ANTRODIA (Antrodia camphorata)

Alternative Names: Niu-Chang-Chih Niu-Chang Niu-Chang-ku

Mushroom Description:

Antrodia camphorata is a highly valued polypore mushroom native to only to Taiwan. This orange-red to brown-red colored mushrooms are very bitter in taste with a camphor aroma. The mushroom grows only on one species of rainforest tree that is also native only to Taiwan, Cinnamomum kanehirai, usually in hollow areas of the trunks of mature trees. The host tree is related to the Camphor tree and contains highly aromatic oils. In Taiwan, this endemic tree species is highly valued for manufacturing furniture. The tree is becoming increasingly rare and is now protected by the government. Consequently, it has become increasingly difficult to find Antrodia fruitbodies in the forest and the price for high-quality fruitbodies has increased dramatically. Scientists have recently developed techniques to culture the mycelia of this mushroom in submerged liquid culture and also with Solid State Fermentation (SSF) methodologies. Both the fruitbodies and mycelia have been proven to contain powerful, medicinally-active compounds. Golden Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. is the first company in the West to successfully cultivate the mycelia of this unique species.

Known Active Constituents: Polysaccharides Triterpenoids Sterols

Medicinal Properties and Modes of Actions:

Antrodia is well-known and highly valued as a medicinal mushroom in Taiwan, but it is relatively unknown outside of Taiwan and virtually unknown in the Western world.

In Traditional Taiwanese Medicine, Antrodia is commonly used as a anti-cancer, anti-itching, anti-allergy, and liver protective drug. Scientific research have also shown that the mushroom can be useful in the treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, hepatitis, and many types of cancers including liver, lung, cervical, colon, and breast cancers and also leukemia and adenoma.

Recent research from Taiwan has shown that Antrodia camphorata crude extract (ACCE) does indeed have strong activity against prostate, breast and bladder cancer. Kuan-Chou Chen et al. (2007) found inhibits prostate cancer cells and concluded that Antrodia camphorata, due to its nontoxicity, might be used as a good adjuvant anticancer therapy for prostate cancers. Chiumg-Chi Peng et al. (2007) found that ACCE showed rather significant inhibitory effects on the growth and proliferation of invasive transitional bladder cell carcinomas cells. You-Cheng Hsu et al. (2006) reported that Antrodia exerts growth inhibition on highly-invasive estrogen-nonresponsive human breast cancer cells through apoptosis induction associated with COX-2 inhibition. Chen, Kuan-Chou et al. 2007. Unique Formosan mushroom Antrodia camphorata differentially inhibits androgen-responsive LNCaP and independent PC-3 prostate cancer cell? Nutrition and Cancer 57(1): 111-121.

Selected References:

Cheng, J., et. al., 2005. "Characterization and functional study of Antrodia camphorata Lipopolysaccharide" J. Agric. Food Chem. 53(2), 469-747.

Hseu, YC, et al., 2006> Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and induction of apoptosis in estrogen-nonresponsive breast cancer cells by Antrodia camphorata? Food and Chemical Toxicology 45:1107-1115.

Hseu, YC, et al., 2002. "Protection of oxidative damage by aqueous extract from Antrodia camphorate mycelia in normal human erythrocytes". Life Sci. June 14;71(4):469-482.

Lee, IH, RL Huang, CT Chen, HC Chen, WC Hsu & MK Lu, 2002. "Antrodia camporata polysaccharides exhibit anti-hepatitus B virus effects" FEMS Microbiol. Lett. March 19, 209(1): 63-67.

Lu, JJ., et al., 2004. "Antitumor effects of the partially purified polysaccharides from Antrodia camphorata and the mechanism of its action". Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. Dec. 1;201(2):186-193.

Mau, JL, et. al., 2004. "Antioxidant properties of methanolic extracts from two kinds of Antrodia camphorata mycelia". Food Chemistry 86:25-31.

Peng, Chiung-Chi et al. 2007. Antrodia camphorata extract induces replicative senescence in superficial TCC, and inhibits the absolute migration capability in invasive bladder carcinoma cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology?. 109(1):93-103.

Song TY, SL Hsu & GC Yen, 2005. "Induction of apoptosis in huma hepatoma cells by mycelia of Antrodia camphorata in submerged culture". J. Ethnopharmacol. Aug. 22;100(1-2):158-167.

Wang, GJ., et al., 2003. "The vasorelaxation of Antrodia camphorata mycelia: involvement of endothelial Ca(2+)-NO-cGMP pathway". Life Sci. Oct. 10;73(21)2769-2783.

Wu, S-H, L. Ryvarden & T-T. Chang, 1997. "Antrodia camphorata ("niu-chang-chih"), new combination of a medicinal mushroom in Taiwan" Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 38:273-275.

Disclaimer: This information is intended for information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a physician or other health care professional and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. Taking natural products should be a decision based upon personal research and the advice of health care professionals and be based upon a thorough understanding of the role food-derived medicinally-active compounds play in health and wellbeing. A health care professional should be consulted before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Do not discontinue any other medical treatments without first consulting your doctor.