounds in the cell walls-chitin, beta-glucans, and glycoproteins, as well as lower weight molecules-nitrogen-containing compounds, phenolics, and terpenes-are discussed in relation to their current clinical uses. The nutritional content and foods derived from mushrooms, particularly related to their medical benefits, are discussed. High-quality major nutrients such as the high amounts of complete protein and prebiotic fibers found in edible and medicinal fungi and their products are presented. Mushrooms contain the highest amount of valuable medicinal fiber, while dried fruiting bodies of some fungi have up to 80% prebiotic fiber. These fibers are particularly complex and are not broken down in the upper gut, so they can diversify the microbiome and increase the most beneficial species, leading to better immune regulation and increasing normalizing levels of crucial neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Since the growth of medicinal mushroom products is expanding rapidly worldwide, attention is placed on reviewing important aspects of mushroom and mycelium cultivation and quality issues relating to adulteration, substitution, and purity and for maximizing medicinal potency. Common questions surrounding medicinal mushroom products in the marketplace, particularly the healing potential of fungal mycelium compared with fruiting bodies, extraction methods, and the use of fillers in products, are all explored, and many points are supported by the literature.
This volume of the book “Therapeutic Mushrooms for Diabetes Mellitus: Current Evidences and Future Scope” focuses on the prevalence, causes, management of diabetes mellitus type II. It gives an insight in to the role of mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum, Innotus obliquus, Grifola frondosa, Phellinus species, etc. against diabetes mellitus. It highlights the use of mushrom powder, extracts and their bioactive components for the management of diabetic syndrome, various in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies performed to lower hyperglycemia and other diabetes associated secondary abnormalities as well as provides information regarding the mushrooms based antidiabetic market products.The initial part provides information about diabetes mellitus, its causes, treatments available, natural resources for the management of diabetes mellitus, history of use of mushrooms especially against diabetes. The middle part of the book comprises of chapters highlighting 1) the presence of bioctive contituents of antidiabetic mushrooms, 2) the mechanism of action of these antidiabetic mushroom components and 3) in vitro and gestational diabetes mellitus studies performed using antidiabetic mushrooms. The closing portion of the book lays emphasis on 1) in vivo studies and clinical trials done using antidiabetic mushrooms and the avaialble antidiabetic market products of mushrooms.
The current chapter documents some of the above components of six edible wild mushrooms occurring in the Western Ghats of India and which include ectomycorrhizal, wood-preferring, leaf litter-preferring and termite mound-preferring species. Composition of extracted polysaccharides and antioxidant properties were also evaluated in two Lentinus species.
Although the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) accounts for slightly over half of total world mushroom production, specialty mushrooms, e.g., shiitake (Lentinula edodes), straw (Volvariella volvacea), oyster (Pleurotus spp.), and enokitake (Flammulina velutipes), are increasing in popularity. These species contain moderate quantities of good quality protein and are good sources of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, B vitamins, and minerals. Lipid levels are low, but unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratios are high (about 2.0 - 4.5:1). Some species (e.g., shiitake) accumulate cadmium and selenium and other heavy metals, and some may contain toxic substances such as the heat labile cardiotoxic proteins volvatoxin in the straw mushroom and flammutoxin in enokitake. Extensive clinical studies, primarily in Japan, have clearly demonstrated that a number of species have medicinal and therapeutic value, by injection or oral administration, in the prevention/treatment of cancer, viral diseases (influenza, polio), hypercholesterolemia, blood platelet aggregation, and hypertension. Most of the studies have focused on shiitake, enokitake, Pleurotus spp., and on the generally nonculinary Ganoderma spp. Many of the active substances which include polysaccharides (e.g., β-glucans), nucleic acid derivatives (the hypocholesterolemic eritadenine), lipids, peptides, proteins, and glycoproteins, have been isolated and identified. Some of the mechanisms of activity have been elucidated, e.g., antiviral activity via stimulation of interferon production in the host. Additional medical claims less well documented may nonetheless have some validity and merit further study. Copyright © International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians.
The quantitative difference of free amino acids, which are responsible for the tastes, was investigated in fungi by sun or ultraviolet light irradiation, when vitamin D2 was produced from ergosterol.
The contents of the free amino acids in Shiitake, Hiratake and Enokitake were 2180, 6370 and 2730 mg% in dry matter, respectively. Glutamic acid (436-770 mg% in dry matter) attained to the highest amount among these fungi examined. When the fungi were exposed to sun or ultraviolet light for 3 hr, the amounts of the free amino acids in these fungi examined increased, but there were no significant differences in the amino acid pattern. Roughly speaking, by sun or ultraviolet light irradiation Umami and sweet tasty amino acids increased but bitter tasty amino acids decreased. During the storage of raw fungi both amount of the free amino acids and ammonia increased, the other hand, during the storage after ultraviolet light irradiation for 3 hr the amount of the free amino acid increased but that in ammonia was unchanged.
In conclusion, it is not too much to say that fungi are excellent food because vitamin D2 was produced, the taste showed no decrease and also the freshness was kept in fungi by ultraviolet light irradiation.
The extract of L. edodes dose dependently (75-300 mg/kg) inhibited ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. Both local and systemic protective effects of the extract were observed which may be related to its inhibition of gastric motility and stimulation of formation of endogenous prostaglandins. Gastric mucus content was not affected by the extract.
