Shiitake (Shitake, 椎茸, 香菇, 표고)

is a popular culinary mushroom used in dishes around the world. Research has demonstrated the Shiitake mushroom

* Stimulates the immune system
* Contains a cholesterol lowering compound known as eritadenine.
* Possesses anti-bacterial properties
* Possesses anti-viral properties (against HIV and HSV-1) (contains a proteinase inhibitor)
* Reduces platelet aggregation

Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) is an α-glucan rich compound isolated from Shiitake. AHCC is a well tolerated compound that possess antioxidant activity, and is metabolized via the CYP450 2D6 pathway. Research has indicated AHCC possesses the following activity.

* Increasing resistance to pathogens in vivo (influenza virus) (west nile encephalitis) (bacterial infection) (various infectious agents) (bacterial infection) (influenza virus)
* Producing an anti-cancer effect (269 human hepatocellular carcinoma patients) (1 patient case study) (44 hepatocellular carcinoma patients)
* Enhancing immune function (double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 21 people)

Lentinan, a compound isolated from Shiitake, is used as an intravenous anti-cancer agent in some countries. Lentinan was developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Ajinomoto, and designed to treat cancers of the stomach. Studies have demonstrated lentinan, possesses anti-tumor properties, and human clinical studies have associated lentinan with a higher survival rate, higher quality of life, and lower re-occurrence of cancer. Clinical research with lentinan includes studies with, 78 hepatocellular carcinoma patients 32 gastric cancer patients, a multi-institutional study of lentinan and gastric cancer, a meta-analysis of lentinan and gastric cancer, 80 colorectal cancer patients, 20 gastric cancer patients, 36 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, and 29 pancreatic cancer patients. The City of Hope National Medical Center is currently conducting clinical trials to determine if a select portion of the Shiitake mushroom, which includes lentinan, can inhibit lung cancer.

This mushroom can be used to treat candida albicans, listeria monocytogenes, mycobacterium tuberculosis, staphylococcus aureus, steptococcus pneumoniae, streptococcus pyogenes, HSV-1, HIV, Influenza virus, Vesicular stomatitis (contains a proteinase inhibitor.)