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Shiitake mushroom contains lentinan, a beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharide that activates immune cells including macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. This enhances the body's defense against infections and abnormal cell growth. Eritadenine and other beta-glucans contribute additional immunomodulatory effects. In Japan, lentinan is approved as an adjunct therapy for cancer treatment, supporting its immune-activating mechanism. Evidence level: C.
Can I take shiitake mushroom with blood thinners or immunosuppressants?
Shiitake mushroom should be avoided when taking immunosuppressant medications, as its immune-stimulating effects may counteract drug efficacy. Those on blood thinners or antiplatelet medications should exercise caution, as shiitake may enhance bleeding risk. Individuals with autoimmune conditions or bleeding disorders should consult a healthcare provider before use. These interactions are theoretical but clinically significant. Evidence level: C.
How much shiitake mushroom should I take daily?
Adults typically take 3-15 grams of dried shiitake mushroom daily, or approximately 500mg of standardized extract. Fresh mushrooms can be consumed as food in culinary amounts. For therapeutic purposes, extracts standardized to beta-glucan content provide more consistent dosing. Start with lower doses and increase gradually. Consult a healthcare provider for condition-specific recommendations. Evidence level: Traditional.
Is shiitake mushroom safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Shiitake mushroom is considered safe when consumed as food during pregnancy and breastfeeding, based on traditional culinary use. However, concentrated extracts or therapeutic doses should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Raw mushrooms should be avoided due to potential shiitake dermatitis. Always cook shiitake thoroughly before consumption. Evidence level: Traditional use supports safety in food amounts.
What are the benefits of shiitake mushroom for cancer patients?
Shiitake mushroom shows promise as a complementary cancer support therapy. Lentinan, its primary active compound, is approved in Japan as an immunotherapy adjunct for gastric cancer. Research suggests it may improve quality of life and enhance conventional treatment outcomes by stimulating immune function. However, shiitake should not replace standard cancer treatment. Evidence level: C.
What is shiitake dermatitis and how is it caused?
Shiitake dermatitis is a distinctive skin reaction causing whiplash-like streaks of redness and intense itching. It occurs after handling or consuming raw or undercooked shiitake mushrooms, triggered by a reaction to lentinan. The rash typically appears within 24-48 hours and resolves within 2-3 weeks. Thorough cooking destroys the compound responsible, preventing this reaction. Evidence level: B.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Lentinus edodes (shiitake) is a widely consumed edible and medicinal mushroom known for its bioactive polysaccharides and potential therapeutic applications [PMID:20491636, PMID:32450024].
Background
Lentinus edodes, also known as Lentinula edodes, is a basidiomycete macrofungus cultivated in East Asia for thousands of years and is currently the second most commonly produced edible mushroom globally [PMID:1395630, PMID:32450024].
Traditional uses
It has been used medicinally for conditions including cancer, AIDS (depressed immune function), environmental allergies, fungal infections, frequent flu and colds, bronchial inflammation, heart disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, infectious disease, diabetes, hepatitis, and urinary inconsistencies [PMID:20491636].
Active compounds
Key bioactive compounds include polysaccharides (specifically beta-glucans such as lentinan), eritadenine, ergosterol, erythritol, copalic acid, adenosine, and carvacrol [PMID:20491636, PMID:28082791, PMID:32450024, PMID:42068818].
Mechanism of action
L. edodes polysaccharides exhibit immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties [PMID:36012249, PMID:33940295]. Ergosterol from shiitake-derived vesicle-like nanoparticles suppresses the NLRP3 inflammasome by mitigating mitochondrial damage and acting through Bmal1 [PMID:42068818]. Mycelia polysaccharides (LMP) may inhibit obesity by binding to lipase via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces [PMID:34918387].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DCognitive Decline (Aged Mice)
Orally administered shiitake mushroom-derived vesicle-like nanoparticles (S-VLNs) improved cognitive function and reshaped gut microbiota and fecal metabolome [PMID:40944290]
Evidence DOxidative Stress (Dogs)
Supplementation with shiitake powder (800 mg/kg bw/day) increased antioxidative activity, decreased plasma total cholesterol, and increased superoxide dismutase activity [PMID:38962708]
Evidence DBlood Parameters (Racehorses)
Daily supplementation of 30g L. edodes for four months resulted in lower alkaline phosphatase levels and decreased glucose levels on specific days [PMID:36428438]
Beta-glucan extract (BG) and lentinan (LNT) attenuated acute effects of lipopolysaccharides on peripheral hematological parameters [PMID:37396940]
Safety & adverse effects
Consumption of raw or undercooked shiitake mushrooms can cause 'shiitake mushroom dermatitis,' a cutaneous reaction characterized by linear erythematous eruptions (flagellate dermatitis) with papules, papulovesicles, or plaques and severe pruritus [PMID:27566177, PMID:29469797, PMID:42227903]. This is likely caused by lentinan, a heat-inactivated beta-glucan polysaccharide [PMID:27566177]. Allergic contact dermatitis may also occur from handling the mushroom [PMID:27566177].
Evidence summary
The evidence consists primarily of reviews, case reports of adverse dermatological reactions, and animal-model studies (mice, dogs, horses). There is a lack of high-level human clinical trials (RCTs) in the provided data.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 27566177 (2016) — Shiitake Mushroom Dermatitis: A Review. · American journal of clinical dermatology
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
7.PMID: 36012249 (2022) — Immunomodulatory Properties of Polysaccharides from Lentinula edodes. · International journal of molecular sciences
8.PMID: 42227903 (2026) — [A woman with 'whip marks']. · Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
9.PMID: 33940295 (2021) — Recent advances in polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes (Berk.): Isolation, structures and bioactivities. · Food chemistry
10.PMID: 40944290 (2025) — Shiitake Mushroom-Derived Vesicle-like Nanoparticles Improve Cognitive Function and Reshape Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolome in Aged Mice. · Nutrients
11.PMID: 20491636 (2010) — Lentinus edodes: a macrofungus with pharmacological activities. · Current medicinal chemistry
12.PMID: 39194878 (2024) — Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Shiitake Mushrooms (Lentinus edodes). · Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
13.PMID: 32450024 (2019) — Review of Bioactive Molecules Production, Biomass, and Basidiomata of Shiitake Culinary-Medicinal Mushrooms, Lentinus edodes (Agaricomycetes). · International journal of medicinal mushrooms
14.PMID: 38962708 (2024) — Shiitake mushroom powder supplementation increase antioxidative activity in dogs. · Frontiers in veterinary science
15.PMID: 36921827 (2023) — Characterization of an active film prepared with Lentinus edodes (shiitake) polysaccharide and its effect on post-harvest quality and storage of shiitake. · International journal of biological macromolecules
16.PMID: 34918387 (2022) — Binding mechanism of lipase with Lentinus edodes mycelia polysaccharide by multi-spectroscopic methods. · Journal of molecular recognition : JMR
17.PMID: 25975107 (2014) — [Antiviral properties of basidiomycetes metabolites]. · Antibiotiki i khimioterapiia = Antibiotics and chemoterapy [sic]
18.PMID: 37444272 (2023) — Preparation and Identification of Peptides with α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity from Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes) Protein. · Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
19.PMID: 37396940 (2023) — Lentinan and β-glucan extract from shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes, alleviate acute LPS-induced hematological changes in mice. · Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
20.PMID: 36428438 (2022) — Evaluation of Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes) Supplementation on the Blood Parameters of Young Thoroughbred Racehorses. · Animals : an open access journal from MDPI