Japanese Mushrooms in Herbal Medicine: Properties of Japanese Mushrooms

Name: Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
Family: Polyporaceae

Name: Shiitake (Lentinus edodes)
Family: Tricholomataceae

Name: Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Family: Polyporaceae

Name: Coriolus (Coriolus versicolor)
Family: Polyporaceae

Origin

Japan

Parts Used

Mushroom used in therapy

Chemical constituents

• Proteins;
• Polysaccharides;
• Lecithins.

Japanese Mushrooms in Herbal Medicine: Properties of Japanese Mushrooms

These Japanese mushrooms are used as a tonic and strengthener. From a nutritional point of view they all constitute a highly protein food, easily digestible and rich in minerals and vitamins. In traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine they are instead used for their immunostimulating and anti-free radical properties. For this purpose standardized extracts in polysaccharides or pure polysaccharides are used.

Side effects

Following the ingestion of Japanese mushrooms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, liver enzyme alterations, leukopenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia may appear.

Pharmacological interactions

• not known

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