Lentinan Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Lentinan is the Lentinula edodes species of fungi, also known as shitake mushrooms. Found primarily in tropical and subtropical forests of East Asia, lentinan fungi survive of deadwood and are harvested for food and medicinal purposes.¹

Lentinan Health Uses and Health Benefits

Lentinan fungi are highly coveted for their nutritional benefits, offering a good source of B vitamins and several minerals. Lentinan fungi also contain compounds that researchers have investigated for their therapeutic benefits, including anti-cancer properties. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, lentinan doesn’t directly kill cancer cells. Instead, it helps to boost the immune systems of cancer patients so that they may better combat the disease by slowing tumor growth.^1,2

References

1. https://www.britannica.com/science/Lentinula 
2. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/lentinan