Nutraceutical White and Brown Beech Mushroom * Nutraceutical White and Brown Beech Mushrooms * Nutraceutical White and Brown Beech Mushroom Supplement

M² BROWN BEECH Hypsizygus marmoreus

Alternative Names:

Hypsizygus tessulatus
Buna Shimeji
Hon Shimeji

Description:

Cultivated varieties harvested in tight clusters with mushrooms attached to common base. Caps 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches wide, brownish with mottled "water spots". Stems and gills white to cream in color. Additional information and descriptions of this mushroom can be found in the Fresh Mushroom section of this website. Golden Gourmet Mushrooms has produced and marketed the fresh mushroom for several years. To further exploit this mushroom's unique and remarkable flavor, nutritive and medicinal qualities, we have initiated production of dehydrated, powdered fruitbodies and dehydrated, powdered mycelium cultured on organic oats. These new products are intended for the functional food, nutraceutical, and flavor/spice industries.

Known Active Constituents:

Polysaccharides
L-Ergothioneine
Sterols
Ergosterol - Provitamin D2

Purported Uses:

Anti-oxidant
Arteriosclerosis treatments
Skin treatments
Anti-inflammatory
Immune system enhancement

Medicinal Properties and Modes of Actions:

The Brown Beech mushroom is a highly nutritious mushroom containing significant amounts of potassium, protein, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, magnesium and Vitamin D2 (please refer to Nutrition Facts in Fresh Mushroom Products section). The Brown Beech is highly valued for its culinary properties. Recent research indicates that this mushroom also has strong medicinal activities. Unpublished research in Japan found that the addition of Beech mushrooms to the diet of mice with deficient ApoE levels reduced the density of serum cholesterol and the areas of arteriosclerosis around the heart and main artery by 74% when compared to the control group (see section titled "Recent Medical Research on Beneficial Effects of Mushrooms on Health). Matsuzawa (1998) reported that adding Beech mushroom fruitbodies to the diet of tumor-bearing mice resulted in a potent anti-tumor effect. This research suggests that the significant increases in antioxidant activities (AOA) in the plasma may be a mechanism of the cancer preventative effects.

The Beech mushroom also has been reported to have beneficial effects on skin conditions. A high-end cosmetic company (Origins) includes Hysizygus mushroom extracts in some of its skin treatment products.

Selected References:

Ikekawa, T. et. al., 1992. "Antitumor activity of Hypsizygus marmoreus. I. Antitumor activity of extracts and polysaccharides." Chem. Pharm. Bull. 40(7):1954-1957.

Matsuzawa, T, et. al., 1997. "Studies on antioxidant effect of Hypsizygus marmoreus I. Effects of Hypsizygus marmoreus for antioxidant activities of mice plasma.

Matsuzawa, T, et al., 1998. "Studies on antioxidant effect of Hypsizygus marmoreus. II. Effects of Hypsizgus marmoreus for antioxidant activities of tumor-bearing mice". Agricultural Technology Institute of Nagano, Japan. Yakugaku Zasshi Oct; 1998(10):476-481.

Saitoh, H. et. al. 1997. "Antitumor activity of Hypsizygus marmoreus. II. Effect against lung metastasis on Lewis Lung Carcinoma. Yakugaku Zasshi 117(12)1006-1010.

Tsuchlda, K. et. al. 1995. "Isolation of a novel collagen-binding protein from the mushrooms, Hypsizygus mamoreus, which inbitis Lewis Lung Carcinoma cell adhesion to the Type IV collagen". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 270(4):1481-1484.