Tinder fungus - Fomes fomentarius – Echter Zunderschwamm – Polyporus fomentarius - Tsuriganetake – Amadou

Tinder Fungus

Fomes fomentarius – Zunderschwamm – Tsuriganetake – Amadou

The mushroom of Ötzi, the Iceman

Interesting components

  • Fomentariol: Antidiabetic (1), anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects (2).

  • Ergosterol peroxide: Antitumor properties, especially against stomach cancer, anti-inflammatory, systemic antiviral (3,4), and antiprotozoal effects (3,5).

  • Melanin: Radiation-protective (6,7), anti-infective properties against bacteria like Helicobacter pylori, viruses like HIV, and fungi like Candida albicans (7,8), anticancer effects (9), and promotes wound healing (7).

  • Daphnetin (natural coumarin derivative): Antitumor (3), anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimalarial, and anti-arthritic (10).

  • Triterpenes: Anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, immunostimulatory, and antitumor effects, especially against lung, breast, and stomach cancer (3).

  • Lignan: Inhibits the growth of herpes simplex virus (7).

  • Nutritional Content: Protein 15%, fat 3.5%, complex carbohydrates 70%, Vitamin D 66 IU/100g, potassium 760mg/100g (4).

Areas of action and applications

  • Infectious Diseases:

    • Antiviral effects:

      • Chronic Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C: Laboratory and human studies show the effectiveness of F. fomentarius administration (11).

      • HIV: Components of the fungus have shown greater anti-HIV potential in comparison to the drug Zidovudine in vitro and in rats (3,8,12).

      • Herpes simplex virus (HSV): Complete inhibition of HSV in vitro and in vivo (4,13-15).

      • Influenza virus H1N1 (13).

    • Antibacterial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens (7,16), Staphylococcus aureus (12), Escherichia coli (4).

    • Antifungal effects against Aspergillus fumigatus and Absidia orchidis (12), the melanin-glucan complex fully suppresses the growth of Candida albicans in vitro (8).

    • Antiprotozoal effects against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani, and Trypanosoma brucei in vitro (5).

  • Digestive Tract Disorders:

    • Chronic lesions of the upper digestive tract: Gastritis and gastroduodenitis – administration of F. fomentarius showed high therapeutic activity in children (17).

    • Antibacterial effect against Helicobacter pylori in vitro with greater efficacy than medical antibiotics (3,7,8,12,14).

  • Skin Health:

    • Promotes wound healing (3,7): Often used for suppurating surgical wounds post-cesarean section, maintaining sterility, with an increase in T-lymphocytes in the wound area (18).

    • Anti-aging skin effects: Prevention and repair. F. fomentarius is included in after-sun products, moisturizing facial lotions for rough and irritated skin, and hair care products (4,19).

  • Blood Coagulation:

    • Promotes hemostasis when applied topically to stop wound bleeding (3,7).

    • Thrombolytic activity on human thrombi, with up to 83% thrombolysis activity (14).

  • Anti-Tumor Activity:

    • Breast Cancer: Several in vitro studies have shown activity against breast cancer cells (20-22), water extracts had an antiproliferative effect on multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells, and the methanol extract had a reversible activity against MDR cancer cells (23).

    • Stomach Cancer: In vitro studies show strong cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity of ethanol extracts against stomach cancer cells (12,24).

    • Lung Cancer: In vitro studies show strong cytotoxic activity against lung cancer cells (24), ethanol and petroleum fractions exhibited a very high pro-apoptotic effect on lung cancer cells (25).

    • S180 sarcoma cells and K562 human leukemia cells: Petroleum ether fraction exhibited antiproliferative effects in vitro, inducing apoptosis and reducing tumor weight in vivo (12).

  • Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects (7,26), for example in rheumatic diseases (3,7).

  • Metabolic Syndrome:

    • Diabetes mellitus II (3,7): Significant reduction of blood glucose levels in mice and rat models (12,27).

    • Cholesterol-lowering effect in vivo (7,27).

  • Traditional Use (3,4,7,12-14):

    • Cauterization of wounds, treatment of external inflammations and frostbite.

    • Bladder infections and other bladder complaints due to its diuretic effect in tea.

    • Influenza virus, colds, bronchitis.

    • Esophageal, stomach, and uterine cancer.

    • Asthma and lung diseases.

    • Lower abdominal pain.

    • Menstrual cramps, dysmenorrhea.

    • Hemorrhoids.

    • Arthritis, rheumatism (used in moxibustion).

    • Paralysis.

    • In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this mushroom is believed to warm the lungs, dissolve lumps in the abdomen, calm life energy, and reduce asthma and edema. It is mild in nature, slightly bitter in taste, and used to resolve digestive issues and reduce congestion.

    • In Japan, it has been used to stop bleeding from deep wounds and as a tea for colds, flu, bronchitis, and general weakness.

    • In India, it is used as a diuretic, laxative, or nerve tonic, and applied externally as an absorbent bandage for wounds and burns.

    • In Central Europe, it was used to treat bladder diseases, cancer, dysmenorrhea, hemorrhoids, fevers, rheumatism, and ingrown toenails (16). In Hungary, it was used for headaches, hemorrhoids, bladder diseases, cough, and sweating.

References

  1. Maljurić N, Golubović J, Ravnikar M, Žigon D, Štrukelj B, Otašević B. Isolation and Determination of Fomentariol: Novel Potential Antidiabetic Drug from Fungal Material. Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry. 2018 Feb 20;2018

  2. Seo D-W, Yi Y-J, Lee M-S, Yun B-S, Lee S-M. Differential Modulation of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Cytokine Production by and Antioxidant Activity of Fomentariol in RAW264.7 Cells. Mycobiology. 2015 Dec;43(4):450–7.

  3. Rebensburg P, Kappl A. Gesund mit Heilpilzen: Immunsystem stärken, Krankheiten heilen und Beschwerden lindern. München: riva; 2020. 271 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. Abugri DA, Ayariga JA, Tiimob BJ, Yedjou CG, Mrema F, Witola WH. Medicinal Mushrooms as Novel Sources for New Antiparasitic Drug Development. In: Agrawal DC, Dhanasekaran M, editors. Medicinal Mushrooms [Internet]. Singapore: Springer Singapore; 2019 [cited 2022 Jan 16]. p. 251–73.

  6. Seniuk OF, Kovalev VO, Palamar LA, Krul NI, Gorovoj L, Shevel VM. Radioprotective effects of melanin-glucan complex from Fomes Fomentarius and indralin at irradiation of mice BALB/C by dose of 5,95 Gy/8,5 min. Nuclear Physics and Atomic Energy. 2014 June;15:178–88.

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

  8. Seniuk OF, Gorovoj LF, Beketova GV, Savichuk HO, Rytik PG, Kucherov II, et al. Anti-infective properties of the melanin-glucan complex obtained from medicinal tinder bracket mushroom, Fomes fomentarius (L.: Fr.) Fr. (Aphyllophoromycetideae). Int J Med Mushrooms. 2011;13(1):7–18.

  9. Anticarcinogenic Properties of Melanin-Glucan Complex from Higher Fungi--《Proceedings of the 5~(th) International Medicinal Mushroom Conference》2009年 [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 18].

  10. NCATS Inxight Drugs — DAPHNETIN [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jan 18].

  11. N.F. Kurochko, O.F. Seniuk, L.F. Gorovoj. The Mycoton treatment of chronic hepatitis B,C, B+C. In 2017.

  12. Gáper J, Gáperová S, Pristas P, Naplavova K. Medicinal Value and Taxonomy of the Tinder Polypore, Fomes fomentarius (Agaricomycetes): A Review. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2016;18(10):851–9.

  13. Pradeep P, Manju V, Ahsan MF. Antiviral Potency of Mushroom Constituents. In: Agrawal DC, Dhanasekaran M, editors. Medicinal Mushrooms [Internet]. Singapore: Springer Singapore; 2019 [cited 2021 Dec 27]. p. 275–97.

  14. Badalyan SM, Barkhudaryan A, Rapior S. Recent Progress in Research on the Pharmacological Potential of Mushrooms and Prospects for Their Clinical Application. In: Agrawal DC, Dhanasekaran M, editors. Medicinal Mushrooms [Internet]. Singapore: Springer Singapore; 2019 [cited 2021 Dec 27]. p. 1–70.

  15. Doğan HH, Karagöz S, Duman R. In Vitro Evaluation of the Antiviral Activity of Some Mushrooms from Turkey. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2018;20(3):201–12.

  16. Suay I, Arenal F, Asensio FJ, Basilio A, Cabello MA, Díez MT, et al. Screening of basidiomycetes for antimicrobial activities. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 2000 Aug;78(2):129–39.

  17. Beketova GV, Savichuk NO, Savichuk AV, Senyuk OF, Gorovoj LF, Alexeenko NV, et al. Efficiency of the Mushroom Preparation Mycoton in Treatment of Chronic Lesions of the Upper Parts of the Digestive Tube. IJM [Internet]. 2001 [cited 2022 Jan 18].

  18. Venckovsky BM, Tovstanovskaya VA, Bichkova NG, Prilutckaya AB, Gorovoj LF. Infected Wound Treatment In an Obstetric Practice with Use of the Preparation Mycoton. IJM [Internet]. 2001 [cited 2022 Jan 18].

  19. Badalyan SM, Borhani A. Medicinal, Nutritional, and Cosmetic Values of Macrofungi Distributed in Mazandaran Province of Northern Iran (Review). Int J Med Mushrooms. 2019;21(11):1099–106.

  20. Nowakowski P, Markiewicz-Żukowska R, Bielecka J, Mielcarek K, Grabia M, Socha K. Treasures from the forest: Evaluation of mushroom extracts as anti-cancer agents. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Nov;143:112106.

  21. 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.

  22. Lee S-O, Lee M-H, Lee K-R, Lee E-O, Lee H-J. Fomes fomentarius Ethanol Extract Exerts Inhibition of Cell Growth and Motility Induction of Apoptosis via Targeting AKT in Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019 Jan;20(5):1147.

  23. Doğan HH, Kars MD, Özdemir Ö, Gündüz U. Fomes fomentarius and Tricholoma anatolicum (Agaricomycetes) Extracts Exhibit Significant Multiple Drug-Resistant Modulation Activity in Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2020;22(2):105–14.

  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.

  25. Kim SH, Jakhar R, Kang SC. Apoptotic properties of polysaccharide isolated from fruiting bodies of medicinal mushroom Fomes fomentarius in human lung carcinoma cell line. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. 2015 July;22(4):484–90.

  26. Park Y-M, Kim I-T, Park H-J, Choi J-W, Park K-Y, Lee J-D, et al. Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of the methanol extract of Fomes fomentarius. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Oct;27(10):1588–93.

  27. Lee J-S. Effects of Fomes fomentarius supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activities, blood glucose, and lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Nutrition Research - NUTR RES. 2005 Feb;25:187–95.