Shaggy Mane - Coprinus comatus – Schopftintling – Sasakure Hitoyotake – Ji Tui Mo – Mao Tou Gui San

Shaggy Mane

Coprinus comatus – Schopftintling – Sasakure Hitoyotake – Ji Tui Mo – Mao Tou Gui San

The Mushroom with Antidiabetic Potential

 

Interesting compounds

  • Very rich in proteins (1,2).

  • L-Ergothioneine (3): a strong antioxidant (4), neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory (5,6), and antitumor effects (7).

  • Comatin: antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic, reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels (3,4,8), inhibits HIV-1 (8).

  • Vanadium: enhances blood sugar-lowering effects by mimicking insulin (8), antioxidant and antimicrobial effects (4,9–13).

  • Caution: Coprin: mycotoxin, which in combination with alcohol causes Coprinus syndrome by inhibiting acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (see side effects) (14).

  • Vitamin C: antioxidant (3,7,15).

  • Trehalose: prebiotic (15).

  • Quinic acid: antidiabetic (16). CCP (Coprinus comatus polysaccharides, β-glucans) (4,8): prebiotic (17), antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (8,18), hepatoprotective, and antibacterial (8).

  • Antimicrobial compounds: Coprinin, Coprinol, which only forms during fermentation (4), and Coprinuslactone (19).

  • Laccase: some interference with HIV-1 activity (8).

  • Phenols and other volatile aromatic molecules – 3-octanone, 3-octanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-octanol, l-dodecanol, caprylic acid, n-butyric acid, isobutyric acid: antioxidants, antitumor agents, when extracted, can be used for emotional relief, anxiety reduction, and relaxation (4,8).

  • Nutrient content: moisture 90.5%, protein 11.8-29.5 g/100 g, fat 1.1-7.3 g/100 g, carbohydrates 32.1-76.3 g/100 g, fiber 21.13-34.59 g/100 g, ash 13.24 g/100 g (19-21), various minerals – iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus (19).

Areas of action and applications

  • Diabetes mellitus types I and II (1-4,7,8,15,18,22,23) – promising results found in animal studies.

  • Reduces insulin resistance (type II diabetes).

    • Protects pancreatic islet cells (type I diabetes).

    • Lowers blood sugar concentration, fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, fructosamine, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.

    • Reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic nephropathy.

    • In combination with organic vanadium, it improves diabetes-related bone dysfunction – regenerates pancreatic beta cells and increases mineral content and biomechanical strength of bones.

  • Complementary cancer treatment (1-3,7,24), especially for hormone-dependent tumors:

    • Androgen-dependent prostate cancer in vitro – inhibits cell proliferation, PSA secretion (4,8,25-27).

    • Estrogen-dependent breast cancer in vitro (4,8,28-30) – inhibits the growth of ER+ and ER- breast cancer cells, induces apoptosis, and inhibits tumor formation. Ovarian cancer in vitro – C. comatus extract induces apoptosis (8).

    • Gastric carcinoma in vitro – inhibition of colony formation of cell lines (30). Hepatocarcinoma in vitro – antiproliferative effect on cancer cells (5,8).

    • Human glioblastoma in vitro – cytotoxic and DNA synthesis-inhibiting effects (31).

    • Human T-cell leukemia in vitro (8,31).

  • Prostate diseases (1,4,8).

    • Antiandrogenic effect – promising for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.

    • Reduces androgen receptor levels and PSA gene expression in vitro.

  • Hepatoprotective effect (1,4,7,8,15).

    • Alcohol-induced liver disease – administration of C. comatus in animal studies improves the effects of alcohol metabolism disorders, alleviates oxidative stress, improves dyslipidemia, and relieves disturbances in hepatic fat metabolism.

    • Several in vivo studies in mice reported prebiotic effects – a positive improvement in gut microbiota possibly leading to reduced liver inflammation and insulin resistance (17,21,32).

  • Weight control (2,7,8,15,21).

  • Antimicrobial effect – in vitro experiments reported inhibitory effects and disruption of biofilm formation against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4,19), antibiotic effects against various multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus species, antifungal effects against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans (4).

  • Skin aging and hyperpigmentation – antioxidant, moisturizing, brightening, reduces UV-B-induced skin inflammation (5,6,18).

  • Neuroprotective effect – laboratory studies show reversible anti-AChE activity of the mushroom, almost as strong as donepezil, which is used to treat Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia (8,33).

  • Traditional use in TCM for gut health – improves digestion, bloating, constipation, and hemorrhoids (3,4,7,15).

 

Side effects

  • Coprinus syndrome – when consumed in combination with alcohol, the mycotoxins cause inhibition of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (14). Typical symptoms include ethanol intolerance with flushing, metallic taste on the tongue, tachycardia, headache, dizziness, vomiting, sweating, fasciculations, postural hypotension, and collapse (34).

  • Skin reactions in patients with dermatitis and atopic predisposition. In 32% of patients with atopic dermatitis, C. comatus-induced delayed-type reactions occurred after an atopic patch test (with 5 mg of protein from the cap per 1 g of petroleum jelly or 1.35 mg of spore protein per 1 g of petroleum jelly) (21).

References

  1. Martin Powell. Medicinal mushrooms. [Internet]. Place of publication not identified: Mycology Press; [cited 2021 Dec 27]. Available from: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11571096

  2. Bianchi I, Marrocchesi R. Guarire con i funghi medicinali: propriet?? terapeutiche e istruzioni per l’uso dei 12 funghi medicinali pi?? importanti. Treviso: Editoriale Programma; 2015.

  3. Guthmann J. Heilende Pilze: die wichtigsten Arten der Welt: Beschreibung - Inhaltsstoffe - Wirkung. 2., aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Wiebelsheim: Quelle & Meyer Verlag; 2021. 446 p.

  4. Rogers RD. The fungal pharmacy: the complete guide to medicinal mushrooms and lichens of North America. Berkeley, Calif: North Atlantic Books; 2011. 591 p.

  5. Nachimuthu S, Kandasamy R, Ponnusamy R, Deruiter J, Dhanasekaran M, Thilagar S. L-Ergothioneine: A Potential Bioactive Compound from Edible Mushrooms. In: Agrawal DC, Dhanasekaran M, editors. Medicinal Mushrooms: Recent Progress in Research and Development [Internet]. Singapore: Springer; 2019 [cited 2022 Jan 18]. p. 391–407. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6382-5_16

  6. Asahi T, Wu X, Shimoda H, Hisaka S, Harada E, Kanno T, et al. A mushroom-derived amino acid, ergothioneine, is a potential inhibitor of inflammation-related DNA halogenation. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. 2016 Feb 1;80(2):313–7.

  7. Rebensburg P, Kappl A. Gesund mit Heilpilzen: Immunsystem stärken, Krankheiten heilen und Beschwerden lindern. München: riva; 2020. 271 p.

  8. Cao H, Qin D, Guo H, Cui X, Wang S, Wu Y, et al. The Shaggy Ink Cap Medicinal Mushroom, Coprinus comatus (Agaricomycetes), a Versatile Functional Species: A Review. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2020;22(3):245–55.

  9. Han C, Liu T. A comparison of hypoglycemic activity of three species of basidiomycetes rich in vanadium. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Feb;127(2):177–82.

  10. Lv Y, Han L, Yuan C, Guo J. Comparison of hypoglycemic activity of trace elements absorbed in fermented mushroom of Coprinus comatus. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Nov;131(2):177–85.

  11. Han C, Yuan J, Wang Y, Li L. Hypoglycemic activity of fermented mushroom of Coprinus comatus rich in vanadium. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2006;20(3):191–6.

  12. Zhou G, Han C. The co-effect of vanadium and fermented mushroom of Coprinus comatus on glycaemic metabolism. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008 Jul;124(1):20–7.

  13. Han C, Cui B, Wang Y. Vanadium uptake by biomass of Coprinus comatus and their effect on hyperglycemic mice. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008 Jul;124(1):35–9.

  14. Matthies L, Laatsch H. Ungewöhnliche Pilzvergiftungen: Coprin, ein Hemmstoff des Alkohol-Abbaus. Pharmazie in unserer Zeit. 1992;21(1):14–20.

  15. Dr Walter Ardigò. Healing with Medicinal Mushrooms. A practical handbook. Youcanprint; 2017. 394 p.

  16. Karaman M, Tesanovic K, Gorjanovic S, Pastor FT, Simonovic M, Glumac M, et al. Polarography as a technique of choice for the evaluation of total antioxidant activity: The case study of selected Coprinus Comatus extracts and quinic acid, their antidiabetic ingredient. Nat Prod Res. 2021 May;35(10):1711–6.

  17. Li W, Wang Y, Sun M, Liang Y, Wang X, Qi D, et al. The Saggy Ink Cap Medicinal Mushroom, Coprinus comatus (Agaricomycetes), Protein Attenuates Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury in Association with Changes in the Gut Microbiota of Mice. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2021;23(5):91–100.

  18. Wang S, Wang C, Cao H, Cui X, Guo H, Zheng W, et al. Comparing the Cosmetic Effects of Liquid-Fermented Culture of Some Medicinal Mushrooms Including Antioxidant, Moisturizing, and Whitening Activities. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2020;22(7):693–703.

  19. Ramesh S, Majrashi M, Almaghrabi M, Govindarajulu M, Fahoury E, Fadan M, et al. Overview of Therapeutic Efficacy of Mushrooms. In: Agrawal DC, Dhanasekaran M, editors. Medicinal Mushrooms [Internet]. Singapore: Springer Singapore; 2019 [cited 2022 Jan 16]. p. 103–41. Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-981-13-6382-5_3

  20. Stilinović N, Čapo I, Vukmirović S, Rašković A, Tomas A, Popović M, et al. Chemical composition, nutritional profile and in vivo antioxidant properties of the cultivated mushroom Coprinus comatus. R Soc Open Sci. 2020 Sep;7(9):200900.

  21. Nowakowski P, Naliwajko SK, Markiewicz-Żukowska R, Borawska MH, Socha K. The two faces of Coprinus comatus —Functional properties and potential hazards. Phytotherapy Research. 2020 Nov;34(11):2932–44.

  22. Husen F, Hernayanti H, Ekowati N, Sukmawati D, Ratnaningtyas NI. Antidiabetic Effects and Antioxidant Properties of the Saggy Ink Cap Medicinal Mushroom, Coprinus comatus (Agaricomycetes), in Streptozotocin-Induced Hyperglycemic Rats. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2021;23(10):9–21.

  23. Gao Z, Kong D, Cai W, Zhang J, Jia L. Characterization and anti-diabetic nephropathic ability of mycelium polysaccharides from Coprinus comatus. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2021 Jan;251:117081.

  24. Stajić M, Vukojević J, Ćilerdžić J. Mushrooms as Potential Natural Cytostatics. In: Agrawal DC, Dhanasekaran M, editors. Medicinal Mushrooms [Internet]. Singapore: Springer Singapore; 2019 [cited 2021 Dec 27]. p. 143–68. Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-981-13-6382-5_4

  25. Zaidman B-Z, Wasser SP, Nevo E, Mahajna J. Coprinus comatus and Ganoderma lucidum interfere with androgen receptor function in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Mol Biol Rep. 2008 Jun;35(2):107–17.

  26. Dotan N, Wasser SP, Mahajna J. Inhibition of the Androgen Receptor Activity by Coprinus comatus Substances. Nutrition and Cancer. 2011 Nov;63(8):1316–27.

  27. Dotan N, Wasser SP, Mahajna J. The Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Coprinus comatus as a Natural Antiandrogenic Modulator. Integr Cancer Ther. 2011 Jun;10(2):148–59.

  28. Gu Y-H, Leonard J. In vitro effects on proliferation, apoptosis and colony inhibition in ER-dependent and ER-independent human breast cancer cells by selected mushroom species. Oncology Reports. 2006 Feb 1;15(2):417–23.

  29. Asatiani MD, Wasser SP, Nevo ED, Ruimi N, Mahajna JA, Reznick A. The Shaggy Ink Cap Medicinal Mushroom, Coprinus comatus (O.F. Mull.: Fr.) Pers. (Agaricomycetideae) Substances Interfere with H2O2 Induction of the NF-κB Pathway through Inhibition of IκBα Phosphorylation in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Med Mushrooms [Internet]. 2011 [cited 2022 Jan 18];13. Available from: https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/references/708ae68d64b17c52,77c52f4810e4b47b,4c5e3d861c1bdd9f.html

  30. Wong JH, Ng TB, Chan HHL, Liu Q, Man GCW, Zhang CZ, et al. Mushroom extracts and compounds with suppressive action on breast cancer: evidence from studies using cultured cancer cells, tumor-bearing animals, and clinical trials. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2020 Jun;104(11):4675–703.

  31. Nowakowski P, Markiewicz-Żukowska R, Gromkowska-Kępka K, Naliwajko SK, Moskwa J, Bielecka J, et al. Mushrooms as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer: Evaluation of anti-glioma effects of Coprinus comatus, Cantharellus cibarius, Lycoperdon perlatum, and Lactarius deliciosus extracts. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2021 Jan;133:111090.

  32. Li W, Wang Y, Sun M, Liang Y, Cai X, Qi D, et al. The Prebiotic-Like Effects of Coprinus comatus Polysaccharides on Gut Microbiota in Normal Mice and Those with Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury: A Comparative Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:2027570.

  33. Karaman M, Tesanovic K, Novakovic A, Jakovljevic D, Janjusevic L, Sibul F, et al. Coprinus comatus filtrate extract, a novel neuroprotective agent of natural origin. Nat Prod Res. 2020 Aug;34(16):2346–50.

  34. Coprinus - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 18]. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/coprinus