Medicinal Mushrooms as Multicomponent Mixtures—Demonstrated with the Example of Lentinula edodes
https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/2/153
Key Benefits of Shiitake Mushrooms:
- Immune Support: Compounds like lentinan boost the immune system and may help fight infections and cancer.
- Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Effects: Help reduce inflammation and fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
- Cardiovascular Health: Compounds like eritadenine lower cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
- Bone Health: Improve bone density and strength.
- Metabolic Health: Can lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
- Cosmetic Uses: Help reduce skin aging and inflammation.
Shiitake mushrooms and their extracts offer a wide range of health benefits, making them useful for both preventive health and supportive therapy. While single compounds like lentinan are effective in specific medical contexts, the combination of compounds in whole mushrooms provides more comprehensive health support.
Lentinula Edodes Mycelia extract regulates function of antigen-presenting cells to activate immune cells and prevent tumor-induced deterioration of immune function
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37553633/
Simplified Summary:
Cancer cells can weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight them off. This study shows that Lentinula Edodes Mycelia (L.E.M.) extract from shiitake mushrooms may help strengthen the immune system's response against tumors.
Key Findings:
- Boosts Immune Activation:
- L.E.M. extract helps activate immune cells called dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages.
- It increases important molecules (like MHC-I, MHC-II, CD86, CD80, and CD40) that are essential for immune activation.
- Enhances T-Cell Response:
- The extract helps T-cells (especially CD8+ T cells) become more effective at fighting cancer.
- It boosts IFN-γ production, which is crucial for attacking cancer cells.
- Reprograms Macrophages:
- L.E.M. encourages macrophages to become M1-like macrophages, which are more effective at fighting tumors.
- It reduces the production of harmful substances (IL-10 and TGF-β) that can weaken the immune response.
- Protects Immune Cells from Cancer’s Effects:
- In mouse models with melanoma, L.E.M. extract helped maintain the function and activation of immune cells despite the presence of cancer.
Lentinan, β-glucan from Shiitake (Lentinula edodes): A review on structure, conformational transition, and gastro-intestinal interaction contributing towards its anti-diabetic potential
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224423003394
Lentinan (LNT) is a beta-glucan found in shiitake mushrooms that is known for its immune-boosting properties. Researchers are also investigating its potential to lower blood sugar levels (hypoglycemic effects), which could make it useful for managing type II diabetes (T2DM). However, the exact way it works in the body is still not fully understood.
Key Points:
- Antidiabetic Potential:
- LNT may help reduce high blood sugar levels by influencing how the body digests and absorbs carbohydrates.
- It might also reduce oxidative stress, improve insulin sensitivity, and lower the formation of harmful compounds linked to diabetes.
- Mechanisms Being Studied:
- How it interacts with the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
- Its effects on liver stress, fat metabolism, insulin resistance, and satiety (feeling of fullness).
- Challenges and Future Directions:
- More clinical trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness and understand how it works.
- Standardizing how its benefits are measured will help promote its use as a superfood for diabetes management.
Conclusion:
Lentinan from shiitake mushrooms shows promise as a natural aid in blood sugar regulation and diabetes management, but more research is needed to fully validate its benefits.
Direct cytotoxicity of Lentinula edodes mycelia extract on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22791146/
Simplified Summary:
LEM (Lentinula edodes mycelia) is a powder made from shiitake mushrooms. Previous research showed that it helps boost the immune system. In this study, researchers looked at whether a specific part of LEM (called LEP) could kill liver cancer cells (HepG2).
Key Findings:
- Kills Cancer Cells: LEP effectively killed liver cancer cells but had minimal impact on healthy liver and skin cells.
- Causes Apoptosis: The cancer cells showed signs of programmed cell death (apoptosis), like shrinking and changes in cell shape.
- How It Works: The death was caused mainly through a specific pathway involving proteins called caspase-3 and caspase-8.
Conclusion: LEP from shiitake mushrooms may have potential as a cancer treatment because it can specifically target and kill liver cancer cells without harming normal cells.
Cultured Lentinula Edodes Mycelia Extract
Simplified Summary:
This is a capsule made from a special extract of shiitake mushroom mycelia (called ECLM), which is rich in natural sugars called beta- and alpha-glucans. These compounds may help boost the immune system, fight cancer, and protect cells from damage.
How It Works:
- When taken orally, the extract activates the immune system by binding to specific receptors (called TLR-4) on immune cells.
- This triggers the activation of important immune cells called dendritic cells (DCs), which help coordinate the body’s defense response.
Potential Benefits:
- Immune support
- Antioxidant effects
- Potential to help fight cancer (antineoplastic activity)
Lentinula edodes-derived polysaccharide rejuvenates mice in terms of immune responses and gut microbiota
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2015/fo/c5fo00689a/unauth
Simplified Summary:
As we age, our immune system weakens, and our gut bacteria become unbalanced. Prebiotics (substances that support beneficial gut bacteria) can help reverse these changes. Mushrooms, like shiitake (Lentinula edodes), contain natural compounds called polysaccharides that may act as prebiotics.
What the Study Did:
- Tested a specific polysaccharide from shiitake mushrooms (called L2) on older mice.
- Measured immune responses and analyzed gut bacteria in three groups:
- Young mice (N)
- Old mice (O)
- Old mice treated with L2 (Oa)
Key Findings:
- Improved Immunity: The L2 treatment increased important immune molecules (cytokines) in the blood of older mice.
- Better Gut Health: The gut bacteria of treated mice became more similar to that of younger mice.
- Reduced Aging Effects: The distance measurement (how different the gut bacteria were between groups) improved significantly after L2 treatment.
Conclusion:
L2 from shiitake mushrooms helps boost immunity and improve gut health in older mice, making it a potential natural way to support health as we age.
Clinical Trials Using Cultured Lentinula edodes Mycelia Extract