Introduction
Usually, in Asia, medicinal mushrooms have been used to treat infections for hundreds of years. But nowadays, these mushrooms are used to treat lung diseases and cancer. In Japan and China, for more than 30 years onwards, these mushrooms have been approved as an addition to standard cancer treatment. For a long period onwards, these countries have been using mushrooms safely, either alone or in combination with radiation or chemotherapy.
Studies are conducted on mushrooms to find out how they affect the immune system by stopping or slowing down the growth of tumors or killing tumor cells.in turkey tail mushrooms, a chemical compound called polysaccharides is known to strengthen the immune system to fight cancer. Cancer can be cured because there are more than a hundred types of mushrooms seen in Asian countries. Few examples of medicinal mushrooms like Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi), Lentinus Edodes (shiitake), Trametes Versicolor or Coriolus Versicolor (turkey tail), Grifola Frondosa (Maitake).
What Are the Uses of Medicinal Mushrooms?
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Intake of mushrooms contributes many benefits, which have been studied and investigated through the scientific method.
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They have been recognized to produce metabolites that inhibit or can destroy cancer cells.
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A novel compound produced by most species helps in the immunomodulation process.
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This process helps modify it by suppressing or enhancing the immune system used to treat cancerous growth.
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Below are a few examples of mushroom species having novel immunomodulatory compounds.
Which Are the Different Mushroom Species and Their Immunomodulating Compounds?
The different mushroom species and their immunomodulating compounds are the following:
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Schizophyllum commune - Schizophyllan.
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Lentinula edodes - Lentinan.
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Grifola frondosa - D-fraction.
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Coriolus Versicolor - PSP (poly-saccharide-peptide) and PSK (also called Krestin).
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Ganoderma lucidum - Poly-saccharide (GLPS) fractions.
In animals, more than 30 species of mushrooms show anticancer action. But only a few species containing these compounds have been studied.
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In many parts of the world, mushrooms are considered nutritious and tasty.
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Nowadays, everyone is ingesting more mushrooms because this nutritious property benefits people's health.
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More evidence proves that some mushroom extracts have potentially valuable medicinal properties.
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But until today, none of these compounds have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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So these compounds are grouped under the category of dietary supplements. Which still need comprehensive testing and are not under FDA-approved medicines.
What Are the Example Species Examined for Medicinal Properties?
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Below are some of the example species which describe folk medicine. But this does not have any medicinal efficacy. According to Hobbs (1995), the species is described, and its usage is mostly summarized.
Boletus Edulis:
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It is also known as cepe in Italy and is commonly referred to as king bolete.
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It associates with coniferous and hardwood trees, so it is called a mycorrhizal fungus.
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The only species in this genus that have antitumor properties and are also used for eating purposes.
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Traditional folk medicine usually treats leg pain, limb numbness, and tendon discomfort.
Cordyceps Sinensis:
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It is the most extensively studied species and is commonly called caterpillar fungus. Because caterpillars act as a host in this parasitic species.
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C.Sinensis is also included in food recipes, while most are used medicinally.
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This species is more potent because it has similar properties to ginseng.
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Strengthening the body after exhaustion or long-term illness, backache, impotence, and an antidote for opium poisoning are the few uses of this species.
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The use of cordyceps can treat respiratory and pulmonary diseases. And also, in cancer, chemotherapy treatment and surgery is used as an associative method to treat immune disorders.
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This species is a rejuvenator to increase people's energy and remove their weakness and tiredness.
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The species can be termed a miracle mushroom even if half of its uses are true.
Fomitopsis Officcinalis:
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There are numerous common names for this bracket fungus, like agaric, purging agaric, white agaric, and larch agaric.
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It is used as tinder, called by common names like tinder and touchwood, apart from its medicinal properties.
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Greeks and Romans used this mushroom to be the oldest traditional medicinal mushroom.
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During that period, it was utilized as an antidote for poisoning. And in a later period, it is used as a laxative to prevent flatulence and remove parasites and worms in the intestine.
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In India, it is a successful treatment for malaria. And until the 20th century, this species was used as a tonic for bronchial asthma and night sweats for tuberculosis.
Auricularia Auricula A.polytricha:
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It is commonly referred to as a Jew’s ear to the former species.
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It is said that the ear-like shape mushroom is a returned spirit of Judas and serves as a reminder of his betrayal.
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Subtropical to tropical distribution is seen in A.polytricha, whereas another one has a temperate distribution.
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There are a variety of common names for this later species, but all the names have the word ear because it is an ear-shaped mushroom.
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In Hawaii, it is called a pepeiao. It is a Hawaiian name called the ear.
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Traditionally it has been used to treat hemorrhoids and as a stomach tonic in folk medicine for thousands of years in China.
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Evidence shows that people's immune system is enhanced with the help of A.auricula.
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In Europe, it treats throat inflammation and eye irritation with the liquid form of A.auricula.
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In some studies, it helps to lower bad cholesterol, and as an anticoagulant, anti-diabetic actions are seen in this species.
Ganoderma Lucidum:
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It is commonly called Ling-Zhi in China, and in Japan, it is known as Reishi. Unlike other species, it is the bracket fungi with long slender stalks attached to the side of the cap of the fruiting body.
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From G.lucidum, many anticancer constituents are isolated, which helps in the antitumor and immunostimulating activity.
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Lab studies show that it has an anti-allergic activity and prevents bronchitis. Certain bacteria act as anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory actions.
Tremella Fusiformis:
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It is commonly called a snow fungus, another jelly fungi species.
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This species is an immune tonic that stops asthma and coughing, reduces phlegm, reduces fever and constipation, heals ulcers, supports the liver and exhaustion, and corrects abnormal menstrual cycles.
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On hardwood trees, it is distributed in tropical and temperate areas throughout the world.
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This species helps to boost the immune system by stimulating the white blood cell activity during the chemotherapy of cancer patients.
Lentinula Edodes:
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It is a shiitake mushroom utilized for thousands of years in China and Japan for its medicinal properties and food value.
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It has antitumor properties because this species is rich in polysaccharide lentinan. And also helps to fight against bacteria.
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This species is used in treating cancerous liver tumors in rats, protects the liver by producing antibodies to hepatitis B, and lowers the blood levels of cholesterol, lipids, and blood pressure.
Coriolus Versicolor:
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It is commonly referred to as a turkey tail and is another species of bracket fungus. And the world wide it is distributed in the temperate regions of the world.
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Many medicinally useful compounds isolated from the fruiting body include immunoactive polysaccharides k (PSK) and a recent antitumor polysaccharide named Coriolus.
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This species effectively treats many forms of cancer when combined with radiation treatment. It enhances the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation.
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This folk medicine is used to treat ringworm in Mexico. And traditional Chinese medicine is used to treat pulmonary disorders, reduce phlegm, increase energy, and benefit people with chronic diseases.
Conclusion
Antioxidants and antitumor activities are abundant in some medicinal mushrooms located mainly in south India: Phellinus rimosus, Pleurotus Florida, Ganoderma lucidum, and Pleurotus pulmonarius. So they are valuable sources of antioxidants and antitumor compounds. Other investigation also shows that they have antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activities. However, intensive and extensive investigations are needed to explore more valuable medicinal use.
