قارچ شیتاکه ایران

Ganoderma  lucidum and Ganoderma tsugae:  G. lucidum  and  related  species  have the longest historical  usage  for  medicinal purposes, dating  back  at least  four millennia (Zhao  and  Zeuny,  1994).  In Japan it is called  Reishi  or  Mannetake  (10,000 year  mushroom)  and in  China and Korea it  is variously  called  Ling  Chu,  Ling Chih  and  Ling  Zhi   (Mushroom  of  Immortality).  It is the  mushroom  most  depicted in  ancient Japanese, Korean  and Chinese Art and  has been extensively  depicted in  Chinese royal  tapestries.  Reishi  is  also  widely  used in the Orient as  a talisman to  protect a  person or  home against  evil.   The  fungus grows in  many  parts of  the world and in  Japan is  to  be  found  mainly  on  old  plum  trees.  Originally, rare  and  expensive it  can  now  be  artificially  cultivated, which makes it more  accessible  and affordable.

The  mushroom  and  mycelium contain  steroids, lactones, alkaloids, polyssacharides and  triterpenes.   Pharmacologically,  a number  of  the water-soluble  polysaccharides have  demonstrated  antitumour  and  immunostimulating  activities.  At least 100  different  alcohol-soluble  triterpenes  have been identified including  highly oxidised lanostane-type triterpenoids such  as  ganoderic, ganoderenic, lucidenic, and ganolucidic  acids.   These triterpenoids  have been shown to  possess  adaptogenic and  antihypertensive as  well  as anti-allergic  properties.

This  mushroom  possesses many  different  medicinal  properties  dependent  on the stage and environment of  its growth (Jong  and Birmingham, 1992,  Liu,  1999).  Traditionally, it  has  been widely  used in  the treatment  of  hepatopathy, chronic hepatitis, nephritis,  hypertension, arthritis, neurastheine, insomnia,  bronchitis, asthma  and  gastric ulcers.  Scientific  studies  have confirmed  that  substances extracted  from  the  mushroom  can reduce  blood pressure, blood cholesterol  and   blood  sugar  levels  as  well  as inhibit platelet  aggregations (Table  2).  Reishi  extracts have been highly  effective in  alleviating  altitude sickness and also  in  treating myotonia  dystrophica.     Several  major  biochemicals  such  as  polysaccharides, proteins  and triterpenoids with potent immuno-modulating  action  have  been isolated from  Ganoderma  spp.   The  major  immuno-modulating  effects of  these active substances include  mitogenicity  and activation  of  immune  effector  cells  such  as  T cells, macrophages  and  natural killer cells resulting in  the production of  cytokines, including  interleukins, tumour  necrosis  factor-α  and interferons.    The  therapeutic action of  G.  lucidum  as  an  anti-cancer  and anti-inflammatory  agent  has been associated with its immuno-modulating  properties (Wang  et al., 1977).   While the extensive range of  traditional  medical  treatments with this  mushroom  have not yet been  fully  substantiated by  modern scientific  standards they  are being  extensively scrutinised in  the Far  East and the USA (Chang, 1995,  1999, Chen  and Miles,  1996).  In view  of  its bitter  taste and indigestible  structure (often similar  to  varnished wood in appearance)  this  is  not  an  edible  mushroom  but, in  hot  water  extracted  form, it  is available worldwide in  tablet  and liquid products (Stamets, 1999).   

Analgesic •  

Anti-allergic activity •  Bronchitis-preventative effect, inducing  regeneration  of  bronchial  epithelium 

•  Anti-inflammatory

 •  Antibacterial, against  Staphylococci, Streptococci,  and  Bacillus pneumoniae (perhaps  due to  increased immune system  activity)

 •  Antioxidant,  by  eliminating  hydroxyl  free radicals 

•  Antitumor activity

 •  Antiviral effect,  by  inducing  interferon  production 

•  Lowers blood  pressure

 •  Enhances bone marrow nucleated cell  proliferation

 •  Cardiotonic  action, lowering  serum cholesterol  levels  with no effect  on triglycerides, enhancing  myocardial  metabolism of  hypoxic animals,  and improving  coronary  artery  hemodynamics 

•  Central depressant  and peripheral  anticholinergic actions on  the autonomic nervous sytem reduce  the  effects of  caffeine  and relax  muscles

 •  Enhanced natural killer  cell (NK)  activity  in vitro  in  mice

•  Expectorant and antitussive  properties demonstrated  in  mice studies

 •  General immunopotentiation

 •  Anti-HIV activity  in vitro  and  in vivo 

•  Improved adrenocortical  function 

•  Increased production  of  Interleukin-1  by  murine  peritoneal  macrophages  in vitro 

•  Increased production of  Interleukin-2  by  murine  splenocytes  in vitro