Shiitake Mushroom Health Benefits And Medicinal Properties

Shiitake Mushroom is an ancient medicinal mushroom with known health benefits originating in ancient China. In the health and wellness community this mushroom has surged in popularity recently as the potential medicinal and health benefits of shiitake mushroom are confirmed through emerging research. In recent years, shiitake production and usage has grown substantially worldwide. Shiitake, known as Lentinula edodes, is the most popular edible mushroom in the world.

Modern research is starting to identify some of its possible medicinal properties including antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer qualities. Other identified potential health benefits of shiitake mushroom could be antioxidant induced antiaging properties and immune system support.

While some mushrooms are not edible, shiitake mushrooms are edible fungi that are rich in various nutrients. They also contain some bioactive compounds that are specific to shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushroom has a savoury taste that suits many Eastern style dishes and is very easy to prepare. This only adds to its popularity as a potential health food. This mushroom has a very distinctive aroma too that makes it really suitable for high flavour stir fry dishes. Research on shiitake confirms its safety, without serious side effects. Let’s look at the potential health benefits of shiitake mushroom, to see if you would like to add this mushroom to your diet.

Nutritional Content Of Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake mushroom is well known to be a nutritionally rich or dense food and is often referred to as a nutraceutical food. It contains minerals such as manganese, potassium, selenium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. In 100g of shiitake mushroom there is 243mg of potassium, 0.76mg of zinc, 1.2µg of selenium and 14.1mg of magnesium. Potassium is an essential electrolyte needed for optimal nervous system and muscle functioning. Magnesium is needed for optimal muscle functioning through muscle relaxation.

Mushrooms are typically really good sources of B vitamins and shiitake mushroom is no different. This particular mushroom is rich in niacin, vitamin B1, B2, B6, and vitamin B12. Mushrooms are also really good sources of vitamin D. In 100g of shiitake mushroom there is 6.05µg of biotin, 2.74mg of niacin and 0.216mg of riboflavin or vitamin B2. B vitamins are water soluble and support optimal mitochondrial energy production. Energy production from your mitochondria is essential for your day to day functioning.

Shiitake mushroom is rich in micronutrients and specific bioactive compounds. These include shiitake polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, antioxidants, healthy dietary fibres and ergosterol. Dietary fibres encourage the growth of a healthy and diverse gut microbiome. This promotes optimal weight management and can also support your brain health. The plant sterol ergosterol is the most abundant sterol in mushrooms. In 100 grams of shiitake mushroom there is 61mg of ergosterol. Bioactive compounds such as ergosterol, shiitake polysaccharides and phenolic compounds can have specific potential health benefits for those consuming shiitake mushrooms in suitable quantities.

Shiitake Antimicrobial Properties

Mushrooms are considered to be a quality source of natural antibiotics. Certain bioactive compounds in shiitake mushrooms are thought to be able to inhibit the growth of particular microbes. Because of the rise in antibiotic resistance globally, potential medicinal foods like shiitake mushroom are therefore being explored as a means of supporting current treatments.

The major bioactive compounds thought to be responsible for the antimicrobe properties of shiitake are known as phenols. Their antimicrobial effect is so strong that the phenolic extracts of shiitake mushrooms, with high antioxidant capacity, improved the shelf life of certain foods.

Shiitake also produces lentinan, which is also considered to have antimicrobial properties. Extract of shiitake has also been used effectively against the bacteria responsible for tooth decay. Shiitake is also considered to be an antiviral food, containing compounds that have effects against the proliferation of certain viruses. Studies confirming the antibiotic properties of shiitake also confirm it may have anti-yeast or fungal properties. Ergosterol found in shiitake mushroom has been shown to have a mild antimicrobial effect and also might be able to inhibit the growth of fungi too.

Antitumor Properties Of Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake mushroom has been really well studied in regard to its antioxidant compounds. Studies confirm that extracts are rich in antioxidants. The bioactive antioxidant compounds within shiitake mushroom are able to protect cells from external damage. This includes mutagenic or cancer causing chemicals, harmful free radicals and sun damage. The role of antioxidant compounds in the body is to protect the cellular components key to survival, such as DNA. Without these, risks of serious diseases such as heart disease and cancers increase dramatically. Antioxidant compounds within shiitake mushroom are thought to be able to inhibit and prevent the growth of cancers.

Antioxidant And Anti-Cancer Bioactive Shiitake Compounds

While current research has found that the phenolic content of shiitake mushroom extract is responsible for most of its antioxidant capacity, tocopherols and beta-carotene in shiitake are also thought to have antioxidant abilities. Lentinan is a polysaccharide produced by shiitake that might also have antitumor properties. Studies showing it may have anticancer effects, such as controlled cell death, within the body. There is also a shiitake mushroom protein called latcripin that seems to restrict the growth of come cancer cells, suppressing key cell growth pathways.

Shiitake mushroom ergosterol may also have cancer prevention properties and activities too, particularly on cancer cell growth. Studies have found that ergosterol can inhibit lipid or fat peroxidation. This is when they become oxidised. These findings are backed by other studies confirming that ergosterol is a potent antioxidant. In part, because of its antioxidant properties, ergosterol is thought to be able to reduce neuroinflammation. This might lead to better outcomes from brain degenerative diseases.

While research has shown that ergosterol has an anti-inflammatory effect, particularly with neuroinflammation and allergies, larger studies with ergosterol extracts need to be done.

Overall, the antioxidants within shiitake mushroom extract are very influential on its potential health benefits throughout your body.

Ergosterol And Vitamin D

Ergosterol is the most abundant sterol found in mushrooms and is found in high amounts in shiitake. This plant sterol is a provitamin D form and so can convert to vitamin D2 in the right conditions. When exposed to light radiation, ergosterol converts to vitamin D. Studies have found that consumption of ergosterol does result in slight increases in vitamin D levels, which is consistent with this.

You need vitamin D to synthesize the hormones in your body including testosterone, oestrogen, parathyroid hormone and insulin. Vitamin D also helps to support the normal production of melatonin and serotonin in the body. Proper insulin status is important to avoiding diabetes, so ergosterol may support diabetes prevention. While ergosterol has been shown to lower blood glucose in one study.

The main function of vitamin D is to drive calcium into the cells of the body. Calcium which is essential for maintaining bone mass and normal nerve cell communication. Bone mass influences the number of circulating white blood cells in the body and therefore also influences immune status. Vitamin D is also needed for optimal immune functioning and T-killer cell numbers are upregulated by vitamin D consumption. T-killer cells can destroy cells that have malfunctioned like cancerous cells, in addition to their role in destroying pathogens.

Consuming shiitake mushrooms regularly can then help to support higher intake of ergosterol and possibly vitamin D. As stated, this would have many potential health benefits from hormone support to anticancer and immune stimulating effects.

Shiitake Mushroom Immunity Support

In addition to its natural antimicrobe and antiviral activity, shiitake mushrooms seem to have an immunomodulatory action on the body. This means that its extracts help to support and boost immune system functioning. One study found that the daily consumption of shiitake mushrooms improves immune status through immune system activation and immune cell proliferation.

The immunomodulating activity of shiitake mushroom is thought to arise from the high antioxidant contents of shiitake mushroom extracts. At present, many other studies show that the use of shiitake mushroom extract has an immune system supporting effect within the body. Consuming just 5 or 10 grams of shiitake mushrooms a day for 2 weeks improved immune system functioning, including activation of natural killer cells.

The immune system also has effects on cancer prevention, through T-killer cells, in addition to being able to prevent diseases. T-killer cells of the immune system can participate in antitumor activities in the body. Antioxidant potential is generally responsible for most of the immunomodulatory or immune boosting effects of compounds in the body. This is largely due to a preservation effect of key vitamins and immune supporting molecules. The antioxidant bioactive compounds in shiitake extracts may then have multiple tumor suppressing effects. The combined immunomodulation and anti-tumor effect seen here with shiitake mushroom shows the remarkable potential health benefits from its regular consumption.

Detoxification And Liver Supporting Properties

Shiitake mushroom has a really positive impact on liver health. Studies confirm that compounds within its extracts are able to protect the liver from damage. Specific markers of liver damage and also oxidation within the liver reduced significantly with the administration of shiitake mushroom extract. These findings support the theory that the high antioxidant levels within shiitake extracts can help protect the liver from damage and therefore support body detoxification. Other studies support these findings too, suggesting that high antioxidant polyphenols and polysaccharides within shiitake can support the optimal functioning of the liver. This is an important potential benefit of consuming shiitake mushrooms, considering how important the liver is to optimal health.

Conclusion

Shiitake mushroom has been used medicinally for many years and its potential health benefits are now well known by modern research. It is the most popular edible mushroom in the world and its production is growing. This mushroom is really easy to include in high flavour Eastern stir fry dishes.

Research has found that shiitake mushrooms are rich in minerals, vitamins and specific bioactive molecules that are responsible for its extraordinary potential health effects. Phenolic compounds within shiitake mushrooms are thought to give it antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

The effects of shiitake on cancer growth has been subject to many studies and this is also largely thought to be due to the phenolics within shiitake. However, other studies also support the findings that compounds such as lentinan and latcripin, specifically made by shiitake mushrooms, also have anti-tumor properties.

While antioxidants have anti-cancer properties, they can also provide immunity support. The support of T-killer cells can further improve their anti-tumor properties too. Shiitake extracts have been shown to improve the production of key immune cells, supporting their medicinal use in ancient cultures. Eating 5 or 10 grams of shiitake mushrooms a day for 2 weeks improved immune system functioning.

Ergosterol is found in high quantities in shiitake mushrooms, having lots of potential health benefits too. This plant sterol can be converted into vitamin D in the right conditions. Improved vitamin D status can have health effects such as improved hormone support, immune functioning and also cancer prevention.

Consistent with research, the health benefits of shiitake are seen with regular consumption and shiitake mushroom presents itself as novel food for you to try in your diet.

For more interesting articles, navigate to the main articles page below.