Umbrella Polypore

Polyporus umbellatus – Eichhase – Zhu Ling – Chorei Maitake

The Umbrella Polypore – A Natural Diuretic

 

Interesting Components

  • Ergone: Anti-tumor effects from sclerotial extracts (1-3), diuretic properties, balancing sodium (Na) and potassium (K) levels (2-4), and nephroprotective effects (5).

  • D-Mannitol: Diuretic (4,6) and antibacterial action against chlamydia (7,8).

  • Polyporusterones A and B: Promote hair regrowth (7-11) and strengthen bones and fingernails (8).

  • Polyporusterones A-G: Antioxidant and antitumor properties (2,3,12).

  • Acetosyringone: Diuretic and hair-growth-promoting effects (3,7-10).

  • Ideal K/Na Ratio (5:1): Promotes sodium-potassium balance despite the diuretic effect (7).

  • Water-Soluble Polysaccharides (β-1,3/1,6-glucans found in the sclerotium) called PUP60S2 and PUP80S1: Antioxidant (12), antitumor (3,13), immunostimulatory (8), and antiviral effects against Hepatitis B (14).

  • Biotin (Vitamin B7): Higher content than other medicinal mushrooms (3,12).

  • Triterpenes: Antioxidants that scavenge free radicals (3), immune-stimulating properties (8), diuretic effects (15).

  • Ergosterol: Diuretic effects (16) and promotion of hair and bone mineralization (8).

  • May regulate the expression of Aquaporins (AQP1, AQP2, AQP3) in the renal medulla—diuretic action that eliminates excess water and sodium (8).

  • Nutritional Content: 47% fiber, 8-16.8% crude protein, 4-7% ash, and 0.5% carbohydrates (16,17). The main chemical components of P. umbellatus are polysaccharides (78.2%) and steroids (16).

 

Areas of action and applications

  • Diuretic Action: Several clinical and animal studies report a strong diuretic effect without side effects (2,3,7,12,15,16), and it is recommended for conditions such as:

    • Kidney Diseases

      • Pyelonephritis

      • Glomerulonephritis

      • Prevention and Treatment of Kidney Stones (3): Reduces urine acidity and increases citrate concentration in urine, inhibiting calcium salt crystallization, thus preventing kidney stone formation (18).

    • Edema and Lymphatic Flow Disorders (2,12) such as venous insufficiency, circulatory and lymphatic congestion worsened by prolonged standing/sitting (8).

    • Kidney Fibrosis: A study on animals showed that the administration of PPU (polysaccharides from P. umbellatus) and Ergon prevented kidney damage, alleviated subsequent kidney fibrosis, and improved kidney function (19).

  • Hypertension: Clinical and preclinical studies showed a blood-pressure-lowering effect (11, 20), especially in hypertensive kidney diseases with edema (7).

  • Liver Diseases

    • Hepatitis B (2,3,7,12,16): PUPS (polysaccharides from P. umbellatus) enhances immunity by inhibiting Hepatitis B replication, increasing macrophage phagocytic activity, and activating immune cells (14). Several clinical studies demonstrated the efficacy of PUPS injections in chronic Hepatitis B patients: monotherapy with PUPS reduced HBV DNA and inhibited virus replication; combining PUPS with the Hepatitis B vaccine showed a negative conversion rate of HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA, a positive conversion rate of anti-HBsAb, anti-HBeAb, and anti-HBcAb, and normalized ALT levels. The combination of PUPS with interferon-α significantly improved treatment efficacy; the combination of PUPS with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) showed superior efficacy compared to the control group. Combination therapy is markedly better than monotherapies (14).

    • Hepatitis C: PUPS injections and tablets are commonly used in China to treat Hepatitis C alongside antiviral drugs (16).

    • Liver Cirrhosis with Ascites (3,7).

  • Promoting Hair Growth, particularly for alopecia areata (2,9-12,15). In vivo studies report effective strengthening of brittle hair, weak nails, and improvements in osteoporosis (8).

  • Complementary Cancer Treatment (2):

    • Bladder Cancer (2,7,12,13,15):

      • Prevention of Recurrence: Human studies report reduced recurrence rates (3,21,22).

      • Protection against Carcinogen-Induced Bladder Cancer in animal studies (22,23).

      • Increased Efficacy of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccine, used to treat bladder cancer, and reduced side effects in vivo (13).

      • Inhibition of Bladder Cancer Cell Growth and Progression in vitro by homogenous Polyporus Polysaccharide (HPP) (24).

    • Other Cancers: In vitro cytotoxicity of methanol extract from the sclerotium against human stomach carcinoma cells, Ergon from sclerotium against colon, cervical, liver, and stomach cancer cells (3,16).

    • Improved Treatment Outcomes, response and survival rates, and increased quality of life in human patients and mice with leukemia, lung, and liver cancers (2,3,14-16). In an unpublished retrospective cohort study, patients taking P. umbellatus alongside conventional therapy saw an 80-90% reduction in mortality risk and hazard ratio for lung cancer (25).

    • Reduces Chemotherapy-Related Side Effects like hair loss (2,7), improves appetite, weight gain, mental alertness, and reduces leukopenia (3). Reduces cachexia in rats (16).

  • Infections, particularly Urinary Tract Infections

    • Lower Urinary Tract Diseases caused by chlamydia (2,7,8,11).

    • Cystitis, Prostatitis (8).

    • Antibiotic Action against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus (3,16), Bacillus subtilis, Candida tropicalis, Fusarium graminearum, and Saccharomyces cerevisae (16).

    • HIV: Various authors claim that PUPS acts quickly against the virus, shows higher cure rates, and improves CD4+ lymphocyte count (16).

  • Traditional Uses in TCM (3,8,17)

    • Natural immune stimulant

    • Sclerotial extracts used for cancers such as lung, cervical, esophageal, stomach, liver, colon, breast, leukemia, and lymphosarcoma.

    • Edema

    • Irregular urination

    • Jaundice

    • Diarrhea

    • Vaginal discharge

    • Cystitis and other urinary infections

    • Prostate infections

    • Respiratory infections, viruses, and flu

    • According to Li Shi-chen's Compendium of Materia Medica, P. umbellatus "opens the structure and pores of the skin and muscles, including sweat pores, cures gonorrheal swelling, beriberi, leukorrhea, pregnancy urine disturbances, fetal swelling, and urination difficulty" (16).

  • TCM Formulas Using P. umbellatus

    • Lung cleansing and detoxifying decoctions for immune modulation (26).

    • Liver Fibrosis Improvement in cirrhosis patients (27,28).

    • Reducing Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment (27,28).

    • Apoptosis of Stomach Cancer Cells in vitro and in vivo (16).

    • Apoptosis of Colon Cancer Cells (16).

    • Prevention and Treatment of Acne – inhibits 5α-reductase activity of testosterone and antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes (16).

    • Anti-aging and Skin Care – includes antioxidant, cell-activating, collagen-synthesis-promoting, and moisturizing effects, due to the presence of β(1→6)/β(1→3) glucans as the active ingredients (16).

Side Effects

  • Adverse Effects of PUPS Injections: Arthralgia, allergy, systemic lupus erythematosus, vaginal bleeding, gastrointestinal reactions, anaphylactic shock, and other issues (14).

References

  1. Zhao Y-Y, Chao X, Zhang Y, Lin R-C, Sun W-J. Cytotoxic steroids from Polyporus umbellatus. Planta Med. 2010 Oct;76(15):1755–8.

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

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

  4. Zhao Y-Y, Xie R-M, Chao X, Zhang Y, Lin R-C, Sun W-J. Bioactivity-directed isolation, identification of diuretic compounds from Polyporus umbellatus. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Oct 29;126(1):184–7.

  5. Zhao Y-Y, Zhang L, Mao J-R, Cheng X-H, Lin R-C, Zhang Y, et al. Ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one isolated from Polyporus umbellatus prevents early renal injury in aristolochic acid-induced nephropathy rats. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2011 Dec;63(12):1581–6.

  6. Yuan D, Mori J, Komatsu K, Makino T, Kano Y. An anti-aldosteronic diuretic component (drain dampness) in Polyporus sclerotium. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Jun;27(6):867–70.

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

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

  9. Inaoka Y, Shakuya A, Fukazawa H, Ishida H, Nukaya H, Tsuji K, et al. Studies on active substances in herbs used for hair treatment. I. Effects of herb extracts on hair growth and isolation of an active substance from Polyporus umbellatus F. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 1994 Mar;42(3):530–3.

  10. Ishida H, Inaoka Y, Shibatani J, Fukushima M, Tsuji K. Studies of the active substances in herbs used for hair treatment. II. Isolation of hair regrowth substances, acetosyringone and polyporusterone A and B, from Polyporus umbellatus Fries. Biol Pharm Bull. 1999 Nov;22(11):1189–92.

  11. Bianchi I, Marrocchesi R. Guarire con i funghi medicinali: proprietà terapeutiche e istruzioni per l’uso dei 12 funghi medicinali più importanti. Treviso: Editoriale Programma; 2015.

  12. Haertel B, Rimböck M, Neuerer T. Vitalpilze – modulierend - aufbauend - stärkend. Salzburg: Druckerei Roser GmbH; 2019.

  13. Zhang G-W, Qin G-F, Han B, Li C-X, Yang H-G, Nie P-H, et al. Efficacy of Zhuling polyporus polysaccharide with BCG to inhibit bladder carcinoma. Carbohydr Polym. 2015 Mar 15;118:30–5.

  14. Guo Z, Zang Y, Zhang L. The efficacy of Polyporus Umbellatus polysaccharide in treating hepatitis B in China. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2019;163:329–60.

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

  16. Bandara A, Rapior S, Bhat D, Kakumyan P, Chamyuang S, Xu J, et al. Polyporus umbellatus, an Edible-Medicinal Cultivated Mushroom with Multiple Developed Health-Care Products as Food, Medicine and Cosmetics: A Review. Cryptogamie Mycologie. 2015 Mar;36:3–42.

  17. Stamets P. Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms: Shokuyō oyobi yakuyō kinoko no saibai. 3rd ed. Berkeley, Calif: Ten Speed Press; 2000. 574 p.

  18. Walter Ardigò. Polyporus umbellatus [Internet]. Available from: https://dottorardigo.it/funghi/polyporus/

  19. Wang Y-N, Wu X-Q, Zhang D-D, Hu H-H, Liu J-L, Vaziri ND, et al. Polyporus Umbellatus Protects Against Renal Fibrosis by Regulating Intrarenal Fatty Acyl Metabolites. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Feb 19;12:633566.

  20. Walter Ardigò. Auricularia auricula-judae and Polyporus umbellatus effectively contrast arterial hypertension: a clinical study. 9th Int Med Mushrooms Conf. 2017;115–6.

  21. Yang D, Li S, Wang H, Li X, Liu S, Han W, et al. Prevention of postoperative recurrence of bladder cancer: a clinical study. Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi. 1999 Aug;37(8):464–5.

  22. Yang DA. [Inhibitory effect of Chinese herb medicine zhuling on urinary bladder cancer. An experimental and clinical study]. Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi. 1991 Jun;29(6):393–5, 399.

  23. Zhang G, Zeng X, Li C, Li J, Huang Y, Han L, et al. Inhibition of urinary bladder carcinogenesis by aqueous extract of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus fries and polyporus polysaccharide. Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(1):135–44.

  24. Jia W, Luo S, Lai G, Li S, Huo S, Li M, et al. Homogeneous polyporus polysaccharide inhibits bladder cancer by polarizing macrophages to M1 subtype in tumor microenvironment. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 2021 May;21.

  25. Yeh M-H, Wu H-C, Lin N-W, Hsieh J-J, Yeh J-W, Chiu H-P, et al. Long-term use of combined conventional medicine and Chinese herbal medicine decreases the mortality risk of patients with lung cancer. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Aug;52:102427.

  26. Guo Y, Chen X, Gong P. Classification, structure and mechanism of antiviral polysaccharides derived from edible and medicinal fungus. Int J Biol Macromol. 2021 Jul;183:1753–73.

  27. Seo J, Lee D, Jo H-G. Traditional Korean medicine treatment for tamoxifen-associated adverse events of breast cancer patient: A CARE-Compliant case report. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021 May;43:101378.

  28. Xie Z, Qiang J, Pi X, Wang J, Chen Y, Yu Q, et al. Favorable outcome of adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine therapy in liver cirrhosis: A large cohort study in Southwest China. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Jun;51:102446.