International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

Development of an Antitumor Biological Response Modifier from Phellinus linteus (Berk. et Curt.) Teng (Aphyllophoromycetideae) (Review)

SINOPSIS

In Japan, three kinds of antitumor biological response modifiers-such as krestin (in 1977) from the mycelium of Trametes versicolor (= Coriolus versicolor), lentinan (in 1985) from the fruiting body of Lentinus edodes, and schizophyllan (in 1986) from a component in the cultured medium of Schizophyllum commune, have been developed from medicinal and edible mushrooms. The artificial cultivation of mushrooms and the tank cultur-ing method of processing their mycelium were established. Until recently, various kinds of healthy and functional foods developed from mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Lentinus edodes, Agaricus blazei, A. bisporus, Hericium erinaceus, Inonotus obliquus, Sparasis crispa, etc. have appeared on the Japanese market. In 1998, the cultured mycelium product of Phellinus linteus (song gen or meshimakobu) had been developed as a medicinal in Korea. Also, in Japan, new products from the fruiting body and mycelium of Phellinus linteus are planned and expected to develop in the future.