Omnia SanaCommon names in 13 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 6 pharmacological actions, 8 traditional / indicated uses, with 15 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Wood-decay fungus (not a true plant) with a classic cap-and-stem mushroom form. The cap is broad, brown to dark brown, often with pale scale-like markings, with a fringed or curled margin when young; the underside bears numerous cream-coloured gills radiating from a central or slightly off-centre fibrous stem.
Habitat & Distribution
Grows naturally as a wood-decay fungus on fallen broadleaf trees (notably shii, oak and chestnut) in East Asian forests; almost all commercial shiitake today is cultivated on hardwood logs or sawdust blocks.
Harvesting
Fruiting bodies are hand-picked once the cap has opened but before the margin fully flattens, then used fresh or dried; mycelium-based extracts are cultivated separately in liquid or grain culture.
Key Constituents
The principal immunomodulatory polysaccharide, used clinically in Japan as an injectable cancer-adjuvant therapy.
A unique amino-acid-derived compound studied for cholesterol-lowering activity.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from antidiabetic action
more plants for blood sugar / diabetes support →detailed sources →
inferred from anticancer action
more plants for cancer (anticancer research) →detailed sources →
more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →
inferred from antiviral action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from antidiabetic action
inferred from antimicrobial action
Traditional Use & History
Shiitake has a very long East Asian culinary and medicinal tradition, used in Chinese and Japanese medicine as a tonic for vitality and longevity and to support healthy qi and blood; its polysaccharide lentinan, isolated from the fruiting body, has been used clinically in Japan as an adjunct immunotherapy, directly building on this traditional immune-tonic reputation.[12]
Preparations
Fruiting-body or mycelium extract standardised to polysaccharide (lentinan/beta-glucan) content, taken as capsules for immune support.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
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.
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).
Harvest Readiness
[11]
External Identifiers
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 - The Spore Depot 'The Ultimate Guide to Growing Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) Mushrooms'. Available at: https://thesporedepot.com/growing-shiitake-lentinula-edodes-mushrooms/ Traditional / reference
https://thesporedepot.com/growing-shiitake-lentinula-edodes-mushrooms/ - Vethanayagam, R.R. et al (1996) 'Lentinan — a novel immunomodulator', 54(2), pp. 25--30. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Lentinan%20%E2%80%94%20a%20novel%20immunomodulator - Wasser, S.P (2011) 'Current findings, future trends, and unsolved problems in studies of medicinal mushrooms', 89(5), pp. 1323--1332. doi:10.1007/s00253-010-3067-4 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-3067-4 - Yokota, M (1989) 'Observatory trial of anti-obesity activity of Eritadenine', pp. 1--4. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Observatory%20trial%20of%20anti-obesity%20activity%20of%20Eritadenine - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Selected studies & references
All 14 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.