The high-quality mushroom supplements use only the most potent extracts of each species. These extracts are made from the mushrooms’ fruiting body, which contains the most bioactive compounds. Medicinal mushrooms are used as biological response modifiers in cancer treatments, as they help reduce side effects and improve overall patient outcomes [1,2].
The most common mushroom extracts come from shiitake (Coriolus versicolor), reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and maitake (Grifola frondosa). The main bioactive metabolites of these mushrooms are b-glucans, isoflavonoids, and polysaccharides. They are known to act as immunomodulators, antitumor, and inflammatory agents, and also show antiviral and antioxidant activities.
Superior Support: High-Quality Mushroom Supplements
Another popular medicinal mushroom is Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane or yamabushitake). It is known to act as a neuroprotective and enhances nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in vivo. Hericenones and erinacines are two groups of cyathin diterpenoids that can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier. They have been shown to inhibit cell death and increase apoptosis in cultured neurons.
A study by Chay et al. compared the effects of 2.4 g/day of C. versicolor to placebo in severe hepatocellular carcinoma patients with poor liver function. They found that the supplement significantly improved the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scores and Mini-Mental State Examination scores, and increased contrast sensitivity in the parahippocampal cingulum region. The researchers suggested that the effect may be due to the inhibition of NF-B activation.
Other studies analyzed the efficacy of a product called AndosanTM, which is produced by ACE Co Ltd for Immunopharma, in Japan. It contains a high concentration of the mycelium of Agaricus blazei, with a small amount of Grifola frondosa and Hericium erinaceus. This product has been shown to have antitumor and immunomodulatory activity in clinical trials, mainly attributed to the b-glucans and isoflavonoids in these mushrooms.
