Chaga mushroom in medical research
People have been using Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) for treatments already for thousands of years, but the scientific research for studying its effects started only a few hundred years ago. Yet only for the last few decades, Chaga has been under a more focused sight for scientific research. It is interesting to know that 155 years ago, the first scientific research was made about Chaga mushroom by a scientist professor Johann Georg Noël Dragendorff in Tartu University.
Chaga mushroom research has focused both on the effects of different extracts made from Chaga and also specifically on the effects of bioactive substances found in the mushroom. Allegedly, Chaga consists of more than 200 different bioactive compounds. The bioactive compounds that have been enquired into the most are triterpenoids (inotodiol, betulin, betulinic acid), polysaccharides, polyphenols and melanin.
Chaga and tumour treatment
Generally, test-tube research and animal testing show that Chaga inhibits the development of certain tumour cell species (Zou et al 2019) and improves well-being, reduces sweating and has some blood pressure lowering and pulse slowing effects. For the aforementioned reasons, Chaga and its extracts are often used as a support supplement for curing malignant tumours and improving the patient’s well-being.
Chaga’s immune system supporting qualities and effects on the digestive system
Animal testing has shown that the ethanol extract made from Chaga mushroom has positive effects on preventing stomach ulcers caused by alcohol (Xin et al 2019) and on ulcerative colitis – inflammatory bowel disease (Chen et al 2019). Therefore it can be said that Chaga may benefit the complementary treatment of stomach and bowel ulcers. Animal testing has also referred to Chaga’s possible properties for liver protection (Xu et al 2019).
Chaga’s effect on blood sugar levels, connections with hyperuricemia and Alzheimer’s
Test-tube research shows that the betulin found in Chaga could alleviate hyperuricemia (an excess of uric acid in the blood) that is also one of the main causes for podagra (Yong et al 2018). The latest research has also indicated the protective effects that polysaccharides found in Chaga have against Alzheimer’s (Han et al 2019). Since Chaga has only been a matter of interest for researchers for the last few decades, every new year brings new exciting information from the world of science about this valuable healing mushroom with a long history.
