Significant species of medicinal mushrooms from the European wild
Trametes species
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Trametes versicolor
In the folk medicine of Europe and Asia “Turkey tail” was used since the first records, far into the past. During the Ming Dynasty (14th-16th centuries) there is a record for more than 100 medicinal preparations with the Turkey tail. It is the most researched medicinal mushroom to date by the number of scientific studies. It has an extreme range of activities, and new ones are being intensively explored.*
It is one of the main base mushrooms, and in my subjective experience and preferences, the most important of the few wonderful traditionally used medicinal mushrooms.
In some kind of a universal medicinal mushroom mixture, it is possible to do without some species and compensate them using replacements with similar effects. However, I cannot imagine a healing mix without Trametes.
Since it grows on all continents and on several tree species, in the wild mushroom mix we use specimens from various habitats to use its full potential and biodiversity.
Turkey tail has been intensely commercially grown, and already the cultivated version has a great biopotential. The wild specimens, however, are packed with secondary metabolites, making it a super-powerful medicinal mushroom.
Due to its cosmopolitan character, freedom from one continent or region, it is unsuitable for marketing and manipulation, so the data about it are presented objectively.
Trametes versicolor is outstanding among all known fungi for its variety of colours, as well. It comes in all shades of brown to black, blue, grey, with orange, blue or grey zones and rings, and all this reflects its immense biopotential.
*Recorded healing properties — examples
Trametes versicolor is currently a part of cancer-fighting therapies in China and Japan.
The human studies included substances PSP (a water-soluble and high-temperature-resistant polysaccharide peptide) and PSK (a polysaccharide known as crestin). PSP and PSK were able to increase the three-year survival rate of patients with gastric cancer by 40%. (1)
I emphasize that those are only two isolated substances while the whole fungus is rich in many other ingredients as well. Its whole extracts have shown antiviral, antibacterial, immunomodulatory and antitumor activity on different types of cancer cell lines.
PSP was given to patients with oesophagal cancer, stomach cancer and lung cancer in the phase of radiation and/or chemotherapy, and it helped to alleviate symptoms and prevents a decline in immune status.
As an adjunct drug, it prolonged and improved the lives of patients who had already completed radiation and/or chemotherapy (2)
PSP also had observed effects on various other immune subgroups. Separate PSP studies show increased proliferation of rodent splenocytes, T and B cells, NK cells and neutrophils, as well as human lymphocytes. There may also be a decrease in Fas receptor levels of lymphocytes and an increase in the number of monocytes. PSP appears to sensitize tumours and alleviate radiation and chemotherapy symptoms. (3)
PSP showed antiviral activity on HIV as well (reduction of the interaction between HIV-1 gp 120 and immobilized CD4 receptor, strong inhibition of recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, and inhibits the enzyme glycohydrolase associated with viral glycosylation). (4)
PSK is classified as a versatile immunomodulator of the biological response. (5)
(1) – Torisu M, Hayashi Y, Ishimitsu T, Fujimura T, Iwasaki K, Katano M, Yamamoto H, Kimura Y, Takesue M, Kondo M, et al. Significant prolongation of disease-free period gained by oral polysaccharide K (PSK) administration after curative surgical operation of colorectal cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 1990;31(5):261-8. PubMed PMID: 2198088.
(2) – M. Nimoto, et al., “Postoperative adjuvant immune-chemotherapy with mitomycin C, futraful and PSK for gastric cancer,” Japanese Journal of Surgery, November 18, 1988 (6) 681-686.
(3) – Saleh MH, Rashedi I, Keating A. Immunomodulatory Properties of Coriolus versicolor: The Role of Polysaccharopeptide. Front Immunol. 2017 Sep 6;8:1087. doi: 10.3389/fimmu. 2017.01087. eCollection 2017. Review. PubMed PMID: 28932226; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5592279.
(4) – Collins RA, Ng TB. Polysaccharopeptide from Coriolus versicolor has potential for use against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. Life Sci. 1997;60(25):PL383-7. PubMed PMID: 9194694.
(5) – Inatsuka C, Yang Y, Gad E, Rastetter L, Disis ML, Lu H. Gamma delta T cells are activated by polysaccharide K (PSK) and contribute to the anti-tumor effect of PSK. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2013 Aug;62(8):1335-45. doi: 10.1007/s00262-013-1436-4. Epub 2013 May 18. PubMed PMID: 23685781; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3727629.
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Trametes Hirsuta, Trametes Gibbosa, Trametes Pubescens
In recent years, other species of the genus Trametes (Hirsuta, Gibbosa, Pubescens) have received a well-deserved place in research, where they have demonstrated a wide range of therapeutic actions, thanks to which they do not lag behind the more famous member of the genus, the Turkey tail. In folk medicine, they were used in all climates of the world long before the development of modern medicine.
They show anti-fungal activity against Candida and Aspergillus species (but are actually significantly inferior to classical antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole) (10.11) and act on Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli strains (11),
They have anti-inflammatory effects. (6)
They act against dementia and diabetes. (6,9)
Cytotoxic activity of Trametes species has been observed in cervical, lung, and colon cancer cell lines (10) but I emphasize that the synergic effect of several compounds from the extract has not been clearly defined or known at all.
A significant antioxidant capacity has been proven (7.8) but variable in more similar studies from average and below-average to above-average, and to exceptional for the same species; there are no rules.
The assumption for this is a difference in habitat (12), the type of extract, the substrate (the kind of tree), and the synergic effects of several compounds that sometimes replenish and sometimes don’t. Each specimen is a different story in some way, so in the mix, it works with multiple fungi of the same species from different habitats.
Important; there are no known side effects for consuming Trametes mushrooms at higher doses and for a lengthy period, unlike the absolute majority of pharmacological officially approved drugs.
(6) – Im KH, Nguyen TK, Choi J, Lee TS. In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Diabetes, Anti-Dementia, and Inflammation Inhibitory Effect of Trametes pubescens Fruiting Body Extracts. Molecules. 2016 May 16;21(5). pii: E639. doi:
10.3390/molecules21050639. PubMed PMID: 27196881; PubMed Central PMCID:
PMC6273937.
(7) – Sheikh IA, Vyas D, Ganaie MA, Dehariya K, Singh V. HPLC determination of phenolics and free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extracts of two polypore mushrooms. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2014; 6: 679–684
(8) – Johnsy G, Kaviyarasana V. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Trametes gibbosa (Pers.) Fr. J Pharm Res. 2011; 4: 3939–3942.
(9) – Ma Y, Mao D, Geng L, Wang Z, Xu C. Production, fractionation, characterizationof extracellular polysaccharide from a newly isolated Trametes gibbosa and its hypoglycemic activity. Carbohydr Polym. 2013 Jul 25;96(2):460-5. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.04.019. Epub 2013 Apr 18. PubMed PMID: 23768587.
(10) – Knežević A, Stajić M, Sofrenić I, Stanojković T, Milovanović I, Tešević V,Vukojević J. Antioxidative, antifungal, cytotoxic and antineurodegenerative activity of selected Trametes species from Serbia. PLoS One. 2018 Aug 31;13(8):e0203064. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203064. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30169542; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6118373.
(11) – Gebreyohannes G, Nyerere A, Bii C, Berhe Sbhatu D. Determination of Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts of Indigenous Wild Mushrooms against Pathogenic Organisms. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Feb 18;2019:6212673. doi: 10.1155/2019/6212673. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID:30906415; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6398037.
(12) – Devi, M.R., & Krishnakumari, S. (2015). Quantitative estimation of primary and secondary metabolites in hot aqueous extract of Pleurotus sajor caju.
Phellinus species
They grow for years on living and dead trees. Differences between species (more than 150 of them) were once observed only based on the substrate (tree type) or microscopically. All have hard fructification, literally woody, compacted structures (because of which they do not rot, moisture-resistant), and are brown, from a lighter to a darker tone.
They hold on to the base with which they are firmly connected for many years. Fun fact — Phellinus ellipsoideus currently holds the record of the largest mushroom fertile body ever found, weighing over 400 pounds, and is considered older than 20 years.
Medicinal mushrooms of this type have been used for centuries in far Eastern countries to prevent diseases such as gastroenteric dysfunction, diarrhoea, bleeding, and cancer. Phellinus extracts from the mushroom body or mycelium stimulate hormonal and cell-mediated immune function and reduce inflammatory responses caused by various stimuli, as well as inhibit the growth and metastasis of tumours. They induce apoptosis in mouse and human cancer hosts without causing toxic effects on healthy organisms.
Phellinus shows the strongest antitumour activity of all the basidiomycetes (higher fungi, data from 2013). It has also proven high antioxidant potential, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals in a process known as oxidative stress.
Polysaccharides isolated from the Phellinus species strongly stimulate cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity. Studies have shown a powerful potential for blocking tumour growth and metastasis. In mice with implanted cells, B16F10 significantly increased life expectancy-survival. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of NCI-H23 tumour cells and reduce the incidence of b16f10 lung metastases.
It was the subject of studies for the purpose of pancreas cancer therapy where most of the patients generally experience recidivism, and there is a need for supportive systematic therapy. The chemo-therapy toxicity and the insufficient oncological effects required a less toxic and more effective alternative treatment for pancreas cancer. Here it confirmed a potential in the immuno-chemotherapy as an alternative tool against cancer or sinergizer of existing antitumour drugs.
Fomitopsis betulina
Fomitopsis betulina is a year-round and mostly seasonal-autumn fungus, and it persists on the tree for longer than a year. Healthy and useable fruiting bodies remain in this state until the end of winter. It grows exclusively on live immunologically weakened birch trees or dead birch trunks. Young fruit trees are soft and edible raw in small quantities. The older it gets, the woodier the structure. The taste is bitter, and the smell is pleasant. Fruiting bodies grow individually or in small groups. The meat is always white.
By its genetic structure, it is the most stable known medical mushroom.
By sequencing of its genome from different states and the continents, it is established that its genealogy is identical on all continents and habitats (higher than 99.5%). In popular language, a perfect fungus of completed evolution — which is rare in the kingdom of fungi. Mushrooms change and adapt to habitat as they evolve, so, for instance, Polyporus umbellatus studied in China shows the exact area of its origin. In the other provinces where the fungi spread, they were partially genetically altered. In the case of Betulina, there is no such discordance.
It follows birch as a pioneering species that is the first (along with willow) to inhabit the edge of the forest or vacant habitats, as after forest fires. Incompatible with other tree species, Betulina casts all on one card, the birch, known for its exceptional healing properties among trees.
It is assumed that in Europe it is used for treatment for thousands of years. Genetic analysis showed that the frozen “Snow-man” from the Alps, 5.300 years old, carried two mushrooms, a complete Betulina and a large amount of Fomes fomentarius powder.
That means that we have consumed Betulina for a long time on the European continent. Thus, our immune system recognizes it and has effective models of interaction with secondary metabolites from these mushrooms.
Many scientific studies have proven antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiparasitic, anticancer, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of Betulina as a part of water and alcohol extract.
In a study of the phagocytic index (a measure of phagocytic activity determined by the number of bacteria ingested by phagocytes during a limited incubation period of bacterial and phagocyte suspension in human serum) and cytotoxicity to HT-29 and Caco-2 cancer cells (colon cancer), it was the only fungus to show the property to kill both bacteria and cancer cells at the same time. In all other species, the relationship was either good on one side and negligible on the other, or vice versa.
In studies, water and alcohol extracts of F. Betulina showed anticancer activity on several types of cancer cells (A549, HT-29, T47D, TE671, C6, LS180, FTC-238) by reducing the ability of cancer cells to migrate, increasing tumour adhesion), improving apoptosis (programmed death) of cancer cells, stimulating other types of non-apoptically induced cell death, reducing cell vitality, reducing DNA synthesis-cell proliferation.
Studies have shown that it is extremely stable in the quantity of active substances it contains (it does not vary within the species, the medium of growth or the habitat), which is not the case with most other species.
It contains more than 60 known active substances, some of which are:
L-Tryptophan, 5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan, 5-Methyltryptamine, Syringic acid, Galic acid,
5-Hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-Dihydrophenylacetic acid, Betulin, Ergosterol,
Hexoestrol, Ergosterol peroxid, Kolekalciferol (vitamin D3)
Piptamin – antibiotic (N-benzyl-N-methylpentadecan-1-amine)
A and C, 1,3-beta-D-glucopyranose, B ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol, fungisterol, agaric acid, dehydrotumloic acid, alginic acid, betulinic acid, various triterpenoid derivatives of lanosterol and others.
Stereum species
They grow as saprophytes on dead trees but are also found on living trees. Extremely adaptable to substrates, it is even found in symbiosis with some species of sea fungi, on wet soil by the sea, despite the salinity of the soil.
They are rich in many types of sesquiterpenoids, important bioactive compounds.
Water and ethanol extracts isolated from Stereum ostrea contain compounds that inhibit the growth of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungi (C. Miyabeanus, C. gloeosporioides and B. Cinerea) (1)
The stereum genus shows an extremely high antiradical effect (ABTS and DPPH methods) and reduces cell damage DNA (in vitro). (2)
One of the lanosthane triterpenoids from the Stereum species has shown moderate cytotoxicity to tumor cell lines SMMC-7721 (HPV cervical adenocarcinoma) and SW480 (colon cancer) (in vitro). (3)
Dry extract of Stereum hirsutum showed a significant inhibitory effect on thrombin, a compound involved in the physiology of clot-thrombus formation. (4)
It is used in the mixture in a very small amount, with the aim of increasing the antioxidant and biomodulatory properties (synergistic effect).
(1) Imtiaj A, Jayasinghe C, Lee GW, Lee TS. Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Stereum ostrea, an Inedible Wild Mushroom. Mycobiology. 2007
Dec;35(4):210-4. doi: 10.4489/MYCO.2007.35.4.210. Epub 2007 Dec 31. PubMed PMID: 24015099; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3763174.
(2) The antioxidant properties of solid-culture extracts of basidiomycetous fungi
Jaejung Lee, Joo-Hyun Hong, Jeong-Do Kim, Byoung Jun Ahn, Beom Seok Kim,Gyu-Hyeok Kim, and Jae-Jin Kim, Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University (2013)
(3) Yao JN, Chen L, Chen HP, Zhao ZZ, Zhang SB, Huang Y, Tang Y, Isaka M, Li ZH, Feng T, Liu JK. Miscellaneous lanostane triterpenoids with cytotoxicities from fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Stereum sp. Fitoterapia. 2018 Mar;125:227-234. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2017.11.020. Epub 2017 Nov 29. PubMed PMID: 29197540.
(4) Doljak B, Cateni F, Anderluh M, Procida G, Zilic J, Zacchigna M. Glycerolipids as selective thrombin inhibitors from the fungus Stereum hirsutum. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 2006 Jun;32(5):635-43. PubMed PMID: 16720417.
Ganoderma species
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Indigenous species in the Balkans:
Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma adspersum, Ganoderma pfeifferi, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma carnosum
Ganoderma lucidum
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Japanese name: Reishi
Chinese name: Lingzhi
There are more than 215 species of Ganoderma in the world, of which more than 80 species grow in China alone. According to morphological properties, in the 1980s in China, they were divided into two main subgroups Ganoderma and Elfringia, but this division, in addition to DNA analysis available today, is under great pressure with a tendency to classify 6 subgenres.
The reason is not only scientific consistency, but also economic interests.
Until recently, Reishi on the market exclusively meant Ganoderma lucidum, but as early as 2012, it was determined that the Chinese “mushroom of immortality” is in fact correctly classified as Ganoderma lingzhi. The original Ganoderma lucidum grows only in Europe, as shown by genetic analyzes.
The consequence of this is that in most studies on Ganoderma lucidum, there are hidden G. sichuanense, tsugae, sinense, lingzhi, tropicum…
Studies of its healing properties can be counted in the hundreds, and in recent years it is the most studied species, with the Chinese in the lead. However, which of all Ganoderma species participated in the studies, no one can tell.
Their DNA matches in 70 to 100%. But as it turns out, that literally all of the varieties have medicinal properties and are extremely valuable, or variations on the same theme.
It has traditionally been used in Far Eastern countries, while the European tradition of folk medicine does not know Ganoderma. If they were used, they would be Ganoderma applanatum, adspersum and pfeifferi, which are indigenous species in the Balkans. Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma carnosum, which grows on conifers, are also less common.
Some of the examples of medicinal properties:
Modern scientific research has proven that Ganoderma lucidum has the property of increasing both humoral and cellular immunity (1,2)
G. lucidum polysaccharides show (in vitro and in vivo) anti-tumor properties on the HL-60 leukemia cell line (3)
Generally shows antitumor and immunomodulatory properties (4)
Isolated polysaccharides from G. lucidum increase immune responses against tumors by motivating the activity of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (5).
It shows antiviral properties against enterovirus 71, for which there is no official drug or vaccine to date and is the cause of hand, foot and mouth disease, and fatal neurological and systemic complications in children. (6)
Ganoderma lucidum has shown anti-infective action against bacteria and fungi Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Candida glandidse, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei and Candida parapsilopsis. (7)
Ganoderma lucidum shows therapeutic potential to prevent altitude sickness and induce rapid acclimatization. (8)
Compounds isolated from G. lucidum; Beta ganoderic acid, lucidumol B, ganodermanondiol, ganodermanontriol and ganolucidic acid A have shown significant antiviral properties against HIV. (9)
Aqueous extract of G. Lucidum shows an antidepressant effect and reduces anxiety behavior in rats (10).
It shows high antioxidant properties by several measurement methods (DPPH, ATS, removal of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide …) (11)
G. lucidum polysaccharides have been shown to serve as a regenerative therapeutic agent for the treatment of cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases. (12)
Bioactive components responsible for medicinal activities include polysaccharides, glycopeptides, triterpenes, proteins, lectins, nucleotides, amino acids, sterols, and alkaloids.
Polysaccharides and triterpenes were considered until recently the main effective gradients from Ganoderma species.
Until a new type of bioactive fungal proteins with pronounced immunomodulatory and antitumor properties (13) as strong as polysaccharides and triterpenes was discovered. This only confirms how much the whole mushroom extract is richer than just some isolated components (and more complex in action, where some properties are double repeated).
According to the expression of these proteins in various types of Ganoderma, the Chinese study was looking for the “best and highest quality”, which should be maximally promoted. Ganoderma lucidum and sinense, and applanatum from the second major subgenus Ganoderma were tested. The result showed that Ganoderma applanatum (which morphologically resembles G. lucidum the least and grows en masse in Europe) has the most expressed immunomodulatory and cytotoxic properties. (14)
Conclusion: respect the local.
It is extremely strong in terms of action, but when used in the long term in large doses, caution is needed, because it can be more difficult to digest and with fewer side effects.
It is not recommended to pregnant women and people receiving anticoagulants because it has the natural anticoagulant coumarin, as well as to those receiving immunosuppressive drugs.
In the mixture, it comes with a higher share of G. applanatum, and a smaller amount of carnosum, lucidum or pfeifferi.
(1) Wang YY, Khoo KH, Chen ST, Lin CC, Wong CH, Lin CH. Studies on the immuno-modulating and antitumor activities of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) polysaccharides: functional and proteomic analyses of a fucose-containing glycoprotein fraction responsible for the activities. Bioorg Med Chem. 2002;10:1057–1062. doi: 10.1016/S0968-0896(01)00377-7.
(2) Lin ZB. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of immuno-modulation by Ganoderma lucidum. J Pharmacol Sci. 2005;99:144–153. doi: 10.1254/jphs.CRJ05008X
(3) Yang G, Yang L, Zhuang Y, Qian X, Shen Y. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide exerts anti-tumor activity via MAPK pathways in HL-60 acute leukemia cells. J ecept Signal Transduct Res. 2016;6:6–13. doi: 10.3109/10799893.2014.970275
(4) Meng LZ, Xie J, Lv GP, Hu DJ, Zhao J, Duan JA, Li SP. A comparative study on immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides from two official species of
Ganoderma (Lingzhi). Nutr Cancer. 2014;66(7):1124-31. doi:10.1080/01635581.2014.948215. Epub 2014 Sep 10. PubMed PMID: 25204488.
(5) Pan, K.; Jiang, Q.; Liu, G.; Miao, X.; Zhong, D. Optimization extraction of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides and its immunity and antioxidant activities. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2013, 55, 301–306.
(6) Zhang W, Tao J, Yang X, Yang Z, Zhang L, Liu H, Wu K, Wu J. Antiviral effects of two Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids against enterovirus 71 infection. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014;449:307–312. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.05.019
(7) Ergun B. Evaluation of antimicrobial, cytotoxic and genotoxic activities of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017;30(Supplementary):1991–1995
(8) Sharma P, Tulsawani R, Agrawal U. Pharmacological effects of Ganoderma lucidum extract against high-altitude stressors and its subchronic toxicity assessment.J
Food Biochem. 2019 Dec;43(12):e13081. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.13081. Epub 2019 Oct 14. PubMed PMID: 31609024.
(9) Min, B.S.; Nakamura, N.; Miyashiro, H.; Bae, K.W.; Hattori, M. Triterpenes from the spores of Ganoderma lucidum and their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1998, 46, 1607–1612
(10) Matsuzaki, H.; Shimizu, Y.; Iwata, N.; Kamiuchi, S.; Suzuki, F.; Iizuka, H.; Hibino, Y.; Okazaki, M. Antidepressant-like effects of a water-soluble extract from the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia in rats. BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 2013, 13, 370
(11) Ferreira, I.C.F.R.; Heleno, S.A.; Reis, F.S.; Stojkovic, D.; Queiroz, M.J.R.P.; Vasconcelos, M.H.; Sokovic, M. Chemical features of Ganoderma polysaccharides with antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial activities. Phytochemistry 2015, 114, 38–55.
(12) Huang S, Mao J, Ding K, Zhou Y, Zeng X, Yang W, Wang P, Zhao C, Yao J, Xia P, Pei G. Polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum promote cognitive function and neural progenitor proliferation in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Stem Cell Reports. 2017;8:84–94. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.12.007
(13) Li QZ, Wang XF, Zhou XW. Recent status and prospects of the fungal immunomodulatory protein family. Crit Rev Biotechnol. 2011;31:365–375. doi: 10.3109/07388551.2010.543967.
(14) Qu ZW, Zhou SY, Guan SX, Gao R, Duan ZW, Zhang X, Sun WY, Fan WL, Chen SS,
Chen LJ, Lin JW, Ruan YY. Recombinant Expression and Bioactivity Comparison of Four Typical Fungal Immunomodulatory Proteins from Three Main Ganoderma Species.
BMC Biotechnol. 2018 Dec 14;18(1):80. doi: 10.1186/s12896-018-0488-0. PubMed PMID: 30547780; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6295072.
Daedaleopsis species
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Daedaleopsis confragosa, Daedaleopsis confragosa var. tricolor (Daedaleopsis tricolor)
Several pieces of the fungus Daedaleopsis confragosa var. tricolor were found in an early Neolithic village near present-day Rome, in human huts and other buildings. DNA sequencing revealed that the species was mentioned, and the dating period is approximately 7.000 g. Since it is not an edible species, it is assumed that it was used for medicinal purposes.
European inhabitants (their intestinal bacteria) should have known about it for at least as long.
It belongs to a genetically stable species, with a small number of variations (a dozen very similar species of that genus). They are distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, very adaptable to the substrate, the trees on which they live (alder, beech, willow, wild cherry, hazel). While DNA analysis did not yet exist, old-school physicians recognized the genetic stability of the species by its ease of detection. If you can tell the species with certainty from a distance of twenty meters, regardless of habitat, it was a sign that it was an old, evolutionarily perfect fungus. The precisely same species have later shown to be almost genetically identical across different habitats. In addition to D. Confragosa, F. Betulina and F. Pinicola are also in this group.
Daedaleopsis has shown a wide range of effects — from clear antibacterial, through moderate antifungal effects and high-pressure regulating properties, to anticancer activities.
In particular, the water extract rich in tannins from the fungus shows significant activity against bacteria of the species Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, on a par with the antibiotics Amoxil, Ampicillin and Ampiclox.
The water extract also shows significant action against DNA damage of healthy cells in oncology therapies and antioxidant properties (DPPH test method).
Fomes fomentarius
Fomes fomentarius as a cosmopolitan fungus grows on all continents, on several species of deciduous trees, and especially beech, although it can be rarely found even on conifers. It has been used in folk medicine in all parts of the world as a remedy for several types of diseases and to stop bleeding.
It has a hard woody structure and shows no signs of rot even after several years of age.
The frozen “Snow-man” (before 5.300 years) carried its crushed powder.
The human intestinal microbiome of most of the world’s population has known it for at least as long. Throughout history, we have adapted to its metabolites and have immunomodulatory interactions with it in our body.
It belongs to the very top in terms of healing and the broad spectrum of action.
Although cosmopolitan and seemingly evolutionarily completely perfected, it nevertheless shows a high genetic potential for adaptations and changes in the genome. So, although we classify it as one species, there is a genetic difference between the same species on different continents. DNA similarity is about 80%.
This is the reason to still consume it locally and take into account its variations, together with the fact that the northern European and southern European lines are significantly different.
Beekeepers in the Balkans throughout history have used it as for calming, smoking bees. Although they did not know the deeper reasons for choosing it, they passed on a tried and tested tradition, and the reason is that in addition to smoke to soothe bees, its compounds also heal bees. A study of its use as a remedy for bee wing deformity virus showed a 44-fold reduction in virus symptoms (4400%) (1)
Fomes fomentarius and its bioactive compounds have proven antibacterial (2), anticancer (3,4,5), anti-diabetes (6) and anti-inflammatory (7) effects. Its detected bioactive compounds that show anti-cancer activity are butulin 28-o- acetate, betulin, Δ7-ergostenol, cerevisterol and daphnetine (7,8-dihydroxycoumarin). (8)
Ethanol extract Fomes fomentarius reduces cell vitality in multiple cancer cell lines (breast cancer cell line: MCF-7, lung cancer cells: A549 and H460 cells, prostate cancer cell lines: DU145 and PC-3 cells).
Inhibits proliferation, reduces cell growth and cell migration MDA-MB-231 breast cancer. (in vitro) (9)
The melanin-glucan complex obtained from the fungus Fomes fomentarius showed higher anti-HIV activity compared to Zidovudine in vitro (human cells), and in vivo in rats, and also showed antimicrobial properties against Helicobacter pylori (associated with ulcers in humans) ) with greater efficacy than conventional antibiotics. (10)
Extremely rich in phenolic compounds and accordingly exhibits extremely high antioxidant properties, (11) among the highest ever recorded among all medicinal mushroom species.
(1) Stamets, P.E., Naeger, N.L., Evans, J.D. et al. Extracts of Polypore Mushroom Mycelia Reduce Viruses in Honey Bees. Sci Rep 8, 13936 (2018) doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32194-8
(2) Dresch P., MN D.A., Rosam K., Grienke U., Rollinger J.M., Peintner U. Fungal strain matters: Colony growth and bioactivity of the european medicinal polypores fomes fomentarius, fomitopsis pinicola and piptoporus betulinus. AMB Express. 2015;5:4
(3) Kim S.H., Jakhar R., Kang S.C. Apoptotic properties of polysaccharide isolated from fruiting bodies of medicinal mushroom fomes fomentarius in human lung carcinoma cell line. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 2015;22:484–490. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2014.11.022
(4) Zang Y., Xiong J., Zhai W.Z., Cao L., Zhang S.P., Tang Y., Wang J., Su J.J., Yang G.X., Zhao Y., et al. Fomentarols a-d, sterols from the polypore macrofungus fomes fomentarius. Phytochemistry. 2013;92:137–145. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.05.003
(5) Chen W., Zhao Z., Chen S.F., Li Y.Q. Optimization for the production of exopolysaccharide from fomes fomentarius in submerged culture and its antitumor effect in vitro. Bioresour. Technol. 2008;99:3187–3194. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.05.049
(6) Lee J.S. Effects of fomes fomentarius supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activities, blood glucose, and lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Nutr. Res. 2005;25:187–195. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2005.01.001
(7) Park Y.-M., Kim I.-T., Park H.-J., Choi J.-W., Park K.-Y., Lee J.-D., Nam B.-H., Kim D.-G., Lee J.-Y., Lee K.-T. Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of the methanol extract of fomes fomentarius. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2004;27:1588–1593. doi: 10.1248/bpb.27.1588.
(8) Huang T., Du D., Chen Y., Yuan B., Ju X., Feng Y., Wang L., Jiang J. Chemical constituents and antitumor activity of fruiting body of fomes fomentarius. Mycosystema. 2012;5:775–783.
(9) Fomes fomentarius Ethanol Extract Exerts Inhibition of Cell Growth and Motility Induction of Apoptosis via Targeting AKT in Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells
Seon-Ok Lee, Min-Ho Lee, Kyung-Ran Lee, Eun-Ok Lee, Hyo-Jeong Lee
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2019 March 6, 20 (5)
(10) Seniuk O.F., Gorovoj L.F., Beketova G.V., Savichuk H.O., Rytik P.G., Kucherov I.I., Prilutskay A.B., Prilutsky A.I. Anti-infective properties of the melanin-glucan complex obtained from medicinal tinder bracket mushroom, Fomes fomentarius (L.: Fr.) Fr. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) Int. J. Med. Mushrooms. 2011;13:7–18. doi: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v13.i1.20
(11) Nowacka N, Nowak R, Drozd M, Olech M, Los R, Malm A. Antibacterial, Antiradical Potential and Phenolic Compounds of Thirty-One Polish Mushrooms. PLoS One. 2015;10(10):e0140355. Published 2015 Oct 15. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140355
Fomitopsis pinicola
Fomitopsis pinicola grows on conifers, but can also be found on deciduous tree species, especially birch. It is spread throughout the northern hemisphere. Genetically extremely stable species without variations, regardless of habitat, with a genetic match of over 98% among specimens in Europe.
Regardless of genetic identity, specimens vary greatly in the amounts and types of secondary metabolites. (1) This clearly indicates its great ability to adapt, to address threats as needed, or high biopotential. Several specimens of this fungus must be used in the tea mixture, due to the individually different composition (biodiversity of the metabolites) and the stronger synergistic effect.
In folk medicine, Fomitopsis pinicola was used primarily as an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-bleeding agent.
Besides, it is traditionally used against diabetes in Korean and Japanese folk medicine. In a rat action study, F. pinicola ingredients were noted to regulate hyperglycemia, either by increased insulin secretion during recovery or by preventing pancreatic damage caused by streptozotocin, without toxicity to rats (2)
Ethanol extract of F. pinicola showed one of the strongest recorded anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo on multiple cancer cell lines by inducing programmed cell death in cancer cells.
The cancer lines on which it has shown strong effects in studies are Hep G2 (human hepatoma), A549 (lung cancer), HCT-116 (colon cancer), MDA-MB_231 (breast cancer) and S-180 (mouse sarcoma). (3)
It also has a very high anti-radical potential. (4)
(1) Dresch P, D Aguanno MN, Rosam K, Grienke U, Rollinger JM, Peintner U. Fungal strain matters: colony growth and bioactivity of the European medicinal polypores
Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis pinicola and Piptoporus betulinus.. AMB Express.
2015 Jan 24;5(1):4. eCollection 2015 Dec. PubMed PMID: 25642401; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4305089.
(2) Lee S.I., Kim J.S., Oh S.H., Park K.Y., Lee H.G., Kim S.D. Antihyperglycemic effect of Fomitopsis pinicola extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J. Med. Food. 2008;11:518–524. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2007.0155.
(3) Wu HT, Lu FH, Su YC, Ou HY, Hung HC, Wu JS, Yang YC, Chang CJ. In vivo and in vitro anti-tumor effects of fungal extracts. Molecules. 2014 Feb
21;19(2):2546-56. doi: 10.3390/molecules19022546. PubMed PMID: 24566320; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6270758.
(4) Nowacka N, Nowak R, Drozd M, Olech M, Los R, Malm A. Antibacterial, Antiradical Potential and Phenolic Compounds of Thirty-One Polish Mushrooms. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 15;10(10):e0140355. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140355. eCollection
2015. PubMed PMID: 26468946; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4607371.
Heterobasidion annosum
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Local variety (grows on fir): Heterobasidion abietinum
A fungus that inhabits the northern hemisphere. It attacks immunologically weakened coniferous trees, but also deciduous species. It regularly inhabits coniferous stumps.
It causes great losses in the wood industry, and despite efforts to control it, it has proved ineradicable. It is a cryptic species, of a highly variable genome within the same species, depending on the substrate of the tree or regions. In regions with more conifers (eg northern Finland) it is very aggressive in spreading and does not spare trees, so every seventh spruce is attacked, while in Tibet, where there are fewer conifers, its behavior is more moderate, as if sparing trees. It is an indicator of its ability to adapt and biopotential.
It has been used in folk medicine of the East, but nowhere significantly or independently, always with dominant species as an addition.
Always stick to the bottom or roots of the plant. This implies some abilities stronger than other parasitic species, e.g., the ability to defend itself against the chemical agents of wood where it has the most sap, along with the root system.
It shows a high antiradical effect.
Unlike most other species, it simultaneously shows a significant effect against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, which classifies it as a potential treatment for septic shock.
In 2018, a complete extract (from dried mushrooms) was patented as a drug against colon cancer (based on research in mice in vivo and human cells in vitro). It is a ground mushroom soaked three times in alcohol, then dried to a powder and diluted with an organic solvent.
The extract showed direct cytotoxicity to cancer cells, a significant reduction in their vitality, and the ability to induce cell death.
Unlike the severe side effects of standard drugs, it was shown to be safe in vivo (mice remained in good general condition).
Unlike the severe side effects of standard drugs, it proved to be safe in vivo (mice remained in good general condition).