🌿 Shiitake mushroom
Shiitake
Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler
Shiitake is an edible mushroom originating from East Asia and is now cultivated worldwide. It is one of the most widely consumed culinary and medicinal mushrooms. The fruiting body contains proteins, dietary fibre, B vitamins, minerals and various bioactive compounds. Particularly well studied are its polysaccharides and β-glucans, including lentinan. Shiitake also contains compounds such as eritadenine as well as various phenolic and sulphur-containing substances
Notes
Shiitake is primarily a nutritious food. Its immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antitumour properties are being extensively investigated. Lentinan in particular has been studied as an immunomodulatory compound and is used as an adjunctive treatment for certain cancers in Japan and China.
Important: Raw or insufficiently cooked shiitake can cause a characteristic, intensely itchy skin reaction known as shiitake dermatitis. Adequate heating substantially reduces this risk because the responsible lentinan is heat-sensitive.
Important: Raw or insufficiently cooked shiitake can cause a characteristic, intensely itchy skin reaction known as shiitake dermatitis. Adequate heating substantially reduces this risk because the responsible lentinan is heat-sensitive.
Effects
- antibacterial
- antifungal
- antioxidant
- antiviral
- rich in dietary fibre
- supportive of healthy blood pressure
- lipid-regulating
- supportive of healthy blood glucose
- cholesterol-lowering
- anti-inflammatory
- immunomodulatory
- cardioprotective
- hepatoprotective
- nutrient-rich
- cytotoxic
- antiproliferative
Conditions
- respiratory complaints
- bacterial infections
- high blood pressure
- type 2 diabetes
- elevated blood lipids
- elevated cholesterol levels
- elevated LDL cholesterol
- common cold
- cardiovascular system
- impaired immune function
- infections
- cancer prevention
- oxidative stress
- fungal infections
- cellular protection
Application Areas
- general wellbeing
- respiratory system
- blood glucose regulation
- bronchi
- blood vessels
- digestive system
- lipid metabolism
- cardiovascular system
- immune system
- cancer prevention
- liver and natural detoxification processes
- metabolism
- digestion
- cells
Plant Parts
- fruity body
Preparations
- dried
- raw
- powder
- extract
- steamed
- cooked
- ground
Contraindications
- allergy
- gastrointestinal sensitivity
- concomitant use of anticoagulants
- concurrent use of blood-glucose-lowering medication
- tannins may irritate a sensitive stomach