Civilizations across the world have ancient connections to mushrooms as food, medicine, and spiritual allies, with emergent research continuing to uncover and confirm their specific benefits. “Fungi have gained significant attention in the field of phytomedicine as potential natural sources of bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites,” explains Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta. While known to possess a wide variety of medicinal constituents, terpenes and terpenoids are not commonly associated with mushrooms, though these bioactive compounds are actually the most abundant organic compounds found therein.
Terpenes and terpenoids are bioactive secondary metabolites that have been discovered and analyzed for their inflammation-taming, immunomodulating, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective properties. Often used interchangeably, terpenes are the main component of essential oils, lending plants and fungi their flavors and aromas, while terpenoids are naturally occurring terpene derivatives. It is precisely this chemical diversity and resulting range of biological activity that promotes such versatile and varied medicinal benefit.
Chaga, Reishi, and Lion’s Mane are amongst the mushrooms most studied for the phytotherapeutic efficacy of their terpene activity.
Chaga: The terpenoids found in Chaga are believed to contribute to its anti-hyperglycemic properties and popularity as a treatment for diabetes. It also contains a terpene called betulinic acid, which has shown great promise for cancer treatment and prevention, thanks to its ability to induce apoptotic cell death in cancer cells by triggering the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.
Reishi: This mushroom seems to have the highest terpene content discovered to date, responsible for properties shown to be antihistamine, hepatoprotective, inhibitory to the biosynthesis of cholesterol, antiviral, and antioxidative, among others. Many of these benefits are attributed to the terpenoid Ganoderic acid and its derivatives. Additionally, a series of triterpenoids isolated from Reishi spore showed significant activity against HIV-1 protease, as well as exhibiting anti-tumor properties.
Lion’s Mane: Contains the terpenoids hericenones and erinacines, which are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and are active neurotrophic factors particularly effective against neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, erinacine A has been shown to significantly increase the level of nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that promotes the growth and normal function of nerve cells. Hericenones have also been found to exhibit support for balanced mood.
