Bioactive Molecules in Our Functional Mushrooms

Molecule class	Specific bioactive molecules in class	Lions mane	Turkey tail	Reishi	functions
Polysaccharides	Beta glucans	XX	XXX	XX	Potent Immune response modulators, cancer prevention,  microbiome support, cardiac health
	Polysaccharo peptide (PSP) mycelia		X		Stimulates immune system, anti stress, anti cancer
	Polysaccharide K (PSK) fruiting body		X		Stimulates immune system, anti stress, anti cancer
Terpenoids, terpenes		X		X	Anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective
	Hericenones (fruiting body, ETOH extraction)	X			Pro-cognition; potent neuroprotection and repair,  anti aging of brain, promotes nerve growth
	Erinacines (mycelia, H20 extraction)	X			Anti aging of brain, potent neuroprotection and repair, promotes nerve growth
	Ganoderic  acids A, B, C, D			XX	Anti aging, anti cancer
Polyphenols			X	X	Anti-oxidant, anti aging
	Ergothioneine	XX	X	X	Anti-oxidant,                          anti cognitive aging, neuroprotective          improves sleep quality
	Quercetin		X		Anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer,                                                                anti hypertension and heart disease

 

 

Beta-glucans 

Beta-glucans are naturally occurring structural components of the cell walls of fungi. Sonication helps to release the beta glucans from the cell wall. They are a subclass of polysaccharides.

Beta-glucans offer robust immune system support, functioning as immunomodulators. Immunomodulators fine tune immune responses in both directions, depending on the need  They can stimulate an increased immune response that in turn enables a more effective reaction for fighting off infections. They can also dial down an overactive immune response by triggering the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines. They also trigger our  immune cells to remove decaying cells, improve surveillance to pathogens and regulate inflammation. 

For example, bacteria in our gut (our microbiome) help build a robust immune system that affects the way the rest of our body fights infections. Beta-glucans strengthen our gut microbiome by  acting as food for the microbiome), and by protecting helpful bacteria species from destruction by an overactive immune system. As a result, markers of gut immune response are improved. 

 Lastly, beta-glucans, especially the 1,3 and 1,6 beta-glucans abundant in all three of our mushrooms, provide potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. 

Studies and Reviews - Beta Glucans

 Vetter The Mushroom Glucans: Molecules of High BIological and Medicinal Importance

Foods. 2023 Feb 27;12(5):1009. doi: 10.3390/foods12051009.

Zhu, F et a.l Beta-glucans from edible and medicinal mushrooms: Characteristics, physicochemical and biological activities.Journal of Food Composition and Analysis Volume 41, August 2015, Pages 165-173

Terpenoids and Terpenes  

The  terpenoids are the main biologically active form of the terpenes, and are very plentiful in Reishi and Lions Mane. Terpenes have been shown to have strong neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral effects. Because they are insoluble in water, they are only found in dual or ethanol-based extracts of Lions Mane. Sonication increases their extraction.  

Ganoderic acids A, B, C and D  are terpenes found specifically in reishi which have been found to have slow down cellular aging,  They are also anti cancer, and inhibit cancer growth.

Hericenones and erinacines  are terpenes found in Lions Mane fruiting body and mycelia. They have been found to have potent neuroprotective effects. Both  groups of molecules easily  cross the blood-brain barrier, where they stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production in the brain. NGF helps nerve cells like neurons grow and increase in number and protects them from deterioration, while BDNF promotes the growth of new nerve cells and synapses.  By keeping brain cells healthy and supporting communication between them, NGF and BDNF also play vital  roles in learning and memory. But both proteins decrease with age, which can lead to cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease.

Erinacine in particular decreases amyloid-ß plaque deposition. Amyloid plaque is associated with Alzheimers Disease.

Studies and Reviews -Terpenoids and Nerve Growth Factor -                                                                                                  

Dasgupta, A et al Mushrooms: an emerging source for therapeutic terpenoids. 3 Biotech (2019) 9:369https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-019-1906-

Aloe, et al., Nerve growth factor: from early discoveries to the potential clinical use, Journal of Translational Medicine, 2012, 10, pp.213. https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1479-5876-10-239

LI, et al Neurohealth Properties of Hericeum erinaceus Mycelia Enriched with Eranicines.  Behavioural Neurology Volume 2018, Article ID 5802634, 10 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5802634

 Ergothioneine 

Known as the longevity vitamin, ergothioneine is a powerful antioxidant, anti aging molecule. Ergothioneine’s most important  role is likely protecting a vital component of cells called mitochondria from DNA damage and oxidation. Mitochondria are the energy engines of cells, and when they are injured by oxidative stress, we can noticel a loss in energy and motivation. Ergothioneine crosses the blood brain barrier and  is readily taken up by brain and red blood cells.

Several studies have examined the association between l-ergothioneine levels and cognitive trajectories. Overall, these studies indicate that lower levels of l-ergothioneine are associated with cognitive decline. They suggest that high levels of l-ergothioneine may be neuroprotective as we get older.

Studies and Reviews – Ergothionene

Beelman, et al. Is ergothioneine a ‘longevity vitamin’ limited in the American diet?        Journal of Nutritional Science (2020), vol. 9,, page 1- 5. E52. doi: 10.1017/jns.2020.44.  eCollection 2020

Polysaccharide K (PSK)  and Polysaccharopeptide P (PSP)  

Medicinal mushrooms have emerged in recent years not only as a source of drugs but also as adjuvants (additional treatments) to conventional chemo- or radiation therapy, to either enhance their potency or reduce their side effects. PSK is a beta glucan that is immunostimulatory and has been used as an adjuvant chemotherapy agent in Asia for over 30 years under the brand name Krestin. In patients with

colorectal cancer, it was shown that the addition of PSK to adjuvant therapy improved

survival. Recent studies have raised the role of these molecules  in supportive therapy of breast cancer;  an increase in 5-year survival was observed in patients with recurrent breast cancer after adding of PSK to standard treatment. 

 Studies and Reviews – PSK and PSP

Habtemariam, S  Trametes Versicolor Polysaccharides in Cancer Therapy: Targets and Efficacy. Biomedicines. 2020 May 25;8(5):135.

Winder et al The Use of Hericium erinaceus and Trametes versicolor extracts in supportive treatment in oncology. Acta Pharm. 2021 Mar 1; 71(1): 1-16