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Home , Hericium erinaceus, Matsutake, Medicinal fungi, Shiitake, Trametes versicolor

J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild 53 REDUCTI O NIST’S RANT NIST’S Introducing: The Evibase by Dr. James A. Duke and Kathleen Bennett, Clinical Herbalist (M.S.)

In his distinguished career, he Mushroom Evibase is for sale. In the United States, 2012-2013 sales James Duke served the US an independent database of edible totaled $1.11 billion Department of Agriculture specifically focused on the (ARMC 2014). Our interest in mushrooms, both for over 30 years. Before , dosage, culinary and medicinal, appears to be growing. retiring, he developed his online ethnobotanical and nutrients, medicinal activities, database. It is indications, habits, cautions T Common Medicinal Properties of one of the most frequently and folklore of . Containing Fungi (and Other Considerations) consulted areas of the over 400 species of fungi, this project, like Fungi are fantastic immune modulators. They USDA website. Duke grows my Phytochemical Database, strives to create stimulate, calm and bring our immune systems hundreds of plats on his six- acre Green Farmacy Garden a searchable database to allow and into balance. Many species have been found with his wife, Peggy. Since stimulate investigation. A researcher can locate to be immune-active: Agaricus, Albatrellus, retiring from the USDA, Dr. known fungal species with beta-secretase 1 Armillaria, Auricularia, Bjerkandera, Calvatia, Duke served for five years (BACE1) actions, search for mycochemicals Cordyceps, Phallus (Dictyophora), Flammulina, as Senior Science Advisor within a specific genus, or look for associations Fomes, Fomitopsis, , Grifola, to Nature’s Herbs and with in medicinal action and mycochemicals. , Inonotus, , Lentinus, Lenzites, allherb.com. Since 2001, he has been a distinguished Presently in development, the Mushroom Lycoperdon, Lyophyllum, Marasmius, , lecturer at Tai Sophia Evibase is projected be available early in 2015. Paxillus, Peziza, Phallus, Phellinus, Piptoporus, Healing Institute (now From the common culinary button Polyporus, Poria, Schizophyllum, , Maryland University of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) to the rare , Tremella, , Volvariella. Integrative Health). He has Taiwanese Antrodia, our understanding of Mushrooms play various roles in the written over 30 books on . mushroom medicinal activity is both ancient prevention and management of cancer. At and new. Mushrooms are known to possess the Psychedelic Research Group at New

immunmodulating, analgesic, antibacterial, York University, Dr. Stephen Ross uses the Kathleen Bennett is a anti-viral, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, antioxidant, Psilocybe-derived compound to treat researcher for the Mushroom lipidemic, cardiotonic, (yes, even anti- anxiety in cancer patients (Sarris, Mcintyre Evibase. She has been fungal!), and hepatoprotective properties, as well and Canfield 2013; Morin 2014). The FDA has working with Jim Duke on this project since 2013. as toxic ones (Duke & Bennett 2014). (We should approved a clinical trial of never forget that some species are VERY toxic.) (turkey tail) for treatment of cancer at the According to the Agricultural Resource Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center Marketing Center (ARMC 2014), over 2,000 (Torkelson et al 2012). Many medicinal fungi mushroom species are considered edible. French contain ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant markets have as many as 72 species available (Cheak & Halliwell 2012; Duke & Bennett 2014). 54 J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild

Additionally, mushrooms have been discussion of each follows, culminating with NIST’S RANT shown to activate alternative complement, an abbreviated sample write-up on O protect gastric tissue, support health, from the upcoming Mushroom Evibase. increase the absorption of nutrients, enhance liver function, and modulate the Agaricus bisporus (Button mushroom)

REDUCTI hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This supermarket staple is perhaps best not Mushrooms are also great bioaccumulators. eaten raw. Author Denis Benjamin (1995) A recent study found that an aqueous extract laments that modern chefs push raw or barely of Tricholoma yielded the following seared mushrooms, but all mushrooms should nutrients: tyrosine, cytidine, uridine, eritadenine, be well cooked. Unfortunately, analysis of A. , nicotinamide, inosine, bisporus has shown that this species activates guanosine, , adenosine, 5′-deoxy-5′- the enzyme BACE1 which releases beta-amyloid methylthioadenosine and (Ying et al peptide, associated with Alzheimer’s disease. 2013). Because of their ability to uptake nutrients Other species considered to activate BACE1 are or other compounds from their surroundings, Flammulina velutipes (enoki) and Lentinula edodes substrates on which mushrooms are grown (shiitake) (Bennett et al 2013). Benjamin (1995), are important. Lentinus sajor-caju grown on having noted numerous studies of shiitake in coffee pulp were able to uptake caffeine (Fan Asia, comments: “In contrast, in the West, almost et al 2006; Ramirez, Angarita and Zuloaga all the work on our favorite , 2007). On the not-so-positive side, mushroom Agaricus bisporus, has focused on its dangers. growers often focus more on yield rather than Once again, the fundamental difference between constituents. Commercial mushroom farming East and West in their approaches to medicine is studies often focus on evaluating mushroom underscored.” Only recently have studies begun harvests in terms of percentage yields across in the U.S. for button mushroom’s possible health different substrates and don’t test for nutrients or benefits (Xu, Beelman and Lambert 2012 ). medicinal potency (Pala, Warri and Mir 2012). On the downright scary side, both edible (Maitake) and medicinal mushrooms are also known to Some people believe that maitake (Japanese take up heavy metals and radioactive compounds for “dancing mushroom”) is so named because (de Roman, Boa and Woodward 2006). While collectors danced with joy upon finding it (it was this ability has potential use in decontaminating worth its weight in silver back in the old days in soils and environments, we must be careful Japan). Others speculate that the name stems that they do not enter our diets. Dioscorides from the dancing appearance of the overlapping echoed this when he wrote: “Poisonous fruit bodies, like dancing butterflies. Japanese mushrooms grow where the lion has lain, or cultivators produced nearly 8,000 tons in 1990 on rotted clouts, or near serpent dens or on (Hobbs 1996). Some maitake can be as heavy as trees that bear poisonous fruit.” In other words, a pumpkin, well worth the effort to transport it if the environment or substrate is toxic, the (Williamson 2002). Maitake may be of use for mushrooms growing there may be toxic as well. conditions of compromised immunity (Stamets 1993). The extract is hepatoprotective at 300 mg/ Medicinal Mushrooms kg; aqueous extracts have been shown to lower of the United States (Hobbs 1996). At 250 ug/ml, the Seven of the most popular medicinal fatty acid fraction of maitake inhibited COX-1 mushrooms in the United States are: reishi 98% and COX-2 99% and showed antioxidant (), matsutake (Tricholoma activity (Zhang, Mills and Nair 2002). matsutake), maitake (Grifola frondosa), shiitake (Lentinula edodes), button mushroom (Agaricus Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi/Ling zhi) bisporus), turkey tail (Trametes versicolor), Reishi is arguably the most common medicinal and lion’s mane (). A short mushroom in health food products throughout J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild 55 REDUCTI O the world (Hobbs 1996). Ling zhi purportedly the purified PSK and RANT NIST’S stimulates sexual virility, especially in older men. -P (PSP) derived from Trametes. For this purpose, the antler form is preferred He notes that such polysaccharides may (Stamets 1993). The antler form abounds on our increase production of immune-stimulating wooden trail boundaries in Amazonian Peru, cytokines, generating cytokine cocktails (e.g. where I call them “Peruvian soldiers” because of colony-stimulating factor, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, their resemblance to soldiers with khaki or brown interferons, TNF) that stimulate immune activity. uniforms and white hats. None of my Peruvian More than 16 studies on PSK and/or PSP in guides knew about reishi in 1991 when I first vitro (and more than 39 in vivo) demonstrate visited. I’ll bet they tell visitors it is aphrodisiac their capacity to stimulate the immune in the new millennium, via ethnobotanical drift system or inhibit cancer cell proliferation. (Duke 2013). In Chinese medicine, several Used in combination with , species are used interchangeably with G. sinense both seem to inhibit the immunosuppressive including: Ganoderma tenue (mi wen bao shu’ side effects of chemotherapy. In one human zhi), G. capense (bao shu zhi) and at least eight study, PSH at ~1 uM increased proliferation of other Ganoderma species (Bensky, Claver and lymphocytes 1.3-fold (average 1.4-fold). Natural Stoger 2004). According to the ancient Shennong compounds that are immunomodulating may Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer’s Classic of the Materia be amphoteric, having both immunostimulating Medica, ca. 300 ACE) there were six different and immunosuppressant actions depending types of Ganoderma, distinguished by color, on dosage (Duke 2013). Additionally, Boik each with slightly different properties (Bensky, (2001) admits that higher doses of many Claver and Stoger 2004). Given the numbers herbal immunostimulants “may cause of active compounds, a comparison between insomnia, increased heart rate, palpitations, the species might be quite enlightening. hypertension, and general feelings of overstimulation, or all of these.” Tricholoma matsutake (Matsutake/ pine mushroom) Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s mane) Benjamin (1995) suggests that the most prized The delicious lion’s mane mushroom is true mushroom among the Japanese may well be the food farmacy (Facciola 1998)! This attractive matsutake or pine mushroom which possesses a toothy is tasty when young, but sours unique scent, that once smelled is never forgotten with age. It may be cooked and seasoned with (although not everyone likes it). Pine mushroom garlic after parboiling, imparting the flavor of (Tricholoma matsutake) grows on old pines and (Stamets 1998). Soak 60 dry grams in is believed to absorb the vital energy of these water until soft, then slice and decoct. Take long-lived trees. Studies have shown matsutake twice daily with millet wine (Ying et al 1997). extract to possess antitumor, antioxidant, and For debility and neurasthenia, slice 150 grams immunomodulating activities (Yang et al 2010; and cook into a chicken soup, taking twice daily Wang et al 1995; Hou et al 2013; You et al 2013). (Ying et al 1997). Research has found lion’s mane is considered to be to inhibit metastasis of cancer cells (Kim, Nam the American matsutake (Benjamin 1995). and Friedman 2013); other studies show that it is neurotrophic (Lai et al 2013), gastroprotective Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail) (Wong et al 2013), antihyperglycemic, and In 1987, polysaccharide Kureha (PSK aka antihyperlipidemic (Liang et al 2013). KRESTIN) accounted for 25 percent of the Japanese national expenditure for anticancer Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) agents (Hobbs 1996). In his book Natural Shiitake extracts showed greater antioxidant Compounds in Cancer Therapy, John Boik activity than alpha-tocopherol, butylated (2001) begins his polysaccharides chapter hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated with polysaccharide-rich herbs and features hydroxytoluene (BHT), and propyl gallate 56 J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild

at inhibiting lipid oxidation, based on lipid (Eng.; GOU); “Don-Ku” (Chi.; GOU); “Dried NIST’S RANT

O peroxidation, deoxyribose, and peroxidase. Mushroom” (Eng.; HH3); “Forest Mushroom” TCMShiitake is considered Protocols to act as a releaser/ in(Eng.; the HH3); “Hongo Shiitake” (Sp.; HH3)... activator for BACE1 which releases beta- amyloid peptide associated with Alzheimer’s SYN.. Agaricus edodes Berkeley; Armillaria REDUCTI Treatmentdisease in the brain (Bennett et al 2013). of Lymeedodes (Berk.) Disease Sacc.; Collybia shiitake Schroet.; Cortinellus berkeleyanus Ito & Imai.; Cortinellus Following is an abbreviated example of just edodes (Berk.) Ito & Imai.; Cortinellus shiitake one of over 400 formatted write-ups which (Tanaka) P. Henn..; Lentinus edodes (Berkeley) Briancan be searched Kie Weissbuch, manually or in L.Ac.,a proprietary RH (AHG) Singer ; Tricholomopsis edodes Sing. (fide HH3)... database for medicinal actions, indications and mycochemical associations available through ACTIVITIES (Shiitake): Adaptogenic (f; the Mushroom Evibase. Numbers preceded HOB); Allergenic (1; X11030382; X11466919); by “X” are searchable PubMed identification Antiaggregant (1; X8717283); numbers and are live links online. Some (X19161947); Anticancer (1; SAY; X20574918); activities and indications are tagged with “f” Anticaries (1; X10601791); Antiendotoxic for folklore, “1” for scientific study, or “2” for (1; HOB); Anti-fatigue (X19643126)... clinical trial. For the full write-up, visit the Journal page at www.americanherbalistsguild.com. INDICATIONS (Shiitake): Anemia (f; APA); If you have questions about the Mushroom Bacillus (1; SAY; X11137653); Bacteria (1; SAY; Evibase, or if you would like to have a search X19161947); Bronchosis (1; HOB); Cachexia performed, please contact researcher Kathleen (X20574918); Cancer (1; APA; SAY; SKY); Cancer, Bennett directly at [email protected] . breast (1; hob; SKY); Cancer, cervix (1; SAY)...

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes DOSAGES (Shiitake): Food farmacy!!! (FAC); (Berkeley) Pegler) Flesh tough but certainly edible, eaten raw in “Black Forest Mushroom” (Eng.; GOU); “Black salads or broiled, fried, oil-roasted, or in soup. Mushroom” (Eng.; GOU); “Chinese Mushroom” Dried mushrooms may be used after soaking in warm water, or shredded up and added to soup stock. Cooked in gravies, omelettes, , Mushroom Evibase Acronym Guide sauces and teas. Classified into donko, koko and References in the Evibase are assigned an the former being most prized (and expensive) acronym matched to an author or study. Following (FAC). Almost essential in some Japanese is a brief guide to the ones appearing in the and Kwantang-style Chinese dishes. (FAC). shiitake entry sampled here. Full references can 1-3 606 mg capsules up to 3x/day (APA); 1-3 g be found at the end of this article. Lentinula edodes ; 6-16 g mushroom/ APA (American Pharmaceutical Association 1998) day (SKY); extract 2-3x/day (SKY); 2-4 ml tincture DRB (Benjamin 1995) (SKY); 6-16 g dry /day, ca 90 g fresh (HOB). FAC (Facciola 1998) GOU (Stamets 1993) DOWNSIDE (Shiitake): Class 1 (AHPA, 1997). HH3 (Blaschek at al 1996) No contraindications known (WAM); safety HOB (Hobbs 1996) during pregnancy not established (SKY); high JAF49:2343 (Mattila et al 2001) dosages may induce bloating and diarrhea (SKY). JAF50:5333 (Brauer, Kimmons and Phillips 2002) Allergenic (HOB). People who bleed easily or are SAY (Foster & Yue 1992) taking blood-thinners should reconsider before SKY (Lininger 1998) taking shiitake or its water soluble fractions WAM (White & Mayor 1998) chronically (HOB). Analysis of L. edodes has YIN (Ying et al 1997) shown that this species activates BACE1 which releases beta-amyloid peptide in the brain J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild 57 REDUCTI O

(associated with Alzheimer’s). Other species that content of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushrooms. RANT NIST’S are considered releasers/activators are Agaricus J. Agric and Food Chemistry, 50(19):5333-5337 Cheah IK and Halliwell B 2012, Ergothioneine: antioxidant bisporus and Flammulina velutipes (X23662612). potential, physiological function and role in disease. Biochim. Biophys Acta., 1822(5): 784-793 NOTES (Shiitake): Growing on stumps of de Roman M, Boa E and Woodward S 2006, Wild-gathered Alnus, Carpinus, Castanea, Fagus, Pasania, and fungi for health and rural livelihoods. Proceedings Quercus in China, Japan and Vietnam (HH3) of the Nutritional Society. 65(2): 190-197. Duke J and Bennett K 2014, Medicinal Shiitake extracts showed greater antioxidant Mushroom Evibase (unpublished) activity than alpha-tocopherol, BHA, BHT, Duke J A 2013, Write-ups, information and and propyl gallate at inhibiting lipid oxidation, summaries on approximately 2,000 economic based on lipid peroxidation, deoxyribose, and plants, USDA, ARS, Beltsville, MD. peroxidase. In decreasing antioxidant capacity, Facciola S 1998, Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible , Agrocybe, Lentinus, Terfezia, Plants. Kampong Publications, Vista CA. (FAC) Fan L, Soccol AT, Pandey A, Vandenberghe L and Soccol Picoa, Lepista, and Hydnum. X12380748 CR 2006, Effect of caffeine and on cultivation and fructification of on Coffee humus. EXTRACTS (Shiitake): LEM used for Brazilian Journal of . 37: 420-424. recurrent stomach cancer in Japan, increasing Foster S and Yue C-X 1992, Herbal Emissaries: Bringing Chinese survival rate, especially in combination with Herbs to the West. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, VT. (SAY) Hobbs C 1996, Medicinal Mushrooms. Botanica chemotherapy. The antiaggregant activity Press, Santa Cruz, CA. (HOB) of extracts had IC50=80 ug/ml (X7196068). Hou Y, Ding X, Hou W, Zhong J, Zhu H, Ma B, Xu T and Li MGN-3 Extract -Immune support (X22433044). J 2013 Anti-microorganism, anti-tumor, and immune ADENINE Hepatoprotective HH3 YIN activties of a novel polysaccharide from Tricholoma ALUMINUM 1,820 PL HOB matsutake. Pharmacognosy Magazine. 9(35):244-249. AMINES PL HH3 Kim S, Nam S, and Friedman M 2013, Hericum erinaceus (lion’s mane) mushroom extracts inhibit metastasis of cancer cells to 6-AMINO-9H-PURIN-9- the lungs of CT-2 colon cancer transplanted mice. Journal of PROPANIC-ACID PL HH3... Agricultural Food Chemistry. 61(20): 4898-4904. (X23668749) Lai P, Wong K, David R, Kuppusamy U, Abdullah N and Malek S 2013, Neurotrophic properties of lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, References Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes). International Agricultural Resource Marketing Center (ARMC), 2014 Journal of Medicinal Mushroom, 15(6): 539-554.(X24266378) Online. http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/ Liang B, Guo Z, Xie F and Zhao A 2013, Antihyperglycemic and specialty_crops/mushrooms-profile Accessed August 17, 2014 antihyperlipidemic activities of aqueous extract of Hericium American Pharmaceutical Association (APA) 1998, erinaceus in experimental diabetic rats. BMC Complementary APA’s Guide to Natural Medicines. and . 13:253. (X24090482) Benjamin D R 1995, Mushroom Poisons and Panaceas Lininger S (Ed) (with Wright J, Austin S, Brown D, Gaby A) 1998, - A Handbook for Naturalists and Physicians. The Natural Pharmacy. Prima Publications, Rocklin, CA. (SKY) WH Freeman and Co., New York (DRB) Mattila P, Konko K, Eurola M, Pihlava J-M, Astola J, Vahteristo Bennett L, Sheean P, Zabaras D and Head R 2013, Heat- L, Hietaniemi V, Kumpulainen J, Valtonen M and Piironen stable components of wood ear mushroom, Auricularia V 2001, Contents of , elements, and polytricha (higher Basidiomycetes), inhibit in vitro activity some phneolic compounds in cultivated mushrooms J. of beta secretase (BACE1). International Journal of Agric. Food Chemistry. 49(5): 2343-2348. (JAF49:2343) Medicinal Mushrooms. 15(3):233-249 (X23662612). Morin R 2014, Prescribing mushrooms for anxiety. Atlantic Bensky D, Clavey S. and Stoger E 2004, Chinese Herbal Monthly. Online. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/ Medicine, Materia Medica. Eastland Press, Inc., Seattle archive/2014/04/chemo-for-the-spirit-lsd-helps-cancer- Blaschek W, Hansel R, Keller K, Reichling J, Rimpler H, patients-cope-with-death/360625/2/ Accessed April 22, 2014 and Schneider G eds. 1998, Hager’s Handbuch der Murcia M, Martinez-Tome M, Jimenez A, Honrubia M and Pamas Pharmazeutischen Praxis, Auflage Band 2 (A-K), 909 P 2002, Antioxidant activity of edible fungi ( and pp., (L-Z), 858 pp. Springer-Verlag, Berlin (HH3) mushrooms): losses during industrial processing. Journal Boik J 2001, Natural Compounds in Cancer Therapy - Promising of Food Protection. 65(10): 1614-22. (X12380748) Non-toxic Antitumor Agents from Plants and other Natural Pala, Warri and Mir, (2012). Yield performance of Pleurotus Sources. Oregon Medical Press, Princeton, MN. sajor-caju on different agro-based wastes. Annals of Brauer D, Kimmons T, and Phillips M 2002, Effects of management Biological Research. 3(4): 1938-1941. (X17592899). on the yield and high-molecular weight polysaccharide Ramirez N, Angarita C and Zuloaga O 2007, [Incorporation of caffeine 58 J A H G Volume 12 | Number 2 Journal of the American Herbalists Guild

into macromicete fungus Pleurotus sajor-caju growing on coffee and Alternative Medicine. 2013:492976. (X24302966) NIST’S RANT pulp] (Spanish). Rev. Iberoam Micol. 24(1): 72-74. (X17592899). Yang S-H (trans.) 2008, The Divine Farmer’s Classic of the O Sarris J, McIntyre E, and Camfield D 2013, Plant-based medicines Materia Medica. Blue Poppy Press, Boulder, Co. for anxiety disorders, Part 2: A review of clinical studies with Yang S, Ren X, Sheng J, Lu J, Li T, Tang F, Wang Y, Meng L, Meng supporting preclinical evidence CNS Drugs. 27(4): 301-319. Q and Teng L 2010, Preparation and the antitumor activity in Stamets P 1993, Growing Gourmet and Medicinal vitro of polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake World REDUCTI Mushrooms. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA. Journal of Microbiology and , 26(3):497-503. Torkelson C, Sweet E, Martzen M, Sasagawa, M, Wenner Ying X, Ma J, Liang Q, Wang Y, Bai G and Luo G 2013, C, Gay J, Putiri A and Standish L 2012. Phase 1 Identification and analysis of the constituents in an Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in women with aqueous extract of Tricholoma matsutake by HPLC coupled breast cancer. ISRN Oncology. 2012:251632 with diode array detection/ectrospray ionization mass Williamson B L 2002, Reflections on Fungaloids. spectrometry Journal of Food Science. 78(8): 1173-1182. Algrove Publishing Ltd., Ottawa, Canada. Ying J-Z, ,Mao X-L, Ma Q-M, Zong Y and Wen H 1987, Icons of Wang H, Liu W, Ng T, Ooi V, and Chang S 1995, Immunology Medicinal Fungi from China. Science Press, Beijing (YIN) and antitumor activities of a polysaccharide-peptide You L, Gao Q, Feng M, Yang B, Ren J, Gu L, Cui C and Zhao complex from a mycelium culture of Tricholoma sp., a M 2013, Structural characterisation of polysaccharides local edible mushroom Life Sciences. 57(3): 269-281. from Tricholoma matsutake and their antioxidant and White L; Mavor S 1998, Kids, Herbs, Health - A Parent’s Guide antitumor activities Food Chemistry. 138(4): 2242-2249 to Natural Remedies. Interweave Press. . (WAM) Zhang Y, Mills GL, and Nair MG 2002, Cyclooxygenase inhibitory Wong J, Abdulla M, Raman J, Phan C, Kuppusamy U, Golbabapour and antioxidant compounds from the mycelia of the S, Sabaratnam V 2013, gastroprotective effects of lion’s edible mushroom maitake (Grifola frondosa). Journal of mane mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull:Fr,) Pers. Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 50(2): 7581-7585. (Aphyllophoromycetidaceae) extract against ethanol- induced ulcer in rats Evidence Based Complementary