Mushroom magic
fights cancer
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are in: Health
Monday, 19 August, 2002, 11:28 GMT 12:28 UK
Mushroom magic fights cancer
Edible mushrooms may help fight disease
Exotic mushrooms may hold chemicals which could help scientists
develop new cancer drugs, it is claimed.
Cancer Research UK has researched the use of mushrooms in
traditional medicines in Asia.
Research there suggests that some have anti-tumour properties.
Trials in the US, Japan and China suggest that chemical compounds
derived from fungi may prolong the survival of cancer patients.
However, some trials carried out in the Far East may have to be
repeated elsewhere before scientists are convinced of their
findings.
Death rates
One survey of Japanese mushroom workers found that those who
produced edible mushrooms - suggesting consumption by workers - had
a far lower death rate from cancer than those who produced
non-edible mushrooms.
Compounds derived from mushrooms could have a hugely beneficial
influence on the way cancer is treated
Dr Richard Sullivan, Cancer Research UK
"Medicinal mushrooms" may also be able to relieve the side-effects
suffered by patients with advanced cancer.
Dr Richard Sullivan, from Cancer Research UK, said: "A vast amount
of information has been collated which suggests that compounds
derived from mushrooms could have a hugely beneficial influence on
the way cancer is treated."
While there is evidence that extracts of rarer mushrooms such as
shiitake, enoke and oyster may be beneficial, the humble British
button or flat mushroom is likely to possess none of these
abilities.
Remedies
More than 100 species are used by traditional Chinese medicine
practioners to form remedies for a wide variety of ailments.
They are often taken as powdered concentrates or extracts in hot
water drinks.
Professor John Smith, from the University of Strathclyde, who led
the review, said: "There is now increasing evidence that the
medicinal mushrooms offer a remarkable array of medicinally
important compounds that have yet to be evaluated by western medical
scientists."
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