October 12, 2007
Medicinal Mushroom Variety Used in the Mushroom Matrix Shown to Have Cancer-Fighting Properties
The results of research recently published in Nutrition and Cancer, a
leading scientific journal, has found evidence that Antrodia camphorata, a
rare mushroom indigenous to Taiwan, is effective in the fight against
prostate cancer. Antrodia is one of several medicinal mushroom species used
in the Mushroom Matrix.
The study was performed by researchers at the Institute of Medical Science
College of Medicine at Taipei. Antrodia has been used in Taiwan (formerly
Formosa) since the 18th century to treat diarrhea, abdominal pain,
hypertension, itchy skin and hepatitis. It has also been eaten for its
anti-inflammatory and immunomdulating effects (2-7). Local Taiwanese
folklore has touted the benefits of this unique and precious mushroom as
being rich in polysaccharides, isoflavanoids, triterpenes, and polyphenols
(1). Scientific research now shows that Antrodia has anti-cancer effects
on two different prostate cancer cell types, the PC-3 and the LNCaP.
Along with examining the health benefits of Antrodia, researchers have also
considered the safety of the mushroom as a source of food. Although eaten
by local Taiwanese for centuries, prior to this study, there had been no
scientific proof that Antrodia was perfectly safe for human consumption.
Now there is. The Japan Food Analytical Center performed safety evaluations
using a population of rats. Researchers at the Center feed the animals
2000 mg per Kg of body weight, and found no negative signs of weight loss
or pathological changes. Antrodia has no acute, nor chronic, toxic level
and an LD50 level could not be determined. An LD50 value is the amount
of mushroom that would kill 50 percent of the test animals (21).
This recent research highlights the potential for using medicinal mushrooms
as a nutritional support in the fight against diseases including different
types of cancers. The studies on Antrodia focused specifically on prostate
cancer, which is the most commonly diagnosed malignant cancer in American
men over the age of 40. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer death in the U.S. (9-10). One of the most common conventional
treatments used today for prostate cancer is called "androgen therapy."
Unfortunately, many patients develop androgen-independent tumors with the
result that androgen therapy is ineffective. Antrodia provides an
alternative.
The research into the cancer killing properties of the Antrodia mushroom
found that the specific proteins within the mushroom worked independently
of the androgen hormone pathway. So, when the androgen hormone fails to
work, Antrodia does. To prove this, two different cancer cell lines
(types of cancer cells), were used in this study. The first cell line,
PC-3, is androgen independent. The second, LNCaP, is androgen responsive.
To understand how each cancer cell type performed, the study analyzed
Antrodia for different cell biomarkers, apoptotic behaviors, signaling
pathways and cell viability, all of which are chemical indicators that
biochemists use to understand Antrodia's benefits (11-14).
The study found that within two days of treatment with the Antrodia
mushrooms, 50 percent of the cancer cells had died through programmed cell
death (apoptosis). This demise of the cancer cells was enabled through
"communication" between proteins found within the Antrodia mushrooms and the
cancer cell. The proteins attach to receptor sites within the cancer cell
and cause it to self destruct. This acts much like dominos falling one on
to the next until reaching their final destination. This type of
communication between proteins and cell receptors is called signal
transductance. The researchers found that the Antrodia mushroom caused the
DNA within the cancer cell to produce RNA. The RNA then expresses, or
synthesizes, these signaling proteins. These proteins, once in high enough
concentration, complete the sequence and cause the demise of the cancer.
Also important to cell cycle arrest, is the down regulation, or Antrodia's
blocking, of two other proteins. The ability of Antrodia to block RNA
transcription of the two important proteins associated with cancer cell
proliferations is also an important finding. Antrodia simultaneously up
regulates, or increases, the two proteins signaling death of the cancer
cell, while down regulating, or blocking, two other proteins that the cancer
used to protect and proliferated itself. In other words, Antrodia stops
cancer cells from producing proteins that allow cancer to grow and spread
and Antrodia increases proteins that cause cancer cells to commit suicide.
This elaborate study, performed by these researchers, demonstrated very
clearly the process by which Antrodia mushrooms act to destroy two
significant prostate cancer cell lines. In the study, Antrodia accomplished
this by modulating cell cycle regulatory proteins through two different
signaling pathways.
Through extensive travels to the Orient, Golden Gourmet Mushrooms managed to
acquire this rare mushroom species. Our scientists have cultured, purified
and designed a specific growing process that allows us to grow Antrodia
mushrooms in the U.S. This nutritious, whole food - the Antrodia mushroom,
with its proven cancer-fighting properties - can be safely eaten on a
regular basis and is now available in the U.S. and can be found in the
Mushroom Matrix.
This article was summarized from the work of Kuan-Chou Chen, Chiung-Chi
Peng et al. and published as "Unique Formosan Mushroom Antrodia camphorate
Differentially Inhibits Androgen-Responsive LNCaP and Independent PC-3
Prostate Cancer Cells" in Nutrition and Cancer, 57(1), 111-121 (2007)
|
