Shiitake (Lentinus edodes)

The origin of the name Shiitake in Japanese is – a mushroom. In light of the deep admiration and worship of this mushroom, it was decided to name it “The Mushroom” and even a shrine was built in its honor. The Shiitake is used in the orient for thousands of years as a major component in the Asiatic kitchen and for healing. In 199 BC, a Japanese tribe introduced the mushroom for the first time to the Japanese emperor. However, even before that, an older script described that the Chinese developed a method for cultivating the Shiitake and they had transferred this knowledge to the Japanese.

In nature, the Shiitake is growing on fallen tree trunks or rotten stumps in warm and humid environments. Currently, it is cultivated as a food source in South East Asia countries (1-3).

Traditional applications: Strengthening and enhancing energy, reducing hunger and over-eating, strengthening the body while recovering from diseases, aiding undernourished children and elderly people and in treating cold and influenza.

The mushroom composition:The Shiitake mushroom has high nutritional value either by its natural or dried form.

A dry extract of the Shiitake contains: Carbohydrates 58-60%, nutritional fibers 10%, proteins and nucleic acids 20-23%; 80-87% of which are digestible, fatty acids 3-4% that include – linoleic acid 72.8%, palmitic acid 14.7%, oleic acid 3%.

Vitamins: The Shiitake is rich in vitamins. It contains pro-vitamin D2. It was found that while the mushroom is exposed to light and warmth it synthesizes the human derivative of Vitamin D. Vitamins of the B complex especially vitamin B1, B2, B12 and pantothenic acid (B5).

Minerals: The Shiitake is rich in iron, manganese, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and more (1,3,4,5,6).

Fibers and polysaccharides: Dry Shiitake mushroom contain 3-5% polysaccharides including glucans, especially beta-glucan that has proven medical properties, lentinan that has anti heteroglycans tumor activity and also stimulates the immune system (1,3,-8).

The polysaccharide KS-2 is extracted from the mushroom mycelium. This polysaccharide is composed of a carbohydrate that is bonded to a protein that contains the amino acids threonine, alanine, serine and proline and to the sugar Mannan. This structure stimulates the interferon levels of the body and was shown to have clinical activity against sarcoma (9).

Eritadenine: his compound is unique to the Maitake, and act to reduce blood cholesterol levels by secreting it from the body (10).

Clinical applications: Cancer, sarcoma, activation of the immune system, immune deficiency, AIDS, anti-bacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, anti-fungi, enlarging blood vessels, hemorrhoids, reducing cholesterol and blood lipids, protecting the liver, rehabilitating liver cells, hepatitis B.