Pharmacological Actions

Anticancer (preclinical)^{[3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13]}

Antidiabetic (blood-sugar lowering)^{[11, 12, 13]}

Antimicrobial^{[5, 11, 12, 13]}

Antioxidant^{[11, 12, 13]}

Antiviral^{[5, 11, 12, 13]}

Immunomodulator / immune support^{[1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13]}

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Blood sugar / diabetes support^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antidiabetic action

more plants for blood sugar / diabetes support →detailed sources →

Cardiovascular / heart health^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →

Cold & flu^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antiviral action

more plants for cold & flu →detailed sources →

Immune support^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

more plants for immune support →detailed sources →

Infection (general)^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for infection (general) →detailed sources →

Metabolic support^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antidiabetic action

more plants for metabolic support →detailed sources →

Wounds^{[11, 12, 13]}Moderate · 5/10

inferred from antimicrobial action

more plants for wounds →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^{[11, 12, 13]}Caution

Generally very safe as a food. Raw or undercooked shiitake can cause a rare skin rash (shiitake dermatitis / flagellate dermatitis) in sensitive individuals — fully cooking eliminates this risk. May have mild anticoagulant effects. Rarely causes digestive upset. Well tolerated in normal culinary quantities.

Safety note^{[11, 12, 13]}Info

Duke (2002) rates shiitake as +++ and notes immunostimulant, hypocholesterolemic, antibacterial, and anti-HIV activities at the experimental level (score 1). The key active compound is lentinan, a beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharide, which is used as an injectable anticancer drug in Japan. Duke notes clinical applications of shiitake preparations for immune support, cancer adjuvant therapy, and cholesterol management. Dose: 1–3 (606 mg) capsules up to three times daily for standardized preparations. Shiitake dermatitis (flagellate erythema) is a rare but recognized adverse effect from eating raw or undercooked shiitake — cooking prevents this (Duke, 2002).

References

REF-1163, REF-1164, REF-1165, REF-1166, REF-1167, REF-1168, REF-1169, REF-1170, REF-1171, REF-1172

References & Sources

Jafari, M., Boskabady, M.H., Rezaee, S.A., Rezaeian, S. and others (2023) 'Lentinan and beta-glucan extract from shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes, alleviate acute LPS-induced hematological changes in mice', Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 26(7), pp. 836-842. doi:10.22038/IJBMS.2023.67669.14820 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.22038/IJBMS.2023.67669.14820
Ahn, H., Jeon, E., Kim, J.C., Kang, S.G. and others (2017) 'Lentinan from shiitake selectively attenuates AIM2 and non-canonical inflammasome activation while inducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production', Scientific Reports, 7(1), pp. 1314. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01462-4 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01462-4
Okamoto, T., Kodoi, R., Nonaka, Y., Fukuda, I. and others (2004) 'Lentinan from shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) suppresses expression of cytochrome P450 1A subfamily in the mouse liver', BioFactors, 21(1-4), pp. 407-409. doi:10.1002/biof.552210180 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/biof.552210180
Ng, M.L. and Yap, A.T (2002) 'Inhibition of human colon carcinoma development by lentinan from shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes)', Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 8(5), pp. 581-589. doi:10.1089/107555302320825093 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1089/107555302320825093
Bisen, P.S., Baghel, R.K., Sanodiya, B.S., Thakur, G.S. and Prasad, G.B.K.S (2010) 'Lentinus edodes: a macrofungus with pharmacological activities', Current Medicinal Chemistry, 17(22), pp. 2419-2430. doi:10.2174/092986710791698495 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2174/092986710791698495
Stephany, M.P., Chung, S., Handler, M.Z., Handler, N.S. and others (2016) 'Shiitake Mushroom Dermatitis: A Review', American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 17(5), pp. 485-489. doi:10.1007/s40257-016-0212-6 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-016-0212-6
Nguyen, A.H., Gonzaga, M.I., Lim, V.M., Adler, M.J. and others (2017) 'Clinical features of shiitake dermatitis: a systematic review', International Journal of Dermatology, 56(6), pp. 610-616. doi:10.1111/ijd.13433 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.13433
Djordjevic, B., Skugor, S., Jorgensen, S.M., Overland, M. and others (2009) 'Modulation of splenic immune responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed lentinan, a beta-glucan from mushroom Lentinula edodes', Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 26(2), pp. 201-209. doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2008.10.012 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2008.10.012
Kaleta, B., Gorski, A., Zagozdzon, R., Cieslak, M. and others (2019) 'Selenium-containing polysaccharides from Lentinula edodes-Biological activity', Carbohydrate Polymers, 223, pp. 115078. doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115078 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115078
Money, N.P (2016) 'Are mushrooms medicinal?', Fungal Biology, 120(4), pp. 449-453. doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2016.01.006 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2016.01.006
Vethanayagam, R.R. et al (1996) 'Lentinan — a novel immunomodulator', 54(2), pp. 25--30. Traditional / reference
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Wasser, S.P (2011) 'Current findings, future trends, and unsolved problems in studies of medicinal mushrooms', 89(5), pp. 1323--1332. Randomized trial
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Yokota, M (1989) 'Observatory trial of anti-obesity activity of Eritadenine', pp. 1--4. Traditional / reference
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