Laura Smith
Lentinan is a substance that comes from the shiitake mushroom, also known as Lentinula edodes. It is a type of sugar molecule called a β-1,3 beta-glucan with β-1,6 branching and a molecular weight of 500,000 Da. Lentinan is often used alongside traditional medicines to treat cancer and HIV infection, and it is thought to boost their effects. However, there is limited evidence to support these uses. Lentinan has also been reported to cause shiitake mushroom dermatitis in some people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom Type | Shiitake (Lentinus or Lentinula) edodes |
| Other Names | Xianggu (China), Lentinus elodes (Japan) |
| Polysaccharide Type | β-1,3 beta-glucan with β-1,6 branching |
| Molecular Weight | 500,000 Da |
| Specific Rotation | +14-22° (NaOH) |
| Side Effects | Shiitake dermatitis, anaphylaxis, granulocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, asthma, rhinitis, photosensitivity reactions |
| Medicinal Uses | Cancer treatment, HIV treatment, immune system stimulation, cholesterol-lowering, antiviral, antimicrobial |
| Cancer Types | Esophageal, lung, stomach, prostate, colorectal, liver, bladder |
| HIV Treatment | IV doses of 2 to 10 mg on a weekly schedule |
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What You'll Learn
- Lentinan is a substance isolated from the fruit body of shiitake mushrooms
- It is a type of sugar molecule with a high molecular weight
- Lentinan is used to enhance the effects of treatments for cancer and HIV
- It has been reported to cause shiitake mushroom dermatitis
- Lentinan is approved as an adjuvant therapeutic drug in China and Japan
Lentinan is a substance isolated from the fruit body of shiitake mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are the second most cultivated edible mushrooms in the world, comprising almost 25% of global mushroom production. They are known as "Xianggu" in China and "Shiitake" in Japan, where they are the most commonly consumed edible mushroom. In addition to lentinan, shiitake mushrooms contain starch, fibre, chitin, and high amounts of protein. They also contain vitamin D and calcium, which can be enhanced during cultivation by adding eggshells to the growing media and exposing them to ultraviolet light.
Lentinan has been used in traditional medicine in Asia for thousands of years to improve general health. It has attracted the attention of modern researchers due to its wide range of medicinal properties, ease of availability, and low cytotoxicity. Lentinan is known to possess immune-stimulating, anti-tumour, antiviral, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering effects. It has been studied as a potential treatment for various types of cancer, including lung, gastric, colorectal, prostate, and bladder cancers. In combination with chemotherapy, lentinan has been shown to extend survival in patients with stomach, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers.
Lentinan is typically administered intravenously due to its poor oral bioavailability and rapid metabolism. Side effects of lentinan infusions are generally mild and may include allergic reactions, asthma, rhinitis, and photosensitivity reactions. In rare cases, more severe reactions such as anaphylaxis, back pain, leg pain, and fever have been reported. Shiitake dermatitis, a rash caused by a toxic reaction to lentinan, has also been observed after the ingestion of raw or undercooked shiitake mushrooms.
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It is a type of sugar molecule with a high molecular weight
Lentinan is a type of sugar molecule with a high molecular weight. It is a β-1,3 beta-glucan with β-1,6 branching and an average molecular weight of about 500,000 Da. Lentinan is isolated from the fruit body of the shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes), which is indigenous to Japan and China. It is composed of a main chain of β-(1,3)-d-glucose residues with β-(1,6)-d-glucose side groups attached.
Shiitake mushrooms are the second most cultivated edible mushrooms in the world, comprising almost 25% of global mushroom production. They have been used to improve general health for thousands of years in Asia. In addition to their culinary uses, shiitake mushrooms are known for their medicinal properties, particularly the lentinan they contain.
Lentinan has a wide range of potential health benefits and medicinal applications. It has been reported to stimulate the production of white blood cells and enhance the immune system. In vitro and animal studies have shown that lentinan can inhibit tumour growth and stimulate apoptosis, or programmed cell death. It has also been shown to possess immune-regulatory effects, antiviral activity, antimicrobial properties, and cholesterol-lowering effects.
Due to its potential health benefits, lentinan is often used as a complementary treatment for various conditions. It has been studied as an adjunctive therapy for HIV and cancer, particularly in Japan. Clinical trials have shown that lentinan may improve the effectiveness of traditional chemotherapy drugs in treating cancers of the stomach, prostate, colorectal, liver, and oesophagus. Lentinan has also been reported to help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recover faster.
However, it is important to note that lentinan has been associated with some side effects, such as shiitake mushroom dermatitis, a rash caused by toxic reactions to lentinan. Other reported side effects include anaphylaxis, granulocytopenia, and elevated liver enzymes.
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Lentinan is used to enhance the effects of treatments for cancer and HIV
Lentinan is a polysaccharide isolated from the fruit body of the shiitake mushroom (*Lentinula edodes*), an edible mushroom traditionally used in Asian medicine for the treatment of various ailments, including infectious and oncologic diseases. It has a molecular weight of 500,000 Da and a specific rotation of +14-22° (NaOH). Lentinan is a β-1,3 beta-glucan with β-1,6 branching.
Lentinan is believed to be inactive in humans when taken orally and is typically administered intravenously. However, one study suggested that lentinan may be active when administered orally in mice. While lentinan has been the subject of a limited number of clinical studies in cancer patients in Japan, evidence of its efficacy is still lacking. Nonetheless, lentinan is known to enhance the effects of treatments for cancer and possibly HIV.
Cancer
Lentinan is a biological response modifier that does not directly kill cancer cells. Instead, it enhances the activity of certain immune cells, boosting the immune system, which may aid in slowing tumour growth. Several clinical trials have shown that lentinan, when combined with chemotherapy, extends survival in patients with stomach, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers. It also improves the quality of life in patients with esophageal carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer. In addition, lentinan enhances the effects of other cancer treatments, such as gemcitabine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, cisplatin, and monoclonal antibodies.
HIV
Lentinan has been studied as an immune modulator in HIV patients. One study found that lentinan, in combination with didanosine (ddI), showed potential in HIV patients with CD4 cell counts of 200-500/mm3. Another study suggested that lentinan may enhance the activity of zidovudine (AZT) in hematopoietic cell lines, although the clinical relevance of this finding has yet to be determined.
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It has been reported to cause shiitake mushroom dermatitis
Lentinan is a type of sugar molecule called a β-glucan with β-1,3 and β-1,6 branching. It is isolated from the fruit body of the shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes). Lentinan has been reported to cause shiitake mushroom dermatitis, a distinctive rash that can occur following the ingestion of raw or undercooked shiitake mushrooms. The characteristic pattern of the rash is whiplike, linear, and erythematous, resembling whiplash marks, and is also known as flagellate dermatitis. The median time of onset from ingestion of shiitake mushrooms is typically 24 hours, ranging from 12 hours to 5 days. The pathogenesis of shiitake-induced dermatitis is not entirely clear, but it is believed to be a toxic reaction to lentinan. This theory is supported by the fact that the rash does not result from cutaneous contact with the mushrooms and that it does not affect mucosal surfaces.
Shiitake dermatitis affects about 2% of people who consume the mushrooms raw or only lightly cooked, and it has been reported in people of all ages, with a higher prevalence in males. The condition is self-limiting, and most patients recover completely within 3 weeks, with or without treatment. The rash typically resolves spontaneously within a few weeks, but in some cases, it may persist for up to 14 days. Antihistamines and topical or oral corticosteroids can be used to speed up recovery. It is recommended that affected individuals protect their skin from sun exposure while the rash is resolving, as sunlight can worsen the rash.
Although shiitake dermatitis is typically not a life-threatening condition, it can present as an emergency due to its dramatic appearance. It is important to note that this reaction is rare and only occurs in susceptible individuals. Clinicians should be aware of shiitake dermatitis, especially with the increasing popularity of shiitake mushrooms and their use in supplements and beverages. To prevent shiitake dermatitis, it is advised to cook shiitake mushrooms thoroughly at temperatures above 145°C.
In addition to the potential risk of shiitake dermatitis, lentinan has been studied for its therapeutic properties, particularly in cancer treatment. Lentinan has been used to improve general health for thousands of years in Asia. It has immune-stimulating, anti-tumour, antiviral, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering effects. Several clinical trials have shown that lentinan combined with chemotherapy extends survival in patients with various types of cancer. However, additional studies are needed to fully understand the efficacy and side effects of lentinan.
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Lentinan is approved as an adjuvant therapeutic drug in China and Japan
Lentinan is a polysaccharide extracted from the fruit body of the shiitake mushroom (*Lentinula edodes*)*. It is a type of sugar molecule called 1,3-beta-glucan, which has been used in Asia for thousands of years to improve general health. Lentinan is thought to be inactive in humans when taken orally and is typically administered intravenously.
Lentinan has been approved as an adjuvant therapeutic drug in China and Japan since the 1980s. In China, lentinan injections have been used as an immunotherapeutic for treating lung cancer, with clinical studies dating back to at least 2004. Lentinan has also been used in China to treat other types of cancer, hepatitis, and other diseases. It is available in various forms, including capsules, tablets, and injections.
In Japan, lentinan was approved for use in 1985 as an adjuvant for stomach cancer therapy. It is also used as an adjuvant to chemotherapy for patients with cancer, with at least six different formulations commercially available. Lentinan has been the subject of clinical studies in Japan, particularly in cancer patients.
Lentinan has been reported to have several therapeutic properties, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering effects. It enhances the immune system, which may aid in slowing the growth of tumors. Additionally, lentinan has been shown to induce apoptosis in gastric cancer cells and enhance the effects of certain drugs in lung cancer cell lines.
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Frequently asked questions
Lentinan is a type of sugar molecule called a beta-glucan that comes from the shiitake mushroom.
Lentinan is isolated from the fruit body of the shiitake mushroom, also known as Lentinula edodes.
Lentinan has been used to improve general health for thousands of years in Asia. It has been reported to boost the effects of regular medicines used for treating cancer and HIV infection.
