John Miller
Shiitake mushrooms are a variety of edible mushrooms native to East Asia and cultivated worldwide for their purported health benefits. They are one of the most commonly studied mushrooms in cancer research and are easily available in grocery stores. In some parts of the world, mushroom extracts are used in cancer care, and shiitake mushrooms are believed to be one of them. However, it is unclear if they are effective in treating cancer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cancer treatment | Shiitake mushroom extracts are used in cancer treatment in some parts of the world. |
| Effectiveness | It is unclear if shiitake mushrooms are effective in treating cancer. |
| Safety | Shiitake mushroom extracts are generally considered safe, although there are some reports of diarrhea or bloating. |
| Anticancer effects | Shiitake mushrooms contain polysaccharides and lentinan, which have been shown to have anticancer effects in laboratory and animal studies. |
| Immunomodulatory effects | Shiitake mushrooms have immunomodulatory effects and can enhance gut immunity. |
| Adverse effects reduction | Shiitake mushroom extract decreased the incidence of chemotherapy-associated adverse effects in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. |
| Quality of life improvement | In combination with immunotherapy, shiitake mushrooms improved the quality of life in cancer patients. |
| Availability | Shiitake mushrooms are available in fresh, dried, and powdered forms and can be bought in grocery stores or health food stores. |
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What You'll Learn
- Shiitake mushrooms are easily available in grocery stores
- Lentinan, a shiitake extract, is a beta glucan that may stimulate the immune system
- Shiitake mushroom extracts are generally considered safe, with some reports of diarrhoea or bloating
- Latcripin-13 domain isolated from shiitake inhibits lung cancer cells
- Shiitake mycelial extract decreased chemotherapy-associated adverse effects in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer
Shiitake mushrooms are easily available in grocery stores
Shiitake mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 2,000 years. In Japan, PSK, a mushroom product, is approved for cancer treatment. In some parts of the world, mushroom extracts are used in cancer care. Shiitake extracts are generally considered safe, although some people have reported diarrhoea or bloating.
The polysaccharide lentinan, found in shiitake mushrooms, has been shown to have anticancer effects. It may suppress cytochrome P450 1A enzymes, which are known to metabolize procarcinogens into active forms. Lentinan may also stimulate the immune system by triggering certain cells and proteins in the body to attack cancer cells. In addition, the Latcripin-13 domain isolated from shiitake has been shown to inhibit lung cancer cells through apoptotic induction.
Shiitake mushrooms can be easily incorporated into your diet as they are available in grocery stores. However, it is important to note that while they are being studied for their potential anticancer properties, they should not be solely relied on as a cancer treatment. More well-designed studies are needed to establish shiitake as a useful adjunct to cancer treatment. Always consult a healthcare professional before using shiitake mushrooms for medicinal purposes.
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Lentinan, a shiitake extract, is a beta glucan that may stimulate the immune system
Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most commonly studied varieties of mushrooms in cancer research. They are also the only variety of mushroom used in cancer research that can be easily bought whole in grocery stores. In some parts of the world, mushroom extracts are used in cancer care. For example, in Japan, polysaccharide-K (PSK), a protein extract from the Trametes versicolor fungus, is used to boost the immune system of cancer patients.
Lentinan is a shiitake extract that is a beta glucan. Beta glucans are complex sugar compounds that may stimulate the immune system. They may do so by triggering certain cells and proteins in the body to attack cancer cells. However, it is unclear if lentinan or shiitake are effective in treating diseases such as cancer.
Lentinan is a polysaccharide that has demonstrated anticancer effects. These effects may be due to its ability to suppress cytochrome P450 1A enzymes that are known to metabolize procarcinogens to active forms. Polysaccharides SLNT1 and JLNT1, isolated from shiitake mushrooms, have also demonstrated antitumor effects by increasing serum IL-2 levels and TNF-α production, and by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells in mice.
In addition to lentinan, shiitake-derived Latcripin-4 was shown to inhibit the cell viability of HepG2 cells, while Latcripin 11 had anticancer activity on eight cancer cell lines without causing any toxicity to HUVEC (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells). These results support the use of Latcripins in cancer prevention and therapy, and the high potential of shiitake as medicinal food.
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Shiitake mushroom extracts are generally considered safe, with some reports of diarrhoea or bloating
Shiitake mushrooms are native to East Asia and are cultivated worldwide for their purported health benefits. They are one of the most frequently studied mushrooms in cancer research and are easily accessible in grocery stores.
While shiitake mushrooms have shown promising results in laboratory and animal studies, more well-designed human studies are needed to establish their effectiveness in cancer treatment. Some studies have shown that shiitake extracts can decrease the adverse effects of chemotherapy and improve the quality of life for cancer patients. Additionally, the polysaccharide lentinan, found in shiitake mushrooms, has demonstrated antiviral effects and the potential to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells.
The Latcripin-13 domain isolated from shiitake mushrooms has been shown to inhibit lung cancer cells through apoptotic induction. Furthermore, shiitake-derived Latcripin-4 inhibited the cell viability of HepG2 cells, while Latcripin 11 exhibited anticancer activity on eight cancer cell lines without causing toxicity to Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells. These findings support the potential of shiitake mushrooms in cancer prevention and therapy.
In summary, while shiitake mushroom extracts are generally safe, their effectiveness as a cancer treatment is still under investigation. More research is needed to establish shiitake mushrooms as a useful adjunct to cancer treatment.
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Latcripin-13 domain isolated from shiitake inhibits lung cancer cells
Shiitake mushrooms are native to East Asia and are cultivated worldwide for their purported health benefits. They are also the only medicinal mushrooms that can be easily bought whole in grocery stores. The rest are often found in powdered forms in health food stores.
Shiitake mushrooms have been used to treat various diseases due to their immunomodulatory and antineoplastic properties. One of the bioactive components of shiitake mushrooms is the Latcripin-13 domain, which has been shown to have antitumor effects.
The Latcripin-13 domain, isolated from the transcriptome of Lentinula edodes C91-3, contains a regulator of chromosome condensation (RCC1) domain/β-lactamase-inhibitor protein II (BLIP-II) and a plant homeodomain (PHD). In vitro studies have shown that the Latcripin-13 domain can induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase in human lung carcinoma A549 cells via the GSK3β-cyclin D1 and caspase-8/NF-κB signaling pathways.
The molecular pharmacology of the Latcripin-13 domain is largely unknown, and further studies are needed to understand its mechanism of action and potential therapeutic applications. However, the available research suggests that the Latcripin-13 domain isolated from shiitake mushrooms has the potential to inhibit lung cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.
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Shiitake mycelial extract decreased chemotherapy-associated adverse effects in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer
Shiitake mushrooms are native to East Asia and are cultivated worldwide for their purported health benefits. They are the only medicinal mushrooms that can be easily bought whole in grocery stores. They are also available in powdered form in health food stores.
Shiitake mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine and are valued for their potential anticancer properties. Lentinan, a polysaccharide obtained from shiitake, is thought to be responsible for the mushroom's beneficial effects. Lentinan is a beta glucan, a type of complex sugar compound that may stimulate the immune system. It may do this by triggering certain cells and proteins in the body to attack cancer cells.
Small studies have evaluated shiitake mushroom extract, with mixed results. Lentinan may help extend the survival of patients with some cancers when used with chemotherapy, but additional studies are needed. In laboratory tests, lentinan does not kill cancer cells directly, but it enhances the immune system, which may aid in slowing tumor growth. Lentinan also kills viruses and microbes directly in laboratory studies.
In a small nonrandomized study, eight patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer undergoing two courses of chemotherapy were given 1,800 mg of shiitake mycelial extract during the second course of chemotherapy daily for 4 weeks. The authors reported grade 1 nausea and abdominal pain as well as grade 2 nausea at the end of the first course but no such effects at the end of the second course. Shiitake mycelial extract decreased the incidence of chemotherapy-associated adverse effects.
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Frequently asked questions
Shiitake mushrooms have been shown to have some anticancer effects in laboratory studies. However, more large-scale studies are needed to establish their effectiveness in cancer treatment.
Shiitake mushrooms contain polysaccharides like lentinan, a type of complex sugar compound, which may stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells. They also contain Latcripins, which have been shown to reduce cancer cell survival, invasion, and migration.
Shiitake mushroom extracts are generally considered safe, although some people have reported mild side effects such as diarrhoea or bloating. It is important to avoid taking mushroom extracts if you have a mushroom allergy.
Shiitake mushrooms are widely available and can be easily found whole in grocery stores or in powdered form in health food stores.
