Immune Fx
References and Research Articles

University of Strathclyde, May 2002

Medicinal Mushrooms: Their therapeutic properties and current medical usage with special emphasis on cancer treatments
Smith, Rowan and Sullivan,

This literature study commissioned by the UK Cancer Research Campaign in November 2000, entailed searching computerized databases of published literature (e.g. Medline, BIDS/WOS, Embase, Science Citation Index, British Library Net) and searching of relevant specialized journals (as outlined in the proposal), many of which are not included in the computerized databases. Many original and peer-reviewed papers were obtained from the Document Supply Centre of British Library Net and scanning reference lists of appropriate review articles, books and other relevant publications (including symposia and conference proceedings). Consultations were achieved with key informants in the field, nationally and internationally. In addition to writing to many internationally-leading scientists in this field, Prof Smith spoke to a number of these scientists at an international conference held recently in Kiev where he presented an invited paper on this particular topic. However, while most of the aforementioned strategies proved successful, we were disappointed at the lack of response from some key scientific and medical centers in China and Japan who have specialized knowledge in this particular field.

We believe that this seminal literature study does contain the best up to date information on the therapeutic properties and current medical usage of medicinal mushrooms with special emphasis given on cancer treatment. It is proposed that the critical information in this report will be used to write reviews for appropriate journals. As a closing qualifying remark, while every effort was made to ensure that the best-published-data was gathered on the aforementioned, it must be appreciated that this particular field is enormous and a limited number of interesting papers may have been missed. Click here to view actual document.

Crit Rev Immunol 1999; 19(1):65-96
Therapeutic effects of substances occurring in higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms: a modern perspective.
Wasser SP, Weis AL, International Centre for Cryptogamic Plants and Fungi, Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Israel.

This review highlights some of the recently isolated and identified substances of higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms origin that express promising antitumor, immune modulating, cardiovascular and hypercholesterolemia, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic effects. Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in folk medicine. In particular, mushrooms useful against cancers of the stomach, esophagus, lungs, etc. are known in China, Russia, Japan, Korea, as well as the U.S.A. and Canada. There are about 200 species of mushrooms that have been found to markedly inhibit the growth of different kinds of tumors. Searching for new antitumor and other medicinal substances from mushrooms and to study the medicinal value of these mushrooms have become a matter of great significance. However, most of the mushroom origin antitumor substances have not been clearly defined. Several antitumor polysaccharides such as hetero-beta-glucans and their protein complexes (e.g., xyloglucans and acidic beta-glucan-containing uronic acid), as well as dietary fibers, lectins, and terpenoids have been isolated from medicinal mushrooms. In Japan, Russia, China, and the U.S.A. several different polysaccharide antitumor agents have been developed from the fruiting body, mycelia, and culture medium of various medicinal mushrooms (Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, Schizophyllum commune, Trametes versicolor, Inonotus obliquus, and Flammulina velutipes). Both cellular components and secondary metabolites of a large number of mushrooms have been shown to affect the immune system of the host and therefore could be used to treat a variety of disease states.