over 200 different types of cancer because there are over 200 different types of body
cells (CRUK 2013). This disease is a leading cause for death worldwide. For
example, in 2008 cancer originated nearly 7.6 million human deaths (Jemal et al.
2011). The anticancer drugs currently available are far to be target specific and have
numerous side effects and complications in clinical management. For this reason,
there is an increasing interest in the search for alternative metabolites useful in the
treatment of cancer, including those existing in wild mushrooms. The traditional
use of mushrooms as antitumor agents is known from ancient times in southeastern
Asia (Dai et al. 2009; Sullivan et al. 2006). Anecdotally, an ancient Japanese legend
mentions that wild monkeys almost never suffer cancer, hypertension, or diabetes,
due to their habit to consume wild mushrooms (Daba and Ezeronye 2003). The firstknown report of antitumor agents from mushrooms is that of Lucas et al. (1957) who
found effective extracts in sporomes of the highly appreciated edible wild mushroom called ‘‘porcini’’ (B. edulis Bull. ex Fr.) for the treatment of the Sarcoma S-180
tumor cells in mice, interestingly based in Bavarian folklore. Although these authors
were able to find an antitumor agent in extracts of sporomes of this mushroom, they
were not able to extract it from mycelial cultures. Since then, a number of bioactive
molecules including a number of antitumor agents, have been identified from different edible EEMs, including interestingly a lectin from the porcini mushroom
(Bovi et al. 2011). Different pharmaceutical compounds with potential antitumor
and immunostimulating properties have been isolated from sporomes or cultivated
mycelium of this group of mushrooms (Table 6.2). These substances have included
low-molecular weight compounds such as amino acids, triacylglycerols, or selenium and high-molecular weight compounds such as homo and heteroglucans,
glycans, glycoproteins, glycopeptides, and proteins (including some lectins).
Antitumor agents have been found in typical edible ectomycorrhizal genera
including Albatrellus, Astraeus, Boletus, Hydnum, Lactarius, Polyozellus, Russula,
Suillus, Thelephota, Tricholoma, and Tuber. Some of the antitumor compounds
have been isolated exclusively from specific species or genera of edible EEMs
including for example: polyozellin from Polyozellus multiplex, suillin from Suillus
placidus, grifolin from Albatrellus confluens, Albatrellus flettii, and vialinin and
thelephantin from Thelephora aurantiotincta and Thelephora vialis (Table 6.2).
The ‘‘blue chanterelle’’ (P. multiplex), with a disjunct distribution in North
America and Southeast Asia, is known to play a potential suppressive role in
stomach cancer. Lee and Nishikawa (2003) suggested that extracts from P. multiplex may have suppressive effects on stomach cancer, one of the four most lethal
types of cancer in humans. These authors showed that feeding rats with a low
concentration (0.5 or 1 %) of water extract from this mushroom enhanced the
activities of the enzymes glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase, and
increased the abundance of the molecule glutathione. The extract also increased the
expression of the protein p53. All of these substances protect the human organism
against stomach cancer. Kim et al. (2004) and Jin et al. (2006a, 2006b) attributed
these antitumor properties to the bioactive compound polyozellin. Previously, Lee
et al. (2000), Kim et al. (2002) and Song and Raskin (2002) have analyzed extracts
from P. multiplex and found similar dibenzofuranyl derivatives than polyozellin,
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
173
cells (CRUK 2013). This disease is a leading cause for death worldwide. For
example, in 2008 cancer originated nearly 7.6 million human deaths (Jemal et al.
2011). The anticancer drugs currently available are far to be target specific and have
numerous side effects and complications in clinical management. For this reason,
there is an increasing interest in the search for alternative metabolites useful in the
treatment of cancer, including those existing in wild mushrooms. The traditional
use of mushrooms as antitumor agents is known from ancient times in southeastern
Asia (Dai et al. 2009; Sullivan et al. 2006). Anecdotally, an ancient Japanese legend
mentions that wild monkeys almost never suffer cancer, hypertension, or diabetes,
due to their habit to consume wild mushrooms (Daba and Ezeronye 2003). The firstknown report of antitumor agents from mushrooms is that of Lucas et al. (1957) who
found effective extracts in sporomes of the highly appreciated edible wild mushroom called ‘‘porcini’’ (B. edulis Bull. ex Fr.) for the treatment of the Sarcoma S-180
tumor cells in mice, interestingly based in Bavarian folklore. Although these authors
were able to find an antitumor agent in extracts of sporomes of this mushroom, they
were not able to extract it from mycelial cultures. Since then, a number of bioactive
molecules including a number of antitumor agents, have been identified from different edible EEMs, including interestingly a lectin from the porcini mushroom
(Bovi et al. 2011). Different pharmaceutical compounds with potential antitumor
and immunostimulating properties have been isolated from sporomes or cultivated
mycelium of this group of mushrooms (Table 6.2). These substances have included
low-molecular weight compounds such as amino acids, triacylglycerols, or selenium and high-molecular weight compounds such as homo and heteroglucans,
glycans, glycoproteins, glycopeptides, and proteins (including some lectins).
Antitumor agents have been found in typical edible ectomycorrhizal genera
including Albatrellus, Astraeus, Boletus, Hydnum, Lactarius, Polyozellus, Russula,
Suillus, Thelephota, Tricholoma, and Tuber. Some of the antitumor compounds
have been isolated exclusively from specific species or genera of edible EEMs
including for example: polyozellin from Polyozellus multiplex, suillin from Suillus
placidus, grifolin from Albatrellus confluens, Albatrellus flettii, and vialinin and
thelephantin from Thelephora aurantiotincta and Thelephora vialis (Table 6.2).
The ‘‘blue chanterelle’’ (P. multiplex), with a disjunct distribution in North
America and Southeast Asia, is known to play a potential suppressive role in
stomach cancer. Lee and Nishikawa (2003) suggested that extracts from P. multiplex may have suppressive effects on stomach cancer, one of the four most lethal
types of cancer in humans. These authors showed that feeding rats with a low
concentration (0.5 or 1 %) of water extract from this mushroom enhanced the
activities of the enzymes glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase, and
increased the abundance of the molecule glutathione. The extract also increased the
expression of the protein p53. All of these substances protect the human organism
against stomach cancer. Kim et al. (2004) and Jin et al. (2006a, 2006b) attributed
these antitumor properties to the bioactive compound polyozellin. Previously, Lee
et al. (2000), Kim et al. (2002) and Song and Raskin (2002) have analyzed extracts
from P. multiplex and found similar dibenzofuranyl derivatives than polyozellin,
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
173