Mesima (Phellinus Lenteus): Understanding the Mushroom of Miracles

What is Mesima (Phellinus Linteus) ?

 
The "Mesima" mushroom, also known as Phellinus Linteus, is a popular basidiomycete fungus in China, Korea, and Japan that is said to have longevity-extending properties. It has been extensively studied in the past ten years, particularly in Korea, and has demonstrated broad immunostimulant activity, strong anti-cancer properties, and the capacity to increase the efficacy of currently available chemotherapeutic drugs. It was identified by Ikekawa as having the highest anti-tumour activity of the hymenomycetes (a fungal grouping containing the major medicinal mushrooms) and by Stamets as having the greatest macrophage activation of the seven species surveyed.

Among the medicinal mushrooms, P. linteus is unique in that the Chinese Pharmacopoeia attributes a wide range of indications to it, including cancer, diabetes, HIV, angina, leucorrhea, diarrhoea, and accelerated wound healing (see section on Medicinal Mushrooms According to Traditional Chinese Medicine).

Characteristics of Mesima

Phellinus Linteus[i] grows on the wood of many different kinds of trees, including mulberries. Its woody, perpetually fruiting body resembles a big hoof. It is a common wild plant in most of the world and is used extensively in traditional Asian folk medicine. Although English people are more likely to be familiar with the scientific name or one of the Asian names, the common English name for it is the descriptive "black hoof." The mushroom is known as "meshimakobu" (or "mesima" for short) in Japan, "sangwhang" in Korea, and "sanghuang" in China.

Mesima: Benefits And Uses

Phellinus Linteus has traditionally been used in traditional Chinese medicine and folk medicine to cure a variety of ailments, such as cancer, hemorrhage, and digestive disorders like diarrhea. As is typically the case, scientific studies focus more on examining the biochemistry of the fungus in an effort to uncover compounds that could one day be turned into medications than they do on validating or invalidating the effectiveness of traditional usage. In certain clinical situations, P. linteus is also utilized as an additional or alternative medication.

According to studies, using P. linteus may provide support for the physiological concerns listed below

1. Therapies for symptoms of some allergies and asthma
2. Control of diabetes
3. Eczema and other types of allergic dermatitis treatments
4. antiviral action
5. Antimicrobial efficacy
6. Anti-inflammatory properties
7. Activity that modulates immunity
8. Activity of antioxidants
9. Treatments for a few types of colon cancer, including some that are challenging to treat.
10. Prostate cancer treatments
11. Therapies for specific types of breast cancer
12. Pancreatic cancer treatments
13. Defense against specific types of liver damage
14. Defense against specific neurological degenerative diseases


Inhalation

According to a study, mice who had asthma demonstrated a decreased inflammatory response when treated with an ethanol extract of Phellinus Linteus. The usage of the mushroom to treat asthma was not thoroughly studied in the past.

Diabetes
In rats given diabetes in an experiment, a hot-water extract of P. linteus decreased blood glucose levels but did not stop diabetes from developing. On the other hand, in mice with an inflammatory illness that would otherwise produce diabetes, a polysaccharide isolated from P. lineus did prevent diabetes.

Cancer Support

Non-cancerous colon cells were not damaged by the polysaccharides derived from P. linteus, which sensitized colon cancer cells to a typical chemotherapeutic agent's ability to kill the cancer at a much lower dose, hence minimizing detrimental side-effects.

Recent reports of P. linteus's amazing benefits in a number of cancer patients have sparked interest in the plant's potential as a cancer therapeutic. In one case, a 65-year-old man with large hepatocellular cancer and metastases in the skull, sternum, and ribs declined all treatment except radiation for the excruciating frontal bone mass in favor of P. linteus, and the tumors spontaneously shrank. In another study, a hormone-refractory prostate cancer with rapidly progressing bone metastasis showed dramatic remission. In a third instance, ingestion of P. linteus mycelium was associated with the spontaneous remission of hepatocellular carcinoma with numerous pulmonary metastases (no conventional therapy was used.

Human prostate cancer cells were eliminated by a water extract of P. linteus in both in vitro and animal tests; in the latter, mice were injected with human cancer cells. The mushroom extract slowed the growth of the tumors in the mice, but it was unable to stop it. After ingesting P. linteus, a man with prostate cancer that is difficult to cure goes into abrupt remission. While one instance does not prove anything, it does raise some possibilities.

P. linteus demonstrated its capacity to obstruct human breast cancer cells' ability to carry out the processes required for effective invasion and metastasis in one in vitro study.

Though the effectiveness of mushrooms as a cancer treatment has not been shown and there have only been a small number of clinical trials involving human subjects, there is cause for hope.

According to in vitro research, low concentrations of P. linteus polysaccharides cause lung cancer cells to enter a cell cycle arrest. They also have a synergistic effect with chemotherapeutic drugs like doxorubicin, inducing apoptosis in prostate and lung cancer cells at a sub-therapeutic dose. High concentrations of the compound activate apoptosis in hormone-sensitive and, to a lesser extent, refractory prostate cancer cells, as well as inhibit breast cancer cell growth, angiogenesis, and invasive behavior. The inhibition of Akt signaling and the activation of caspase have been identified as modes of action.

Additionally, in vitro research demonstrates that vitamin C12 significantly inhibits the proliferation of bladder cancer cells while also enhancing their cytotoxic action.

In vivo experiments involving mice transplanted with melanoma cells demonstrate markedly increased survival, decreased tumor growth, and decreased lung metastasis frequency following polysaccharide extract administration.


Rheumatoid Arthritis Support

Polysaccharide extract from P. linteus fruiting bodies decreased pro-inflammatory Th2 cytokine expression (like TNF-α and IFN-γ) and increased anti-inflammatory Th1 cytokine expression (like IL-10 and TGF-β) in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis. This led to the subsidence of the autoimmune response in the mice's joints. Polysaccharides from the related species, Phellinus rimosus, produced similar outcomes.

Additionally, it has been demonstrated that P. linteus polysaccharides decrease the expression of major histocompatibility complex II and TNF-α in lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock, hence endorsing their usage as anti-inflammatory agents.


Allergy Support

Numerous investigations demonstrate the potent action of P. linteus polysaccharides in reducing Th2 cytokine production and increasing Th1 cytokine secretion, hence correcting the immunological dysregulation implicated in allergic reactions. Simultaneously, an aqueous extract of P. linteus fruiting body has been found to block mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis-like reactions and prevent histamine release in response to allergenic stimuli. In animal models, P. linteus has also been found to be beneficial for other atopic disorders, such as dermatitis and asthma


Other Benefits

Immune Support

Additionally, the mushroom has abilities beyond those of the immune system. Many strains of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were successfully combatted by an extract of the fruiting body. A distinct extract's efficacy against a set of pathogenic microbe cultures was examined in a different investigation, which concluded that the mushroom possesses antibacterial agent potential.


According to a study involving rat cell cultures, Phellinus Linteus might be able to aid in liver damage prevention.According to a different study using human cell cultures, the mushroom may also offer protection against some forms of brain deterioration.

References

1. Chen, W., Tan, H., Liu, Q., Zheng, X., Zhang, H., Liu, Y., Xu, L. (2019). A Review: The Bioactivities and Pharmacological Applications of Phellinus linteus. Molecules. 24(10): 1888.

2. Phellinus linteus (Sang Hwang Mushroom): Benefits and Side Effects. Medical Herbals website. Retrieved on October 30, 2019

3. Phellinus linteus, Mesima, Meshimakobu, Song-Gen, Sang-Hwang. Medicinal Mushrooms website. Retieved on October 30, 2019.

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5. Phellinus linteus (Sang Hwang Mushroom): Benefits and Side Effects. Medicinal Herbals website. Retrieved on October 30, 2019.

6. Yan, G. H., Choi, Y. H. (2014). Phellinus linteus Extract Exerts Anti-asthmatic Effects by Suppressing NF-kB and p38 MAPK Activity in an OVA-induced Mouse Model of Asthma. Immune Network. 14(2): 107–115.

7. Yamac, M., Zetinoglu, M., Senturk, H., Kartkaya K., Kanbak, G., Bayramogly, G., Oglakci, A., Van Griensven L.J.(2016). Effects of Black Hoof Medicinal Mushroom, Phellinus linteus (Agaricomycetes), Polysaccharide Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. 18(4).: 301–11.

8. Yu, T., Ganapathy, S., Shen, L., Peng, B., Kim, S. Makriyannis, A., Chen, C. (2018). A Lethal Synergy Induced by Phellinus linteus and Camptothecin11 in Colon Cancer Cells. Oncotarget. 9(5): 6308–6319.

9. Tsuji, T., Du, W., Nishioka, T., Chen, L., Yamamoto, D., Chen, C. Y. (2010). Phellinus linteus Extract Sensitizes Advanced Prostate Cancer Cells to Apoptosis in Athymic Nude Mice. PloS One. 5(3).

10. Shibata, Y., Kurita, S., Okugi, H., Yamanaka, H. (2004). Dramatic Remission of Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer Achieved with Extract of the Mushroom, Phellinus linteus. Urologia Internationalis. 73: 188–190.

11. Sliva, D., Jedinak, A., Kawasaki, J., Harvey, K., Slivova, V. (2008). Phellinus linteus Suppresses Growth, Angionesis and Invasive Behavior of Breast Cancer Cells Through the Inhibition of AKT Signaling. British Journal of Cancer. 98(8): 1348–1356.

12. Wu, S., Liaw, C., Pan, S., Yang, H. C., Ng, L. (2013). Phellinus linteus Polysaccharides and Their Immunomodulatory Properties in Human Monocytic Cells.. Journal of Functional Foods. 5(2): 679–688.

13. Sliva, D. (2010). Medicinal Mushroom Phillinus linteus as an Alternative Cancer Therapy (Review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 1(3).

14. Hwang, J. S., Kwon, H., Kim, J., Rho, J. (2012). Immunomodulatory Effect of Water Soluable Extract Separated from Mycelium of Phellinus linteus on Experimental Atopic Dermatitis. BMC Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. 12(1): 159.

15. Park, H. (2017). Antiallergenic and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Phellinus linteus Grown on Panax ginseng. Food Science and Biotechnology. 26(2): 467–472.

16. Hur, J.M, Yang, C.H., Han, S.H., Lee, S.H., You, Y.O., Park, J.C., Kim, K. J. (2004). Antibacterial Effect of Phellinus linteus Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Fitoterapia. 75 (6): 603-5.

17. Techaoei, S., Jarmkom, K., Eakwaropas, P., Khobjai, W. (2017). An Alternative Antimicrobial Approach to Fight Bacterial Pathogens from Phellinus linteus. International Journal of Bioengineering and Life Sciences. 11(5)

18. Huang, S., Wang, P., Kuo, P., Hung, H., Pan, T. (2018). Hepatoprotective Principles and Other Chemical Constituents from the Mycelium of Phellinus linteus. Molecules. 23(7): 1705.

19. Phellinus linteus. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website, retrieved on October 30, 2019.

20. Chen, W., Tan, H., Liu, Q., Zheng, X., Zhang, H. Liu, Y., X., L. (2019). A Review: The Bioactivities and Pharmacological Applications of Phellinus linteus. Molecules. 24(10): 1888.