181: New Study Shows that Shiitake Could Lower Risk of Cancer
181: New Study Shows that Shiitake Could Lower Risk of Cancer Podcast Episode ∙ Science ∙ 2025 ∙ 14 minutes, 48 seconds Flora Funga Podcast KK the Plant Biologist with a Thirst for Mycology Ask Flora Funga Podcast anything OR Leave a Review In this episode of Flora Funga Podcast, we dive into the powerful healing potential of shiitake mushrooms—specifically a compound called lentinan, a purified β-glucan found in these fungi. Recent studies have shown that lentinan can significantly boost the immune system and fight off tumor growth in mice, even when given by mouth. In one study, mice given lentinan for just 7 days showed a tumor inhibition rate of over 94%. This compound helped increase key immune signals in the blood and activated lymphocytes—immune cells that were then transferred to other immune-deficient mice, who also experienced reduced tumor growth. These findings highlight the incredible role shiitake mushrooms may play in future natural therapies for immune support and cance...