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Shiitake (mushroom) (Lentinula edodes) and Cancer (anticancer research): evidence and sources
inferred from anticancer action
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Objectives Lentinan was extracted from shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) via a new cost-effective procedure that resulted in high purity (88%) and yield. Unlike previous reports whereby the lentinan was given parenterally, in this study the emphasis was on the oral administration of lentinan. The goal is to document whether the efficacy of the antitumor property is still expressed through this route of administration. Design Initial study on the action of lentinan was conducted using murine lymphoma (K36) cells in a AKR mouse model. Further investigation on the effectiveness of the extracted lentinan was then performed using human colon-carcinoma cell lines in mice. Six established human colon-carcinoma cell lines segregated into three groups of different degrees of differentiation were used in this study. One group was not fed (control) and the second group was prefed with lentinan for 7 days prior to inoculations with the cancer cells. The size of the tumors that developed was rated after 1 month. Results Significant regression in tumor formation was observed in prefed mice compared to control (unfed) mice when K36 or human colon-carcinoma cells were used. Significant reductions in the size of the tumors were observed in mice prefed with lentinan. Follow-up investigation proceeded with the use of nude mice (athymic). Lymphocytes extracted from AKR mice prefed with lentinan for 7 days were inoculated into the nude mice. This was then followed by inoculation of the human colon-carcinoma cell lines into these mice. Much smaller tumors were formed in nude mice inoculated with lymphocytes, in contrast to the larger tumor formed in nude mice without lymphocytes inoculation. Conclusion This study showed that the antitumor property of lentinan was maintained with oral administration. In addition, "primed" lymphocytes, when given passively to immunodeficient mice, were able to retard the development of tumors in these mice.
1 source supporting Shiitake (mushroom) for Cancer (anticancer research). Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's anticancer (preclinical) action. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Induction of xenobiotics metabolizing enzymes is related to the formation and chemoprevention of cancer. Since cytochrome P450s (CYPs) including CYP1A subfamily metabolize certain pro-carcinogens to their ultimate forms, down-regulation of CYP1As by food factors leads to the prevention of cancer. Mushroom polysaccharides, especially beta-glucans such as lentinan from Lentinus edodes, possess the anti-tumor and immunomodulating activities through the cytokine production from immunocytes. Recent our studies have demonstrated that lentinan suppresses hepatic CYP1As expression in the both constitutive and inducible levels through the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and an increase in the DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-kappaB. This paper discusses on the effective lentinan dosage and route of administration for suppression of CYP1As.
Lentinus edodes is the first medicinal macrofungus to enter the realm of modern biotechnology. It is the second most popular edible mushroom in the global market which is attributed not only to its nutritional value but also to possible potential for therapeutic applications. Lentinus edodes is used medicinally for diseases involving depressed immune function (including AIDS), cancer, environmental allergies, fungal infection, frequent flu and colds, bronchial inflammation, heart disease, hyperlipidemia (including high blood cholesterol), hypertension, infectious disease, diabetes, hepatitis and regulating urinary inconsistencies. It is the source of several well-studied preparations with proven pharmacological properties, especially the polysaccharide lentinan, eritadenine, shiitake mushroom mycelium, and culture media extracts (LEM, LAP and KS-2). Antibiotic, anti-carcinogenic and antiviral compounds have been isolated intracellularly (fruiting body and mycelia) and extracellularly (culture media). Some of these substances were lentinan, lectins and eritadenine. The aim of this review is to discuss the therapeutic applications of this macrofungus. The potential of this macrofungus is unquestionable in the most important areas of applied biotechnology.