Emily Johnson
Mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and are now being studied for their potential to fight cancer. While they are not a cure or preventative measure, certain mushrooms have been shown to stimulate compounds that suppress tumors and decrease inflammatory compounds, which is helpful for cancer patients. Mushrooms are also packed with vitamin D, which is essential for the immune system. In addition, mushrooms have been linked to improvements in several quality-of-life indicators for cancer patients, including improved appetite, physical and mental competency, and reduced fatigue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of Mushrooms | Reishi, Turkey Tail, Shiitake, Maitake, G. lucidum, Ganoderma, Grifola frondosa, Lentinula edodes, Phellinus, Pleurotus, Agaricus, Trametes, Cordyceps, etc. |
| Active Compounds | Polysaccharides, β-Glucan, Hispolon, Lentinan, Krestin, Lectin, Calcaelin, Schizophyllan, Ganoderic acid, etc. |
| Effects | Improve immune response, increase activity of immune cells, reduce side effects of chemotherapy, improve quality of life, inhibit growth of cancer cells, act as antioxidants, reduce inflammatory compounds, etc. |
| Research | Over 2,000 studies in the last 10 years, mostly in Asia. Early Phase 1 trials ongoing. |
| Availability | Fresh, dried, powdered, extracts, supplements, juices. |
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What You'll Learn
- Polysaccharides in mushrooms may help activate cancer-fighting immune cells
- Medicinal mushrooms are used alongside cancer treatments in Asia
- Turkey tail mushrooms are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat lung diseases
- Mushroom-derived compounds may be used as novel anticancer agents
- Mushrooms may help cancer patients tolerate more rounds of chemotherapy
Polysaccharides in mushrooms may help activate cancer-fighting immune cells
Mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat illnesses for centuries. They are also used in Japan and China to treat lung diseases and are sometimes given alongside cancer treatment. However, it is important to note that mushrooms cannot cure or prevent cancer.
Mushrooms contain polysaccharides, which are a useful class of macromolecules with distinct structures and biological properties. These polysaccharides have been found to stimulate immune cells like macrophages and natural killer cells, which are crucial for cancer patients as they help the body identify and eliminate cancer cells more effectively.
One example of a mushroom polysaccharide is Polysaccharide K (PSK), found in turkey tail mushrooms. PSK has been studied for its effects on the immune system, including immune cells called natural killer cells and T-cells. It has been used as adjuvant therapy in thousands of cancer patients since the mid-1970s and has been found to repair immune cell damage caused by chemotherapy.
Another well-known mushroom polysaccharide is beta-glucan, which is believed to be the major bioactive polysaccharide in mushrooms. Beta-glucans found in shiitake and reishi mushrooms stimulate white blood cells' activity, which is vital for identifying and destroying cancer cells. Additionally, beta-glucans have been found to be safe for elderly healthy adults and may increase the number of circulating beta cells.
Research has shown that the use of mushroom polysaccharides may help in cancer prevention and treatment. For example, a meta-analysis of 8009 patients revealed that adding PSK from Coriolus versicolor mushrooms to standard chemotherapy increased the survival rate of patients with gastric cancer compared to chemotherapy alone. Furthermore, the daily consumption of Lentinula edodes improved immunity in healthy young adults.
In conclusion, while mushrooms and their compounds do not cure or prevent cancer, the polysaccharides found in mushrooms may help activate cancer-fighting immune cells and improve the effectiveness of conventional cancer treatments. Further research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand the potential of mushroom polysaccharides in cancer care.
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Medicinal mushrooms are used alongside cancer treatments in Asia
Mushrooms are part of the fungus family, and there are hundreds of species. They have been used in traditional Chinese medicine and other traditional medicines for centuries to treat illnesses. They are also known as medicinal mushrooms. However, it is important to note that they cannot cure or prevent cancer.
In Asia, medicinal mushrooms are used alongside standard cancer treatments. In Japan and China, certain mushrooms are routinely used to complement cancer treatments. They have been used safely for a long time in these countries, either alone or in combination with radiation or chemotherapy. There are more than 100 types of mushrooms used to treat cancer in Asia. Some common ones are Ganoderma lucidum (reishi), Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor (turkey tail), Lentinus edodes (shiitake), and Grifola frondosa (maitake).
Research has shown that some of the chemical compounds in mushrooms may strengthen the immune system, which could potentially help fight cancer cells. For example, shiitake mushrooms contain a compound called lentinan, a type of complex sugar compound known as a beta glucan. Beta glucan may stimulate the immune system by triggering certain cells and proteins in the body to attack cancer cells. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to slow the growth of some cancer cells. In China, a literature review of 12 studies found that lentinan worked on the immune system and improved the quality of life in lung cancer patients when used alongside chemotherapy.
Another example is Polysaccharide K (PSK), the best-known active compound in turkey tail mushrooms. PSK has been studied in patients with gastric cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. It has been safely used as adjuvant therapy in thousands of cancer patients in Japan since the mid-1970s with minimal side effects. Studies have shown that PSK can help repair immune cell damage caused by chemotherapy and strengthen the immune system.
In addition to these specific compounds, the use of medicinal mushrooms has been found to have broader benefits for cancer patients. For instance, mushrooms may extend survival after a cancer diagnosis, possibly due to a positive immune response or other factors. In some cases, cancer patients who took mushrooms were able to tolerate more rounds of chemotherapy treatment, which may have indirectly improved their survival. Furthermore, mushrooms can help to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, bone marrow suppression, anemia, insomnia, and drug resistance.
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Turkey tail mushrooms are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat lung diseases
Turkey tail mushrooms, or Trametes versicolor, are a type of mushroom that grows on dead logs worldwide. Its rings of brown and tan resemble the tail feathers of a turkey, hence its name. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is known as Yun Zhi, and it has been used to treat lung diseases for many years.
Turkey tail mushrooms contain chemical compounds, such as polysaccharides (beta-glucans), that are thought to strengthen the immune system, which may help in fighting cancer. In traditional Chinese medicine, turkey tail mushrooms are used as a tonic to treat lung conditions. Modern research has confirmed that compounds in turkey tail mushrooms have an effect on the immune system, acting as nonspecific immune modulators. This means they can either stimulate or suppress immune function in a general way.
In Japan, turkey tail mushrooms have been used alongside standard cancer treatments to strengthen the immune system. Polysaccharide K (PSK) is the best-known active compound in turkey tail mushrooms, and it has been used as an adjuvant therapy in thousands of cancer patients since the 1970s. PSK has been studied in patients with various types of cancer, including gastric, breast, colorectal, and lung cancer. It has been safely used in Japan with few reported side effects.
A preparation made from turkey tail mushrooms, known as krestin, has been used as a supportive therapy in cancer treatment in Japan for decades, including for lung cancer. However, it is important to note that the FDA has not approved the use of turkey tail mushrooms or PSK as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition. While modern research has shown promising results, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that turkey tail mushrooms can prevent or cure cancer.
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Mushroom-derived compounds may be used as novel anticancer agents
Mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat various illnesses, including lung diseases. In recent times, they have also been used as an addition to standard cancer treatments in Asia.
Mushrooms are packed with vitamin D, which is essential for the immune system. They also contain biologically active polysaccharides in their fruit bodies or mycelia. The -glucans of mushrooms resemble bacterial cell walls and complex with complement on macrophages to activate an immune response, triggering the release of various cytokines that are active in tumor inhibition.
In Japan, Polysaccharide K (PSK) is an approved mushroom product used to treat cancer. PSK has been studied in patients with gastric cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. It has been used as adjuvant therapy in thousands of cancer patients since the mid-1970s and has been found to repair immune cell damage caused by chemotherapy.
In a study in Japan, 225 patients with benign colorectal tumors were given an extract of the mushroom G. lucidum mycelia (MAK). After 12 months, a follow-up colonoscopy showed that the number and size of the tumors had decreased in the group that received MAK.
Another study found that the polysaccharides in reishi mushrooms may help cancer-fighting immune cells, called lymphocytes, stay active.
The ongoing research projects are aimed to promote mushrooms as new-generation "biotherapeutics". The active compounds in mushrooms responsible for anti-cancer potential include lentinan, krestin, hispolon, lectin, calcaelin, illudin S, psilocybin, Hericium polysaccharide A and B (HPA and HPB), ganoderic acid, schizophyllan, and laccase, among others.
Mushroom-derived compounds have been shown to improve several quality-of-life indicators for cancer patients, including improved appetite, physical and mental competency, and reduced fatigue. They have also been found to complement chemotherapy and radiation therapy by countering the side effects of cancer, such as nausea, bone marrow suppression, anemia, and insomnia.
While the potential of mushroom-derived compounds in cancer treatment looks promising, more research is needed to fully understand their effectiveness and mechanisms of action.
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Mushrooms may help cancer patients tolerate more rounds of chemotherapy
Mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat illnesses for centuries. In recent times, they have been used as an addition to standard cancer treatments in Asia, particularly in Japan and China. However, it is important to note that mushrooms cannot cure or prevent cancer.
Mushrooms are packed with vitamin D, which is essential for the immune system. They are also rich in bioactive polysaccharides, which are known to stimulate the compounds responsible for tumour suppression. Certain mushrooms also decrease inflammatory compounds, which is beneficial for cancer patients.
Studies have shown that cancer patients who take mushrooms may be able to tolerate more rounds of chemotherapy treatment. This is likely due to the reduced side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, bone marrow suppression, anemia, and insomnia. Mushrooms have also been linked to improvements in several quality of life indicators for cancer patients, including improved appetite, physical and mental competency, and reduced fatigue.
One study found that patients with advanced adenocarcinoma who were treated with Antrodia cinnamomea alongside chemotherapy experienced less severe gastrointestinal symptoms than those in the placebo group. Another study showed that patients with liver cancer who were given the polysaccharide extract active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) from the Lentinula edodes mushroom had a 2.5 times increase in natural killer cell activity, and over half had a tumor response.
While the research on the benefits of mushrooms for cancer patients is promising, it is important to note that most studies have been conducted in Asia, and more research is needed to determine if the same effects will be seen in other populations.
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Frequently asked questions
Medicinal mushrooms, also known as mycomedicinals, are part of the fungus family and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat illnesses for centuries. They are often talked about as a treatment for cancer.
Mushrooms are known to complement chemotherapy and radiation therapy by countering the side effects of cancer, such as nausea, bone marrow suppression, anemia, insomnia, and lowered resistance. They contain biologically active polysaccharides in their fruit bodies, or mycelia, which help in immune modulation and tumour response.
Turkey tail, Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake are some examples of medicinal mushrooms.
Medicinal mushrooms are not approved by the FDA for use as a cancer treatment in the United States. However, they are routinely used to complement cancer treatments in Japan and China.
