Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)

What is Astragalus?

Astragalus (aka milkvetch) is a member of the legume family — which makes it a relative of peanuts, peas, and soy.

This medicinal herb is common in both Western and Eastern herbal medicine. It has a long history of use for immune-related conditions for conditions of immune-excess (such as autoimmunity) as well as deficiency (during infection or immunodeficiencies).

Today, the most common use of the herb if for its benefits on immunity and cardiotonic. Astragalus supplements are used as a prophylaxis for infection (especially of the respiratory tract), and as a daily tonic for promoting overall vitality and stamina.

What is Astragalus Used For?

Astragalus has many uses as a respiratory tonic, but the most common application of the herb in modern herbal medicine is for boosting or modulating the immune system.

It’s popular for use with various forms of immunodeficiency, including viral and bacterial infection (prophylaxis), and as an adjunctive cancer treatment.

The immune-boosting effects of this herb isn’t one-directional — astragalus is also useful for immune excess, such as with autoimmunity or allergic reaction.

Many people use astragalus as a general health supplement for preventing cold or flu, or to enhance cardiovascular function, vitality, and overall stamina.

Other uses include, hepatitis, diarrhea, hypertension, diabetes, and Lyme Disease (not late stage).

Herb Details: Astragalus

Herbal Actions:

• Adaptogen
• Antioxidant
• Antiviral
• Cardiotonic
• Diuretic
• Hepatoprotective
• Hypotensive
• Immunomodulator
• Immune Stimulant

Dosage

• (1:1 Liquid Extract)
  20 – 40 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Root

Family Name

• Leguminosae

Distribution

• Eastern Asia

Constituents of Interest

• b-Glucans
• Astragalosides
• Formononetin
• Gamma-aminobutyric acid

Common Names

• Astragalus
• Milk-Vetch Root
• Huang Qi (China)
• Hwanggi (Korea)
• Ogi (Japan)

CYP450

• Unknown

Quality

• Warm and moist

Pregnancy

• No reported side effects during pregnancy — but not proven safe either.

Taste

• Sweet

Duration of Use

• Long-term use is acceptable with periodic breaks.

Botanical Information

Astragalus is a large genus containing over 3000 individual species. All species within this genus are either small, herbaceous plants, or mid to large shrubs.

The astragalus genus is a member of the legume family — making it a close relative of peas, peanuts, and soy bean.

The primary species used as medicine is Astragalus membranaceus, which originated from Eastern Asia in mountainous regions of China and Mongolia, but have since spread all over the world.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

Longevity

An extract of a closely-related species, Astragalus membranaceus (synonym A. propinquus), called TA-65 was shown to activate telomerase [3] — which is one of the primary targets for longevity-enhancement medications.

Phytochemistry

Astragalus is rich in saponins (such as cycloastragenol and astragalosides), polysaccharides (astroglucans A-C), flavonoids, phytosterols, volatile oils, asparagine, choline, betaine, gluconic acid, beta-sitosterols, amino acids (including GABA), trace elements (zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, calcium, potassium, sodium, cobalt, rubidium, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, tin, and silver).

Cautions & Safety

Astragalus is widely considered a safe herb, even over long periods of time or in high doses.

Traditional medical systems (such as TCM) suggest you should avoid using the herb at the acute onset stage of respiratory or sinus infection — focusing instead on using the herb before or after infection takes place. TCM also suggests avoiding the use of astragalus with signs of heat or yin deficiency.

This herb is contraindicated during the later stages of lyme disease.

Astragalus should be avoided in combination with immunosuppressive medications and after organ transplant.

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

Recent Blog Posts:

Popular Herbal Monographs

References

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

What is Lion's Mane?

Lion's mane is a medicinal wood-rotting fungus with a characteristic growth pattern that resembles the shaggy mane of a lion.

The fungus prefers temperate forests in North America, Europe, and Asia where it thrives on living oak, beech, or conifer trees.

The medicinal benefit of lions mane primarily involve the nervous system. Modern applications use the mushroom for general cognitive health and as a natural nootropic substance.

This mushroom is also eaten as a delicacy — with a flavor similar to lobster when cooked with butter.

In recent years lion's mane has caught the eye of the nootropic community for its ability to up-regulate nerve growth factor.

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How Is Lion's Mane Used?

Lion's mane is mainly used for neurodegenerative disorders like dementia and multiple sclerosis. It's also popular as a nootropic agent for supporting optimal cognitive function long term.

Most of the people using this fungus take it in the form of a powdered capsule or tincture on a daily basis. Like most medicinal mushrooms, the biggest benefit comes from using the herb on a regular basis over long periods of time — rather than short bursts for quick impact of effects.

Traditional Use of Lion’s Mane

Lion’s mane mushrooms have a long history of use in Eastern Asia — including China, Korea, and Japan. Each of these regions used the mushroom for treating neurological disorders, including neurasthenia, and age-related cognitive decline, as well as for general health.

Herb Details: Lion's Mane

Herbal Actions:

• Antibacterial
• Anticancer
• Antidiabetic
• Antioxidant
• Cardioprotective
• Hepatoprotective
• Nervine
• Immunomodulator

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  20-60 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Fruiting Body

Family Name

• Hericiaceae

Distribution

• North America, Europe, Russia, Mountainous regions of Asia

Constituents of Interest

• Hericnones
• Erinacines
• Lactones
• Polysaccharides

Common Names

• Lion's Mane
• Monkey's Head
• Hedgehog Fungus
• Pom Pom
• Houtou (China)
• Shishigashira (China)
• Yamabushitake (Japan)

Pregnancy

• Safe during pregnancy.

Duration of Use

• Long term use acceptable and recommended.

Mycological Information

The Hericiaceae family of fungi are saprophytic (consumes dead wood), yet can be found growing on living trees as well. Many experts believe the mushroom has a mutualistic relationship with the tree for some time — helping it resist disease and infection, but will eventually consume the tree after it dies.

Hericium mushrooms normally grow in cooler, mountainous regions across the globe. It contains a number of species used medicinally and nutritionally.

Hericium spp. has characteristic "tooth" structures on its fruiting body, giving it a hair-like appearance.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

+ Neuroprotective

Lion’s mane offers several different mechanisms to produce its overall neuroprotective benefits:

1. Antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activity [6]
2. Anti-inflammatory activity
3. Nerve-growth factor stimulation (hericium and erinacenes)
4. Reduction of endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependant cell death (dilinoleolyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DLPE) [7]
5. Attenuation of beta-amyloid-related cognitive decline in animals (dementia model) [8]
6. Enhance mylenation of neurons [9, 10, 11]

In animal studies, lion’s mane has been shown to reduce the severity of damage after a stroke — effectively protecting the sensitive neurons from ischemic damage [6].

Clinical Trials:

Study: Mori et al., 2009 — Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial. [5]

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 30 Japanese men and women with mil cognitive impairment found that after 16 weeks, the lion’s mane group had significantly increased cognitive scores. These improvements were noted as early as the 8 week checkup, and continued to improve compared to placebo over the rest of the 16-week trial.

The dose of lion’s mane used in this study was 1 gram of dried lion’s mane taken three times per day.

Unfortunately, 4 weeks after the trial concluded, the scores had significantly decreased — indicating that these effects are not permanent and the mushroom needs to be continued to remain effective.

+ Nootropic

A nootropic is a substance that improves cognition without causing harm. There are a lot of nootropic substances that range from herbs like lion’s mane or rhodiola, to synthetic or prescription drugs like Modafinil or Noopept.

Lion’s mane is thought to be a nootropic through its ability to promote nerve-growth factor (NGF) in the brain. NGF is the most potent growth factor for the cholinergic neurons. it influences everything from the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of neuronal cells in the brain [8, 12].

Reductions in NGF has been considered a major implication in conditions such as depression, substance abuse, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease [12].

There have been a lot of studies looking at the role of lion’s mane and nerve growth factor — most of which have concluded that lion’s mane applications directly lead to an increase in NGF. This research has been done both in vivo and in vitro [13, 14, 15, 16].

This effect is very important. We can give peptides like NGF to people to treat these neurodegeneration, but these peptides rarely cross the blood brain barrier [9]. Therefore, finding alternative ways to boost NGF or other peptides in the brain are of the utmost importance in the treatment, prevention, and management of neurodegenerative disorders.

+ Immunomodulation

Like many other medicinal mushrooms, lion’s mane contains a high concentration of polysaccharides with immunomodulatory effects.

A lot of this study has been done in vitro with dendritic immune cells. These cells serve as the antigen-presenting cells that act as central mediators for the immune response as a whole. They’re responsible for a lot of the tolerance formed by the immune system to help maintain homeostasis.

Studies involving lions mane extracts have shown the fungus can stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells, induce dendritic cell activation, and modulate key T-helper (Th1) immune responses [17].

+ Anti-Inflammatory

Lion’s mane has been shown to influence a variety of inflammatory mediators, including:

Induces IL-1β expression through Nf-kB, NF-IL6, and activator protein 1 (AP-1) [18]

Induces iNOS gene expression to increase nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages

Inhibits toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-JNK signalling on macrophages [19]

Phytochemistry of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

Lion’s mane fruiting body and myclelia contain an exceptionally diverse range of unique bioactive substances — including polysaccharides, meroterpenoids (hericinones), cyathane diterpenoids (erinacines), steroids, alkaloids, and lactones.

The most significant constituents in terms of the mushrooms medicinal action are the hericenones and erinacines. Both of these substances have been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor in the central nervous system. This is thought to be the primary mechanism for which the fungus an improve the health and function of the nervous system.

Clinical Applications Of Lion's Mane:

Lion's mane has many uses, but the most well-known is as a neuroprotective, and nootropic benefits. It's useful for neurodegenerative disorders including multipple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Other uses include depression and anxiety, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal infection, and fatigue.

Cautions & Safety

Lion’s mane is a culinary mushroom that’s been used for both food and medicine by countless individuals over several hundreds of years. There are no expected short-term or long-term side effects from using the fungus.

Throughout the clinical research there have been no reports of serious side effects from using the fungus — including very high-potency extracts and long-term durations of use.

Caution advised with any blood clotting conditions or medications due to possible agonistic interactions — including haemophilia or other bleeding disorder, thrombocytopenia, or post-surgery. Lion’s mane may interact with blood thinners or anti-platelet medications.

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated April 2020)

Recent Blog Posts:

References

[1] — Friedman, M. (2015). Chemistry, nutrition, and health-promoting properties of Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane) mushroom fruiting bodies and mycelia and their bioactive compounds. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 63(32), 7108-7123.

[2] — Liu, J., Du, C., Wang, Y., & Yu, Z. (2015). Anti-fatigue activities of polysaccharides extracted from Hericium erinaceus. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 9(2), 483-487.

[3] — Thongbai, B., Rapior, S., Hyde, K. D., Wittstein, K., & Stadler, M. (2015). Hericium erinaceus, an amazing medicinal mushroom. Mycological progress, 14(10), 91.

[4] — Wong, K. H., Naidu, M., David, R. P., Bakar, R., & Sabaratnam, V. (2012). Neuroregenerative potential of lion's mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers.(higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 14(5).

[5] — Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y., & Tuchida, T. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 23(3), 367-372.

[6] — Lee, K. F., Chen, J. H., Teng, C. C., Shen, C. H., Hsieh, M. C., Lu, C. C., ... & Huang, W. S. (2014). Protective effects of Hericium erinaceus mycelium and its isolated erinacine A against ischemia-injury-induced neuronal cell death via the inhibition of iNOS/p38 MAPK and nitrotyrosine. International journal of molecular sciences, 15(9), 15073-15089.

[7] — Nagai, K., Chiba, A., Nishino, T., Kubota, T., & Kawagishi, H. (2006). Dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine from Hericium erinaceum protects against ER stress-dependent Neuro2a cell death via protein kinase C pathway. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 17(8), 525-530.

[8] — Mori, K., Obara, Y., Moriya, T., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2011). Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β (25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice. Biomedical Research, 32(1), 67-72.

[9] — Phan, C. W., David, P., Naidu, M., Wong, K. H., & Sabaratnam, V. (2015). Therapeutic potential of culinary-medicinal mushrooms for the management of neurodegenerative diseases: diversity, metabolite, and mechanism. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 35(3), 355-368.

[10] — Kolotushkina, E. V., Moldavan, M. G., Voronin, K. Y., & Skibo, G. G. (2003). The influence of Hericium erinaceus extract on myelination process in vitro. Fiziol Zh, 49(1), 38-45.

[11] — Moldavan, M., Grygansky, A. P., Kolotushkina, O. V., Kirchhoff, B., Skibo, G. G., & Pedarzani, P. (2007). Neurotropic and trophic action of lion's mane mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers.(Aphyllophoromycetideae) extracts on nerve cells in vitro. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 9(1).

[12] — Chao, M. V., Rajagopal, R., & Lee, F. S. (2006). Neurotrophin signalling in health and disease. Clinical science, 110(2), 167-173.

[13] — Zhang, C. C., Yin, X., Cao, C. Y., Wei, J., Zhang, Q., & Gao, J. M. (2015). Chemical constituents from Hericium erinaceus and their ability to stimulate NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth on PC12 cells. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, 25(22), 5078-5082.

[14] — Samberkar, S., Gandhi, S., Naidu, M., Wong, K. H., Raman, J., & Sabaratnam, V. (2015). Lion's Mane, Hericium erinaceus and Tiger Milk, Lignosus rhinocerotis (Higher Basidiomycetes) medicinal mushrooms stimulate neurite outgrowth in dissociated cells of brain, spinal cord, and retina: an in vitro study. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 17(11).

[15] — Lai, P. L., Naidu, M., Sabaratnam, V., Wong, K. H., David, R. P., Kuppusamy, U. R., ... & Malek, S. N. A. (2013). Neurotrophic properties of the Lion's mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 15(6).

[16] — Mori, K., Obara, Y., Hirota, M., Azumi, Y., Kinugasa, S., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2008). Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 31(9), 1727-1732.

[17] — Sheu, S. C., Lyu, Y., Lee, M. S., & Cheng, J. H. (2013). Immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides isolated from Hericium erinaceus on dendritic cells. Process biochemistry, 48(9), 1402-1408.

[18] — Son, C. G., Shin, J. W., Cho, J. H., Cho, C. K., Yun, C. H., & Han, S. (2006). Induction of murine interleukin‐1 beta expression by water‐soluble components from Hericium erinaceum 1. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 27(8), 1058-1064.

[19] — Mori, K., Ouchi, K., & Hirasawa, N. (2015). The anti-inflammatory effects of lion's mane culinary-medicinal mushroom, hericium erinaceus (higher basidiomycetes) in a coculture system of 3t3-L1 adipocytes and raw264 macrophages. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 17(7).

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

What is Reishi?

Reishi is a medicinal forest-grown fungus. It's revered in traditional medical systems across Asia for its powerful immune-enhancing and longevity-promoting benefits.

Medicinal mushrooms are notorious for their complex effects on the immune system — often working in both directions (stimulation and inhibition), depending on what’s needed.

Reishi is no different — it's one of the most important medicinal herbs for longevity and immune health in the world.

This saprophytic (tree-eating) fungus is often used for the prevention and treatment of immune-related illness — including cancer, autoimmunity, infection, inflammation, and allergic reaction.

Reishi is also used for anxiety, depression, insomnia, and as a general adaptogen for overall health and wellbeing.

What is Reishi Used For?

Reishi has the unique ability to act bidirectionally on the immune system — which means it can increase immune activity, and decrease immune activity. It appears it will push the immune system in whatever direction it needs to go. In patients with low immunity or cancer, reishi up-regulates the immune response.

however, in patients with hyperactive immune activity — such as autoimmune disease or allergic reaction — reishi has an opposite effect, toning down the immune response.

This is an effect not well understood to this day, but gives the mushroom an incredibly versatile set of benefits.

Traditionally, reishi is considered a shen tonic — which is used to calm the nerves, ease anxiety, and promote healthy sleep (without being directly sedative).

Most people use reishi as a general health and immune tonic. It’s used by people with known immune-related illness — such as frequent infection, autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, cancer, and more.

Others use the herb as a prophylactic against common infections like colds and flus, or to keep chronic viral infection at bay (such as herpes or shingles).

Traditional Uses of Reishi

+ Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine this fungus has been used for (altitude sickness and is often combined with chrysanthemum, rhodiola, and safflower seed.

Taste:

Sweet [5]

Energy:

Neutral [5]

Channels:

Heart, liver, lung [5]

Actions:

Tonifies, the heart, calms and anchors the Shen, stops cough, stops wheezing, dislodges phlegm, tonifies the spleen, tonifies the Qi, tonifies blood [5]

Indications:

Suitable during pregnancy [5].

Dose:

3-15g decocted20 mins [5]

Considered to be warming, astringent, nourishing, detoxifying, and tonifying. Protects qi of the heart, used to repair a knotted, tight chest. Traditionally in this system, it was recommended to take this herb over long periods to reap the benefits of longevity.

The spores are suggested to contain high amounts of jing and considered an elixir of life [1].

Other uses include Hashimoto's disease, in foot baths for gout, altitude sickness prevention, and immune regulation. [1].

+ Ayurveda

A related species — Ganoderma applanatum — has been used extensively in Ayurvedic systems in the pine region of India. Its uses include stopping excessive salivation in the mouth, as a styptic.

+ Other Historical Uses

Reishi has been used medicinally in Asian countries for at least 4000 years and is the most widely depicted mushroom in Japan, Korea, and China, which can be found on temples, tapestries, statues, and paintings.

Reishis rarity and subsequent value made it most accessible to the privileged like emperors and royalty. It has long been associated with longevity and was included in many ancient medical texts for this purpose.

Used to treat liver ailments, lung conditions, kidney disease, nerve pain, hypertension, gastric ulcers, and insomnia. The antler growth pattern is considered very rare and is the most desired for promoting sexual function in both men and women.

Other uses include its use as a means to ward off evil by hanging dried specimens over the door. Similarly, it has been placed on the graves of shamans to protect from evil souls or spirits.

Reishi has been used in nearly every format imaginable including tinctures, teas/decoctions, powdered preparations, brewed into beers and wines, and eaten raw.

Herb Details: Reishi

Herbal Actions:

• Adaptogen
• Immunomodulator
• Analgesic
• Muscle relaxant
• Nervine Relaxant
• Hepatoprotective
• Pulmonary trophorestorative
• Cardiotonic
• Chemoprotective
• Anti-Cancer
• Antiviral
• Antibacterial

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  30-60 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Fruiting body, Spores, Mycelium

Family Name

• Ganodermataceae

Distribution

• Asia, Europe, and North America

Constituents of Interest

• Beta-glucans
• Ergosterol
• Triterpenoids
• Polysaccharides

Common Names

• Reishi
• Ling Zhi
• Saiwai-Take
• Kishiban

CYP450

• Unknown

Quality

• Neutral

Pregnancy

• No adverse reactions expected.

Taste

• Bitter

Duration of Use

• Suitable for long term use.

Mycological Information

There are about 80 different species of Ganoderma, many of which are used as medicine. The Ganodermataceae contains 8 genera and roughly 300 different species.

Reishi is a saprophyte, meaning it only eats dying or decaying organic matter such as wood. It's mainly found growing on dying trees, stumps, and fallen logs.

Ganoderma spp. is long-lived — releasing approximately 30 billion spores everyday for up to 6 months or a year [1].

Habitat Ecology, & Distribution:

Wild Ganoderma lucidum is rare but is indigenous to forested regions of Asia including Japan, China, and Russia. Other species are found in North America and Europe.

It grows on Elm (Ulmus spp.), alder (Alnus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), maple (Acer spp.) and some strains on conifers. Other species of Ganoderma such as G. tsugae or G. oregonense grow better and almost exclusively on conifers. G. lucidum, however, prefers hardwoods.

G. lucidum can be found very rarely in the Pacific Northwest, and a similar species (G. curtisii), is seen more commonly in eastern Canada around the great lakes region [1]. This species is actually a yellow form of the red G. lucidum.

Most reishi products on the market are cultivated in a sterile environment on logs or sawdust in large laboratories.

Harvesting Collection, & Preparation:

Both the mycelium, fruiting body, and spores are used medicinally. The red and purple varieties are considered the most valuable. These phenotypes are also thought to be the most potent in their effects [1].

The spores can be either taken raw or can be cracked. This basically involves the germination, then drying of the spores and is suggested to provide stronger medicinal effects after this germination process has taken place.

Another, much more expensive way of ingesting the spores it to run it through a supercritical CO2 extractor. This method creates a product that is roughly equivalent to 20-40 of the raw spore capsules [1].

A mushroom oil can also be extracted from the fruiting body waxes, can be used as is topically, or added to lotions, and salves.

Cosmetically it is useful as a sunscreen due to its radio-protective effects, as well as in anti-aging creams, and to remove warts [1].

As with most hard, polypores, chop the fungus into strips (better when wet or a saw may have to be used), and crumble into small pieces.

Decoct in water, then strain and freeze the leftover mush, doing this will cause the cell walls to burst and allow more constituents to be extracted during the next process. Next, after it has been frozen for 24 hours or so, de-thaw, and mix with 95% alcohol for at least 2 weeks.

In the end, strain, and combine with the decoction made earlier to a standardized amount.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

+ Antibacterial

Ganoderma applanatum is an effective inhibitor of:

• Bacillus cereus
• Cornybacterium diphtheria
• Escherichia coli
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Streptococcus pyogenes

Gram-positive bacteria were more affected than gram-negative [1].

It has been suggested that the polysaccharides in Ganoderma spp. are more antibacterial — while the triterpenoids are more antiviral.

More research is needed to elucidate on this further.

+ Anti-diabetic

Ganoderma has been reported to produce potent lens aldose reductase inhibition, and significant inhibition of serum glucose and sorbitol accumulation in the lens of the eye, red blood cells, and sciatic nerves in diabetic rats (based on earlier studies) [1]. This shows potential as a treatment for diabetic induced retinopathy and other diabetes-related damage in the body.

Has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in hyperglycemic models (fruiting body), and involved the ganoderan B and C [1].

In a study on type 2 diabetics not on insulin, were given reishi extracts, and compared to the placebo control group, were found to have significantly decreased glycosylated hemoglobin (8.4%-7.6%), in as little as 12 weeks. Fasting insulin levels, 2-hour -post-prandial insulin, fasting C-peptide, and post-prandial C-peptide all showed significant improvement in the reishi group [1].

Spores have also shown evidence for anti-diabetic effects [1].

+ Antioxidant

Methanol extracts of G. tsugae were found to be more potent in antioxidant effects that alpha-tocopherol, and exhibited significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation as such.

The antioxidant effects are not considered as reliable as G. lucidum but are very close. It is the phenol content that has been deemed responsible for these effects. [1].

G. tsugae fruiting body extract was shown to increase intracellular glutathione levels, which in turn protect against oxidative damage [1].

+ Antiulcer effects:

Polysaccharides from Ganoderma spp. protects the gastric mucosa by improving PGE2. This backs up some of its uses in the form of tea for treating ulcers.

+ Antiviral

G. lucidum fruiting body extracts have been shown to inhibit HIV, and HPV [1].

Rogers, (2011) reports that Ganaderiol-F, ganodermadiol, ganoderic acid beta, and lucidumol have all been identified as antiviral agents.

G. resinaceum (and most likely G. tsugae, and G. lucidum as well), have been shown to inhibit punta toro, pichinde, and H1N1 [1].

+ Blood Tonic

Reishi been shown to enhance the production of interleukin-1 in vitro, and increase white blood cell and haemoglobin levels in mice [1].

+ Cardiotonic

Reishi has been shown to improve symptoms of coronary heart disease [1].

G. lucidum has been shown to provide anti-cholesterol, anti-diabetic, reduced platelet aggregation, anti atherosclerotic, and antihypotensive effects, which all play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease.

Suggested to produce angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition through its ganoderic acid B, C2, D, and F [1].

+ Chemoprotective

Has been shown to increase natural killer cell activity of splenocytes by up to 52% [1]

+ Hepatoprotective

The triterpenoids contained in the mycelium of G. tsugae have shown hepatoprotective activity [1].

Ganodereic acid B has shown hepatoprotective effects [1].

+ Immunomodulatory

The polysaccharides from the mycelium were found to be both anti-inflammatories, and immune-stimulating, Rogers, (2011), suggests contradiction from these two effects suggest bi-directional (immunomodulatory) effects on immune response, rather than just stimulating. This appears to be dose-dependent and may be through modulation of cytokine production.

Reishi has been shown to both reduce inflammation and increase immune response — which is contradictory in that an increased immune response should correlate with inflammation. It's has been suggested that G. lucidum produces this apparent modulatory effect through the enteric mucosal pathway. Its effects on the immune system do not appear to be through IgE antibody synthesis, rather through a modulating effect on immunoglobulin levels [1].

+ Sedative

The spores are suggested to produce sedative and hypnotic effects in mice [1].

+ Other

There's some evidence to support the effects of reishi towards bronchitis and other lung disorders . The chemicals suggested to be responsible for these effects are gonoderic acids A, B, C1, and C2 [1].

Phytochemistry

+ Compounds by Anatomy

Fruiting Body

Carbohydrates, amino acids (including adenosine), steroids (ergosterols), protease, lysosomes, lipids, triterpenes, alkaloids, vitamins B2 and C, minerals (zinc, manganese, iron, copper, germanium), beta-glucans (up to 40.6%), [1].

Mycelium

Sterols, alkaloids, lactones, erogone, polysaccharides, triterpinoids,

Spores

choline, triterpenes, betaine, palmitic acid, stearic acid, ergosta7,22-dien-3b-ol, tetracosanoic acid, behenic acid, nonadecanoic acid, ergosterol, beta sitosterol, pyrophosphatidic acid, hentriacontane, tetracosane, ganodermasides (A and B) [1].

+ Species Specific Breakdown

Ganoderma tsugae

3 α-acetoxy-5α-lanosta-8,24-dien-21-oic acid, 2β,3α,9α-trihydroxy-5α-ergosta-7,22-dien, 3alpha-acetoxy-16alpha-tsugarioside B and C, ganoderic acid C2, ganoderic acid B, lucidone A, and glycans (various) [1].

Ganoderma applanatum

Ergosterol (and its peroxide), ergosta-7,22-dien-3b-ol, ergasta-7,22-dien-3-one, β-D-glucan, fungisterol, alnusenone, friedelin, triterpenoids (including ganoderenic, furanoganoderic, ganoderic acids), applanoxidic acids (A, B, C, and D), lanostandoid triterpenes E-H, lucidone A, ganoderma aldehyde, 3 linoleic acid steryl esters. To compare with G. lucidum, ganoderenic acid, and ganoderic acid is found in both [1].

Ganoderma lucidum

Still compiling research.

Clinical Applications Of Reishi:

Reishi is used as a supportive agent for cancer, autoimmune conditions, cardiovascular dysfunctions, respiratory dysfunctions, viral and bacterial infection, and hypertension. It's rarely used on its own, but makes for a great addition to herbal formulations.

Cautions:

Caution advised in combination with ACE inhibitor medications due to potential drug interactions.

Synergy

For altitude sickness: Combines well with rhodiola for this purpose.

It has been suggested that vitamin C helps absorb this mushroom, however, more research is needed to confirm this. Pineapple and ginger may also increase the absorption of reishi constituents.

Author:

Justin Cooke

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated May 2019)

Recent Blog Posts:

References:

1. Rogers, R. D. (2011). The fungal pharmacy: The complete guide to medicinal mushrooms and lichens of North America [Adobe Digital Editions version].

2. Berovic, M., J. Habijanic, I. Zore, B. Wraber, D. Hodzar, B. Boh and F. Pohleven. Submerged cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum biomass and immunostimulatory effects of fungal polysaccharides. J. Biotechnol. 103: 77–86, 2003

3. Jiang, Y., H. Wang, L. Lu and G.Y. Tian. Chemistry of polysaccharide Lzps-1 from Ganoderma lucidum spore and anti-tumor activity of its total polysaccharides. Yao. Xue. Xue. Bao. 40: 347–350, 2005.

4. Cheng, K.C., H.C. Huang, J.H. Chen, J.W. Hsu, H.C. Cheng, C.H. Ou, W.B. Yang, S.T. Chen, C.H. Wong and H.F. Juan. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides in human monocytic leukemia cells: from gene expression to network construction. BMC Genomics 8: 411, 2007.

5. Hempen, C. H., & Fischer, T. (2009). A Materia Medica for Chinese Medicine: Plants, Minerals, and Animal Products. (Pg. 436-437).

6. Thyagarajan, A., J. Jiang, A. Hopf, J. Adamec and D. Sliva. Inhibition of oxidative stress-induced invasiveness of cancer cells by Ganoderma lucidum is mediated through the suppression of interleukin-8 secretion. Int. J. Mol. Med. 18: 657–664, 2006.

7. Xie, J.T., C.Z. Wang, S. Wicks, J.J. Yin, J. Kong, J. Li, Y. C. Li and C.S. Yuan. Ganoderma lucidum extract inhibits proliferation of SW 480 human colorectal cancer cells. Exp. Oncol. 28: 25–29, 2006.

8. Paterson, R.R. Ganoderma — a therapeutic fungal biofactory. Phytochemistry. 67: 1985–2001, 2006.

9. Lin, Y.L., Y.C. Liang, S.S. Lee and B.L. Chiang. (2005). Polysaccharide purified from Ganoderma lucidum induced activation and maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells by the NFkappaB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. J. Leukoc. Biol. 78: 533–543.

Graviola (Annona muricata)

What is Graviola?

Graviola is a large tropical tree with a rich history of traditional use for conditions like cancer, parasitic infection, insomnia, and dysentery. Modern use remains very similar, mainly focusing on tension headaches and muscle aches, insomnia, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and parasitic infection.

Although the entire plant has been used as medicine by various traditional medical systems, the most common form the plant is available in today is as a leaf extract, and raw leaves intended for tea.

Graviola is gaining in popularity outside worldwide as a general health supplement, blood sugar regulator, and anticancer agent. As a result, it's getting easier to find the herb as time goes on. It is likely this tea will become a staple in Western herbal medicine in the coming years.

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How Is Graviola Used?

Graviola is mainly used as an adjunctive treatment for cancer, especially leukemia and other haematological cancers, as well as prostate, colon, and breast cancers.

Graviola is also popular as an anti-diabetic herb, and can be used to reduce hypertension, especially in combination with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

Graviola is a potent anti-parasitic, useful for a wide range of different parasitic species, including worms, protozoa, and bacterial parasites.

Traditional Uses of Graviola

+ South America

Graviola originated from South America and/or the Carribean. All parts of the plant were used as medicine for a wide range of conditions.

The most common use of the plant appears to involve cancer treatment and parasitic infection.

The darkest leaves on the plants were used primarily as a sedative or antispasmodic. They were used to treat insomnia, arthritic pains, colic, dysentery, muscle aches, headaches, and diabetes. The leaves were often placed inside a pillow or bedsheets to improve sleep.

In Brazil, the leaves were made into a tea for treating various liver conditions. The oil of the leaves and unripe fruits were used topically for treating neuralgia, and arthritis.

In Peru, the leaves were used to treat excess catarrh, and the bark and root were used for treating diabetes, insomnia, and muscle aches.

In Guyana, the leaves were used as a heart tonic.

+ Southeast Asia

In Southeast Asia, graviola was an important treatment for malaria. It was made into candies, ice cream, and syrups for treating malaria and other parasites.

Herb Details: Graviola

Herbal Actions:

• Anticancer
• Antinflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Antispasmodic
• Anticonvulsant
• Antidepressant
• Antidiabetic
• Antibacterial
• Antiarthritic
• Antilithic
• Antimalarial
• Bradycardic
• Digestive stimulant
• Febrifuge
• Hepatoprotective
• Hypotensive
• Sedative
• Vasodilator

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  40-80 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Leaves

Family Name

• Annonaceae

Distribution

• North & South America, The Caribbean, Indonesia, Western Africa, Pacific Islands

Constituents of Interest

• Acetogenins
• Alkaloids (reticulin, coreximine, coclarine and anomurine)
• Essential oils (β-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, epi-α-cadinol and α-cadinol)
• Quercetin

Common Names

• Graviola
• Custard Apple Tree
• Soursop
• Annona
• Guanabana (South America)

Quality

• Cool*

Pregnancy

• Unknown

Taste

• Sour

Duration of Use

• Avoid long term use.

Botanical Information

Graviola is a large tree, growing to a height of 10m. It requires high humidity, warm weather, and high annual rainfall in order to thrive. It produces large, edible fruits with an acidic taste (hence the common name soursop).

There are over 130 different genera in the Annonaceae family, and around 2300 different species. The Annona genus itself has about 70 different species. Annona muricata is the most commonly grown worldwide.

Phytochemistry

There are over 100 annonaceous acetogenins in the plant, which are considered to be the primary active constituents of the plant. Structurally these chemicals are derivatives of long chain (C35 or C37) fatty acids. These compounds are cytotoxic against tumour cell lines, and molluscicidal.

Graviola is also rich in alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, lactones, anthraquinones, tannins, cardiac glycosides, phenols, and phytosterols.

+ Complete Phytochemical Makeup

Annonaceous Acetogenins

The leaves contain annomuricins A and B, gigantetrocin A, annonacin-10-one, muricatetrocins A and B, annonacin, goniothalamicin, muricatocins A and B, annonacin A, (2,4-trans)-isoannonacin, (2,4-cis)-isoannonacin, annomuricin C, muricatocin C, gigantetronenin, annomutacin, (2,4-trans)-10R-annonacin-A-one, (2,4-cis)-10R-annonacin-A-one, annopentocins A, B and C, cis- and trans-annomuricinD-ones, annomuricine, muricapentocin, muricoreacin and murihexocin C and annocatacin A and B.

Alkaloids

Graviola contains reticulin, coreximine, coclarine and anomurine.

Essential Oils

Graviola contains β-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, epi-α-cadinol and α-cadinol.

Clinical Applications Of Graviola:

Graviola is useful for parasitic infection, including protozoan, and helminth parasites. It's used as a mild sedative and antispasmodic, and can be very useful for gastrointestinal inflammation and dysbiotic conditions.

Graviola is also a popular treatment for diabetes by slowing lipid per-oxidation, and restoring islet beta-cells in the pancreas.

It's commonly used as an adjunctive treatment of cancer, especially haematological cancers and colon cancer.

Cautions:

Graviola has been reported to increase symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

Caution advised in combination with other hypoglycaemic drugs due to potential additive effect.

+ Contraindications

• May exacerbate Parkinson's Disease symptoms (Acetogenin content)
• Caution advised in combination with other hypoglycemic drugs due to potential additive effect.
  

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated November 2018)

Recent Blog Posts:

References:

1. Moghadamtousi, S. Z., Fadaeinasab, M., Nikzad, S., Mohan, G., Ali, H. M., & Kadir, H. A. (2015). Annona muricata (Annonaceae): a review of its traditional uses, isolated acetogenins and biological activities. International journal of molecular sciences, 16(7), 15625-15658.

2. De Sousa, O. V., Vieira, G. D. V., De Pinho, J. D. J. R., Yamamoto, C. H., & Alves, M. S. (2010). Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of Annona muricata L. leaves in animal models. International journal of molecular sciences, 11(5), 2067-2078.

3. Torres, M. P., Rachagani, S., Purohit, V., Pandey, P., Joshi, S., Moore, E. D., ... & Batra, S. K. (2012). Graviola: a novel promising natural-derived drug that inhibits tumorigenicity and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through altering cell metabolism. Cancer letters, 323(1), 29-40.

4. Coria-Tellez, A. V., Montalvo-Gónzalez, E., Yahia, E. M., & Obledo-Vázquez, E. N. (2016). Annona muricata: A comprehensive review on its traditional medicinal uses, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action and toxicity. Arabian Journal of Chemistry.

5. Gavamukulya, Y., Abou-Elella, F., Wamunyokoli, F., & AEl-Shemy, H. (2014). Phytochemical screening, anti-oxidant activity and in vitro anticancer potential of ethanolic and water leaves extracts of Annona muricata (Graviola). Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine, 7, S355-S363.

6. Arroyo, J., Martínez, J., Ronceros, G., Palomino, R., Villarreal, A., Bonilla, P., ... & Quino, M. (2009, September). Efecto hipoglicemiante coadyuvante del extracto etanólico de hojas de Annona muricata L (guanábana), en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 bajo tratamiento de glibenclamida. In Anales de la Facultad de Medicina (Vol. 70, No. 3, pp. 163-167). UNMSM. Facultad de Medicina.

7. Adewole, S., & Ojewole, J. (2009). Protective effects of Annona muricata Linn.(Annonaceae) leaf aqueous extract on serum lipid profiles and oxidative stress in hepatocytes of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. African journal of traditional, complementary and alternative medicines, 6(1).

8. Adeyemi, D. O., Komolafe, O. A., Adewole, O. S., Obuotor, E. M., Abiodun, A. A., & Adenowo, T. K. (2010). Histomorphological and morphometric studies of the pancreatic islet cells of diabetic rats treated with extracts of Annona muricata. Folia morphologica, 69(2), 92-100.

9. Adewole, S. O., & Caxton-Martins, E. A. (2006). Morphological changes and hypoglycemic effects of Annona muricata linn.(annonaceae) leaf aqueous extract on pancreatic β-cells of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 9(3).