Emma Wilson
Tiger milk mushroom (TMM; Lignosus rhinocerus) is a medicinal mushroom that has been used for centuries by indigenous communities in Southeast Asia to treat various ailments, including respiratory disorders. It was first mentioned in The Diary of John Evelyn about 400 years ago and has been successfully cultivated since 2009, making it commercially available and sparking further research into its therapeutic uses. The mushroom is believed to have various health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, respiratory function enhancement, anticancer, and immune-boosting properties. It is also suitable for consumption as food and is known to have a milk-like taste.
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What You'll Learn
Tiger milk mushroom's medicinal properties
Tiger milk mushrooms (TMM; Lignosus rhinocerus) have been used for centuries by indigenous communities in Southeast Asia as traditional medicine for various ailments, including respiratory disorders. The mushrooms were first mentioned in "The Diary of John Evelyn" around 400 years ago and were successfully cultivated in 2009, making them commercially available and sparking further research into their therapeutic uses.
Respiratory Health
Tiger milk mushrooms have been shown to support upper respiratory and pulmonary function. They can help relieve chronic cough, wheezing, sinusitis, and other respiratory symptoms. Scientific studies have demonstrated that TMM can effectively reduce tissue damage within the respiratory system, enabling it to restore its function.
Antioxidant Properties
TMM exhibits strong antioxidant properties, which can help protect against oxidative stress-related diseases. The mushroom's sclerotium extracts have been found to be rich in phenolic compounds, which effectively neutralize free radicals.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
The sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerus, or tiger milk mushroom, has been studied for its anti-inflammatory effects. Research has shown that TMM extracts can inhibit ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in a rodent model of asthma.
Immunomodulatory Activities
Tiger milk mushrooms have been found to possess immunomodulatory properties, supporting the immune system. They can help regulate and enhance immunomodulatory activities, contributing to overall health and well-being.
Other Potential Benefits
In addition to the medicinal properties mentioned above, initial research suggests that tiger milk mushrooms may offer a range of other health benefits, including anticancer, anti-HIV, neuroprotective, photoprotective, antidiabetic, wound-healing, and anti-aging properties. However, further clinical studies are needed to validate these potential benefits fully.
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Its use in traditional medicine
Tiger milk mushrooms (Lignosus rhinocerus) have been used for centuries by indigenous communities in Southeast Asia as traditional medicine for various ailments. It was first mentioned in "The Diary of John Evelyn" about 400 years ago and received by the Order at Paris from Jesuits of Japan and China.
The mushroom is believed to have medicinal properties and has been used to treat respiratory disorders, including chronic cough, wheezing, sinusitis, and other respiratory symptoms. Scientific studies have shown that it can effectively reduce tissue damage within the respiratory system, enabling it to restore its function. It has also been found to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties.
Additionally, tiger milk mushrooms are believed to have anticancer, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties. They contain bioactive components, including secondary metabolites and polysaccharides, which are responsible for their potential health benefits.
In traditional medicine, the sclerotium, or the mushroom's cap, is used. It is typically boiled with Tongkat ali to create a general tonic. The sclerotium is known to have beneficial biopharmacological properties and functional food potential.
While tiger milk mushrooms have been used effectively in traditional medicine, further research and clinical studies are needed to validate their full range of potential health benefits.
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Scientific studies on its health benefits
Tiger Milk Mushrooms (TMM), or Lignosus rhinocerus, are native to Southeast Asia and have been used by indigenous communities in the region as traditional medicine for various ailments, including respiratory disorders.
TMM has been the subject of numerous scientific studies that have investigated its potential health benefits. One study found that TMM supplementation significantly suppressed the levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 8 (IL-8), malondialdehyde (MDA), and respiratory symptoms in 50 participants who took 300 mg of TMM twice daily for three months.
Another study investigated the effects of TMM extracts on ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in rats. The study observed a significant reduction in total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in the serum, which are characteristic of allergic asthma and contribute to airway inflammation and hypersensitivity reactions. By reducing IgE levels, TMM can help alleviate allergic responses and improve asthma symptoms.
TMM has also been studied for its potential anticancer properties. In a 2005 study, specific compounds extracted from TMM demonstrated promising anti-tumor effects when tested on mice with implanted tumors. Additionally, these compounds exhibited the ability to induce cell death in different types of leukemia cells in controlled laboratory settings.
The sclerotium extracts of TMM have been shown to possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, and immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, recent in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis revealed that most compounds from TMM extracts were orally active, with high absorption rates demonstrated by at least ten of the compounds.
While TMM has shown promising results in in vivo and in vitro models, further clinical studies are needed to validate its effects fully.
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Nutritional composition
Tiger milk mushroom (TMM); Lignosus rhinocerus is an important medicinal mushroom that has been used for centuries by indigenous communities in Southeast Asia to treat various ailments, including respiratory disorders. It has been successfully cultivated since 2009, making it commercially available and prompting further research into its therapeutic uses.
The nutritional composition of TMM has been widely analysed and reported in numerous studies. The mushroom is rich in carbohydrates, with a moderate amount of protein and low fat content. The sclerotium, or the root-like structure from which the mushroom's fruiting body grows, is particularly nutritious and contains various phytochemicals, including polysaccharides, polysaccharide-protein complexes, and β-glucan. These polysaccharides are believed to be responsible for the mushroom's immune-potentiating properties.
TMM also contains bioactive components, specifically secondary metabolites, which are believed to contribute to its hepatoprotective, anticancer, antiviral, and hypocholesterolemic properties. Additionally, TMM is a source of naturally occurring antioxidant compounds, including phenolic compounds, which can effectively neutralise free radicals and offer protection against oxidative stress-related diseases.
The antioxidant properties of TMM have been a particular focus of research. Studies have shown that TMM supplementation can suppress the levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), which are inflammatory markers, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. These findings support the traditional use of TMM in treating respiratory disorders and enhancing respiratory function.
Overall, the nutritional composition of TMM contributes to its diverse health benefits, including its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, respiratory function enhancement, anticancer, anti-aging, neuroprotective, photoprotective, antidiabetic, wound-healing, and anti-HIV properties. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential health benefits of this promising medicinal mushroom.
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Tiger milk mushroom's history
Tiger milk mushrooms (TMM; Lignosus rhinocerus) have been used for centuries by indigenous communities in Southeast Asia as traditional medicine for various ailments, including respiratory disorders. The first mention of tiger milk mushrooms was in "The Diary of John Evelyn" about 400 years ago, where it was described as an important medical product. The mushroom is also known by its local names, "cendawan susu rimau" or "kulat susu rimau," which directly translate to "tiger milk mushroom."
In Southeast Asia, three species of Lignosus (collectively known as tiger milk mushrooms) have been reported to possess medicinal properties: L. tigris, L. rhinocerotis, and L. cameronensis. All three species have been used extensively by the natives of Peninsular Malaysia. The sclerotia, or the fruit bodies, of these mushrooms are rich in carbohydrates and contain moderate amounts of protein and low fat content. They also contain phenolic compounds, which are effective in neutralizing free radicals and protecting against oxidative stress-related diseases.
The beneficial effects of tiger milk mushrooms have been proven through in vivo and in vitro models, and they have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties. Traditional uses of tiger milk mushrooms include boiling them with Tongkat ali to create a general tonic. Additionally, tiger milk mushrooms have been found to be effective in relieving respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, wheezing, and sinusitis.
The successful cultivation of tiger milk mushrooms in 2009 spurred further research into their therapeutic uses. Recent studies have investigated the nutritional composition and health benefits of tiger milk mushrooms, including their potential anticancer, anti-aging, neuroprotective, photoprotective, antidiabetic, wound-healing, and anti-HIV properties. However, despite the promising findings, more clinical studies are needed to validate the effectiveness of tiger milk mushrooms in human subjects.
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Frequently asked questions
Tiger milk mushroom, also known as Lignosus rhinocerus, is a type of mushroom that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for treating various ailments, including respiratory disorders.
Tiger milk mushrooms have diverse health benefits. They are a source of antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties, and can support respiratory and pulmonary function. They also have anti-asthmatic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, and immune-boosting properties.
Tiger milk mushrooms can be purchased from various distributors, including online retailers like Amazon and specialist organic food stores like Sempera Organics.
