Introduction:
Medicinal fungi have long played a vital role in human history. Mushrooms have been
used medicinally for thousands of years due to their wide range of beneficial health
effects. Thanks to advanced technology, the beneficial ingredient in these mushrooms
can be extracted and applied to prescription drugs and, of course, mushroom
supplements. Mushroom supplements are prevalent in Asian countries, where Chinese
medicine originated. There are often legends about the magical mushrooms that led to
immortality, resulting in people adoring these supplements that claim to have
mushroom substances in them. Among all the popular mushroom supplements,
Taiwanofungus camphoratus, which is endemic to Taiwan, is widespread. It is
estimated that the output value of Taiwanofungus camphoratus is nearly 90,000,000
US dollars a year. I wonder what the benefits of this fungus people craze for are.
This research report will take Taiwanofungus camphoratus as an example to briefly
discuss some benefits of medicinal fungi. Furthermore, it will explain the differences
between mushroom supplements and provide some shopping tips for dietary
supplements.
Literature Review:
1. Introduction of Taiwanofungus camphoratus
Taiwanofungus camphoratus usually has a plate, bell, horseshoe, or tower-shaped appearance. It is bright red at first and gradually becomes light reddish brown, light brown, or light yellowish brown when it grows. It has a bitter taste and can be eaten directly. Under natural conditions, it only grows in the hollow space of the trunk of the evergreen broad-leaved tree (Cinnamomum kanehirai Hayata) at an altitude of 200 to 1500 meters or on a dark and moist surface. According to the historical record, the pioneer Wu Sha entered east Taiwan and discovered that Taiwanofungus camphoratus was first used by aboriginal people as an anti-alcoholic drug and a daily supplement.
2. The benefits of Taiwanofungus camphoratus First, many kinds of substances in Taiwanofungus camphoratus have proved beneficial to the human body. The substances can be categorized into Triterpenoids such as Antcin A/B/C, Sesquiterpenoids such as Antrocin, Beta-glucans, and more. Moreover, Because Taiwanofungus camphoratus is endemic to Taiwan, it has received much attention from researchers in East Asia. According to the study at present, it has three main benefits for the human body.
Liver Protection This is the most proven benefit of Taiwanofungus camphoratus and is also proven by Taiwanese officials. According to a study published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, Taiwanofungus camphoratus extract could help restore HFD(High-Fat-Diet)-induced elevation of body weight gain, body fat deposition, and total cholesterol. After chemical analysis, the triterpenes chemicals, such as Antcin K, Antcin C, and Antcin B, are abundant in the extraction and help prevent obesity and derived fatty liver. Another study published in Current Molecular Pharmacology also indicates that triterpenoids in Taiwanofungus camphoratus can inhibit AFLD by upregulating ALDH2 activity. Therefore, it can accelerate the metabolism of acetaldehyde in animal experiments and suppress excessive fat and inflammation in the liver. The studies above prove that consuming Taiwanofungus camphoratus has protective effects on the liver.
Immunity Many people consume dietary supplements to boost their immune system, and people who like Taiwanofungus camphoratus are no exception. In addition to enhancing the immune system, some seek these mushroom supplements as a cure. Psoriasis, which causes a rash with itchy and scaly patches, is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. It can be initiated by excessive activation of endosomal toll-like receptors (TLRs). According to a study, Taiwanofungus camphoratus extract can inhibit endosomal TLR activation. Moreover, the benzene compounds, can help reduce psoriasis symptoms. Therefore, it can be a candidate psoriasis drug.
Anticancer Effect The main substances contributing to its anticancer property are Triterpenoids such as Antcin A/B/C and Antrocin. They all show the effect of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells or slowing down the transmitting speed of tumor cells. As for today, there is research conducted to discover the impact of Taiwanofungus camphoratus in treating breast cancer, Bladder Cancer, prostate cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, liver cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and pancreatic cancer. Aside from the benefit Taiwanofungus camphoratus has in cancer treatment, it can also be used with other therapies to improve their effectiveness. For instance, a study published in Cancer shows that antrocin extract from a mushroom effectively enhanced radiotherapy in prostate cancer. Usually, prostate cancer cells can quickly develop radioresistance after long-term radiotherapy. Researchers discovered that combining antrocin and radiation in the therapy can lead to apoptosis in radioresistance prostate cancer cells. Also, study regarding breast cancer and ovarian cancer proved that using antrocin with chemotherapeutic medicine, paclitaxel, can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and show cytotoxic effect.
3. The differences between Mycelium and Fruiting body
When shopping for mushroom supplements, customers may come across two
different types. One is the extraction of mycelium, and the other is the fruiting body.
The mycelium refers to the part that's the precursor to the fruiting body, which is the
mushroom we see in daily life. Mycelium acts as the vegetative body of the fungus,
accessing resources and growing through its environment. Furthermore, mycelium
usually contains more polysaccharides. On the other hand, the fruiting body is the
mushroom we see, and it contains more secondary metabolites such as triterpenoids
and beta-glucans.
Hence, when buying mushroom supplements, it is always important to read the label
and ensure the product contains more of the part of the mushroom that the individual
prefers, as it contains different ratios of chemical compounds.
4. Precautions for consuming mushroom supplements Medicinal mushrooms like Taiwanofungus camphoratus are classified as dietary
supplements, not drugs. Therefore, if patients are on some medication, it is better to
consult a healthcare professional before consuming supplements. Some chemicals in
supplements have strong biological effects that may conflict with a medicine.
Discussion:
It has only been about 30 years since Taiwanofungus camphoratus caught the public's
attention, and many things still need to be thoroughly researched. Most of the research
conducted is cell and animal experiment, and research on clinical trials are lacking.
Namely, its exact impact on the human body is still in question. However, it is no
doubt that this mushroom unique to Taiwan still has lots of chemistry and medical potential. I hope the public can have more knowledge on this fungi and not fall victim
to false advertisements and buy the wrong supplement for their body that's not helpful
or even harmful.
Conclusion:
This research report has introduced Taiwanofungus camphoratus and its benefits in
the human body, including liver protection, boosting immunity, and helping cancer
treatment. Also, the report contains a comparison between mycelium and the fruiting
body, providing the public with more knowledge when shopping for mushroom
supplements. Finally, this report has indicated that there are still many things we don't
know about this mushroom, so it is crucial for people not to fall into some
exaggerated advertisements some companies adopted for marketing purposes. And
hopefully, more research can be conducted in the future to prove the effectiveness of
this unique mushroom.
Citation:
(Cover image source: Taiwan Research Highlight)
Chen, J.-H., T.H Wu, A., T.W Tzeng, D., Huang, C.-C., Tzeng, Y.-M., & Chao,
T.-Y. (2019). Antrocin, a bioactive component from Antrodia cinnamomea,
suppresses breast carcinogenesis and stemness via downregulation of
β-catenin/NOTCH1/Akt signaling. Phytomedicine, 52, 70–78.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.213
Chen, Y.-A., Tzeng, D. T., Huang, Y.-P., Lin, C.-J., Lo, U.-G., Wu, C.-L., Lin, H.,
Hsieh, J.-T., Tang, C.-H., & Lai, C.-H. (2018). Antrocin sensitizes prostate
cancer cells to radiotherapy through inhibiting PI3K/akt and MAPK signaling
pathways. Cancers, 11(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers11010034
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Mycelium. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved
January 18, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/science/myceliumGeethangili, M., & Tzeng, Y.-M. (2011). Review of pharmacological effects
ofantrodia camphorataand its bioactive compounds. Evidence-Based Complementary
and Alternative Medicine, 2011, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nep108
Kuang, Y., Li, B., Wang, Z., Qiao, X., & Ye, M. (2021). Terpenoids from the
medicinal mushroom antrodia camphorata: Chemistry and medicinal potential.
Natural Product Reports, 38(1), 83–102. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0np00023j
Lai, C.-Y., Su, Y.-W., Lin, K.-I., Hsu, L.-C., & Chuang, T.-H. (2017). Natural
modulators of endosomal toll-like receptor-mediated psoriatic skin inflammation.
Journal of Immunology Research, 2017, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7807313
Liu, F.-S., Yang, P.-Y., Hu, D.-N., Huang, Y.-W., & Chen, M.-J. (2011). Antrodia
camphorata induces apoptosis and enhances the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel in
human ovarian cancer cells. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 1.
https://doi.org/10.1097/igc.0b013e31821f742c
Peng, C.-H., Yang, M.-Y., Yang, Y.-S., Yu, C.-C., & Wang, C.-J. (2017). antrodia
cinnamomeaprevents obesity, dyslipidemia, and the derived fatty liver via regulating
AMPK and SREBP signaling. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 45(01),
67–83. https://doi.org/10.1142/s0192415x17500069
Xu, L., Peng, A.-K., Cao, Y.-ni, Qiao, X., Yue, S.-S., Ye, M., & Qi, R. (2021).
Protective effects of Antrodia cinnamomea and its constituent compound dehydroeburicoic acid 32 against alcoholic fatty liver disease. Current Molecular
Pharmacology, 14(5), 871–882.
https://doi.org/10.2174/1874467214666210120152140
Commenti