Nutritional and medicinal value of mushrooms

Mushrooms have a special nutritional value as they contain a large percentage of water, a lot of fiber, low fat, low sugar, protein, minerals and trace elements, vitamins and enzymes. In addition, dozens of species of mushrooms are attributed healing properties.

More specific:

Lentinula edodes (Shiitake)

The mushrooms of the species L. edodes are widespread mainly in Asia and as a culinary delight in food, but also for their pharmaceutical qualities. It is the second ranking mushroom in world market, mainly due to the exotic taste, the nutritional value and various pharmaceutical qualities which will be mentioned below.

Nutritional value

The L. edodes is excellent and very popular for its nutritional value. Constitutes a source of minerals and vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and D. Furthermore, the dry L.edodes contains some percentage of protein which is compared with the percentage of proteins we find in chicken, pork and beef, while the percentage of dietary fiber is much higher than the products listed above.

Apart from the above nutrients L.edodes contain fairly large percentage of dietary fiber which prevents obesity, hypertension, diabetes, constipation, arteriosclerosis and reduces the level of cholesterol. It also contains high amounts of potassium, iron, phosphorus and vitamin B and D at a higher rate than most foods. However it doesn’t contain vitamins A and C.

Medicinal value

The populations of Asia are using for years L.edodes (CC name: shiitake) and it is for them a traditional medicine. Contemporary pharmacology searches for all L.edodes derivatives. Among these, the lentinan and LEM (Lentinula Edodes mycelium extract) are the most frequently studied compounds. Below we mention important laboratory and clinical research on antitumor, antibiotic, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and cardiovascular beneficial effects of Shiitake.

Antitumor action: Studies have shown that L.Edodes and its derivatives, in particular lentinan and LEM, have antitumor and antibiotic action and are usually administered to patients either by pill or injectable form. In clinical tests, when lentinan is administered to cancer patients together with chemotherapy, tumor growth is inhibited, it improves the effectiveness of chemotherapy and therefore extends the life of the patient. In Japan, lentinan has been approved as a drug to combat stomach cancer. In the United States and specifically in the Memorial Cancer Center, its extracts are used as a complementary therapy in cancer chemotherapy.

Antibiotic action: In contrast to the lentinan having antitumor activity, the LEM has proven to have a stronger antibiotic activity which can fight hepatitis B virus and HIV. In addition to HIV disease, there are advantages even for healthy people, as researches from the University of Singapore have shown that people who consume 30 gr shiitake daily for 4 weeks, are less prone to the common flu virus.

Apart from the above actions, the L.edodes has also hepatoprotective action at which the substance LEM acts against and soothes patients symptoms from liver diseases. Researches have also shown its cardiovascular beneficial effects, thanks to a unique amino acid, eritadenini, which is estimated to be responsible for the ability of shiitake to lower cholesterol levels and blood lipids.

These exceptional qualities render the shiitake a mushroom of exceptional medicinal value. 

Pleurotus

Pleurotus mushrooms have become the most popular mushrooms in recent years and have dominated the market for their high nutritional and medicinal value.

Nutritional value

Pleurotus, consisting of 89-90 species, is a rich source of protein, minerals (iron, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and sodium) and vitamin C, vitamin B complex (thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid and niacin).

The pleurotus proteins are of high nutritional value compared to the proteins deriving from animals and plants and have excellent quality, due to the presence of all important amino acids.

Medicinal value

Pleurotus mushrooms, by producing statins, reduce levels of LDL cholesterol.

They also have anticancer action, due to its high content of polysaccharides (complex of carbohydrates, consisting of multiple sugars in either molecular chain or branched form).

The polysaccharide (beta-D glucans) is responsible for the anticancer action, which activates the immune system against the tumor cells.

Another insoluble polysaccharide isolated from pleurotus is b-(1,3-1,6)-D-glucan, also called pleuran. Studies published in 2010 and 2011 respectively showed that pleuran has a protective effect against NK (natural killers) cells and subjects taking 100mg per day reduced the incidence of infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Also pleurotus contain high ratio of potassium and sodium, which makes it an ideal food for patients suffering from hypertension and heart disease.

Ganoderma

The Ganoderma lucidum Reishi, commercially known in China as LingZhi which means spiritual power, is an edible mushroom known for its miraculous health benefits. It is a kind of fungus that belongs to the family of polyporacea fungi. Used in Japan for over 2000 years and is considered to be the oldest mushroom with medicinal properties. It is worth noting that in Korea, Japan, and particularly in China it is termed as the mushroom of immortality.

Nutritional value

Its content of amino acid, protein, alkaloid, coumarin, triterpenoids, volatile oils, mannitol, carbohydrates, vitamin B2, vitamin C and enzymes makes it most valuable.

Medicinal properties

The water-soluble polysaccharides and particularly the b-8-(1,3)-D-glucans are the components responsible for its anticancer properties.

Also, some acids identified in GANODERMA decrease the levels of LDL, high blood pressure and have anticoagulant properties.

The water-soluble polysaccharides containing GANODERMA namely b-8-(1,3)-D-glucans promote cell function, thus allowing the immune system to face some unpleasant situations for our organism, such as asthma, dermatitis, bronchitis, rheumatism. Studies have shown that it inhibits histamine release, thereby relieving common allergies.

The Ganoderma lucidum, in aggressive forms of cancer, strengthens the surface of cancer cells and inhibits their spread, prevents blood clot formation, helping the action of the drug treatment locally. Reduces the side effects of chemotherapy and increases the effectiveness of other anticancer drugs. Finally, it has beneficial actions against various neurological diseases (neuromuscular diseases, multiple sclerosis), psychosomatic diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic fatigue syndrome and has anti-aging properties.

Note: The above medicinal properties of mushrooms do not render them drugs for healing diseases. The above are references of scientific articles and studies on both in vivo and in vitro, but under no circumstances can be used as the sole treatment,  but as supportive (like healing herbs) and always in consultation with the physician scientist.