MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Astragalus Shiitake—A Novel Functional Food with High Polysaccharide Content and Anti-Proliferative Activity in a Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Line

Summary

Scientists developed a new type of Shiitake mushroom by growing it on a special substrate enriched with Astragalus root. This novel mushroom contains significantly more beneficial polysaccharides than regular Shiitake. When tested against colorectal cancer cells, extracts from this mushroom showed strong cancer-fighting properties, with the ultrasound extraction method being most effective. This research suggests Astragalus Shiitake could become a powerful functional food for cancer prevention and treatment.

Background

Shiitake mushrooms contain therapeutically active polysaccharides with anti-cancer effects. The nutritional composition of mushrooms varies significantly based on growth substrate. This study explored cultivating Shiitake on beds supplemented with Astragalus membranaceus roots to enhance polysaccharide content and bioactivity.

Objective

To compare the yield and anti-proliferative activity of polysaccharide-rich extracts from Hengshan Astragalus Shiitake using three green extraction techniques in human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116). The study aimed to determine if this novel mushroom could become a functional food with enhanced anti-cancer properties.

Results

HAS-A and HAS-B extracts contained significantly higher polysaccharide amounts than control Shiitake across all extraction methods. UEA-HAS-B exhibited the highest anti-proliferative activity with IC50 of 0.367 mg/mL and 94% cell death at 1.6 mg/mL. HAS polysaccharides showed lower molecular weights (1.1-976 kDa) compared to literature reports but demonstrated superior bioactivity.

Conclusion

Shiitake grown on Astragalus-supplemented substrate produces significantly higher polysaccharides with enhanced anti-proliferative activity. UEA extraction optimization is most effective for developing HAS-based functional foods and complementary medicines for cancer treatment and prevention.
  • Published in:Nutrients,
  • Study Type:Experimental/In Vitro Study,
  • Source: 35684133
Scroll to Top