Chaga
Research reviewed: up until 06/2023
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is a dietary supplement with 5 published peer-reviewed studies involving 0 participants, researched for Antioxidant, Tumour / Cancer.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Antioxidant
WeakTumour / Cancer
WeakResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Antioxidant
To investigate whether the antioxidant properties (the ability to neutralise or counteract harmful molecules known as free radicals) of chaga mushroom extract can help to reduce DNA damage in immune cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in our immune system. The lymphocytes for this study were taken from both healthy individuals and individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.
Study Type
In-vitro study (cellular study)
Purpose
To investigate whether the antioxidant properties (the ability to neutralise or counteract harmful molecules known as free radicals) of chaga mushroom extract can help to reduce DNA damage in immune cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in our immune system. The lymphocytes for this study were taken from both healthy individuals and individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.
Dose
3 concentrations of chaga mushroom extract were used: 50, 100 and 500 micrograms of chaga mushroom extract per mL of water Additional intervention: 50 micrograms/ml of hydrogen peroxide were added to the cells 30 minutes after chaga mushroom treatment
Results
Chaga mushroom extract reduced DNA damage in the lymphocytes. In the patient group, there was a significant 54.9% reduction in DNA damage, whilst there was a 34.9% reduction in the control group. These findings suggest that chaga extract may have the potential to be a valuable supplement for inhibiting oxidative stress in general. Inhibiting oxidative stress is generally beneficial because excessive oxidative stress can damage cells, proteins, and DNA, leading to various diseases and accelerating the ageing process.
Tumour / Cancer
To explore the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer action of chaga mushroom polysaccharides in cellular and mice models.
Study Type
Cellular (in-vitro) and Rodent study (in-vivo)
Purpose
To explore the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer action of chaga mushroom polysaccharides in cellular and mice models.
Dose
Cellular study: 0.1 - 1 mg/mL of chaga mushroom polysaccharides Rodent study: 50 mg/kg of chaga mushroom polysaccharides or control (salt solution)
Results
In the cellular experiment, chaga mushroom polysaccharide extract was found to activate an enzyme called AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) in lung cancer cells. This activation resulted in a decrease in cell growth and triggered cell death. These effects are important in combating cancer as they eliminate cancer cells and hinder tumour growth. Animal experiments further supported these findings, showing that treatment with chaga mushroom extract inhibited tumour growth and increased cell death. These results indicate that chaga mushroom polysaccharides have the potential to be a promising alternative or supplementary treatment option for cancer therapy.
To investigate the effects of ergosterol peroxide, a compound found in chaga mushroom, in mice with colitis-induced colorectal cancer cells.
Study Type
Cellular (in-vitro) and Rodent study (in-vivo)
Purpose
To investigate the effects of ergosterol peroxide, a compound found in chaga mushroom, in mice with colitis-induced colorectal cancer cells.
Dose
Cellular study: 10 or 40 μg/mL of ergosterol peroxide per week (5 or 20 μg/mL ergosterol peroxide x 2 per week) Rodent study: 30 mg/kg/day of ergosterol peroxide (2 x 15 mg/kg of ergosterol peroxide administered by oral gavage (delivering the substance into the stomach through a tube inserted into the mouth), using a liquid solution)
Results
The results from the cellular study demonstrated that long-term treatment with ergosterol peroxide derived from chaga mushroom at concentrations of 10 μg/mL and 5 μg/mL significantly decreased the formation of cell clusters (colonies) in colorectal cancer cells. This suggests that ergosterol peroxide has the potential to impede the growth of cancer cells. In the case of one specific type of cancer cell from the human colon (HT-29), a concentration of 5 μg/mL completely halted the formation of these cell clusters. These findings contribute additional evidence supporting the anticancer effects of ergosterol peroxide. In addition, ergosterol peroxide administration suppressed tumour growth and reduced total tumour count in both prevention and therapy groups in mice with colitis-induced colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, it also decreased the number of both small and large tumours in mice.
To examine the anticancer effects of chaga mushroom in different types of breast cancer cells.
Study Type
Cellular (in-vitro) and Rodent study (in-vivo)
Purpose
To examine the anticancer effects of chaga mushroom in different types of breast cancer cells.
Dose
Cellular study: 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 100 μg/ml of chaga mushroom extract Rodent study: 2 g/kg of orally administered chaga mushroom extract or control (phosphate-buffered saline)
Results
The results from the cellular study demonstrated that chaga mushroom extract supported the process of autophagy by activating AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and inhibiting the mTOR signalling pathways. Autophagy is a natural mechanism in our cells that helps eliminate damaged or unnecessary components to maintain cell health. When cells face low energy or stress, AMPK is activated, triggering autophagy to break down and recycle cellular materials, providing energy and aiding cell survival. On the contrary, mTOR pathway normally inhibits autophagy and is often more active in cancer cells, promoting their uncontrolled growth. By stimulating autophagy and suppressing mTOR signalling, AMPK activation can help control the growth and survival of cancer cells. Supporting these cellular findings, the chaga mushroom extract demonstrated effective suppression of tumour growth in mice carrying tumours.
To explore the potential anticancer effects of chaga mushroom extract in human cancer cells and mice with tumours
Study Type
Cellular (in-vitro) and Rodent study (in-vivo)
Purpose
To explore the potential anticancer effects of chaga mushroom extract in human cancer cells and mice with tumours
Dose
Cellular study: 0, 62.5, 125.0, 187.5, and 250.0 μg/ml of chaga mushroom Rodent study: 0, 0.1, or 0.2 mg/day of chaga mushroom or a control (normal chow, which refers to the standard diet given to laboratory rodents)
Results
In this study, the researchers separated the chaga mushroom extract into different subfractions to see what compounds were present in each part. The researchers recently identified subfractions 1 and 2 as the natural compounds, 3β-hydroxyl-lanosta-8,24-dien-21-al and inotodial, respectively. These compounds have been found to protect DNA from harmful changes and also act as antioxidants, which means they can help neutralise harmful molecules in our bodies and keep us healthier. Among the three subfractions, subfraction 1 showed the highest level of activity against the tested tumour cells compared to the other subfractions. In animal experiments, when the subfraction 1 was administered at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.2 mg per mouse per day, resulted in a significant reduction in tumour volume by 23.96% and 33.71%, respectively, compared to the control group. Subfractions 2 and 3 also showed significant inhibition of tumour growth compared to the control group. Notably, subfraction 1 exhibited greater inhibition of tumour growth is consistent with the findings observed in the cellular experiment (in-vitro). These findings suggest that chaga mushroom and the isolated compounds present in the subfractions have the potential to be valuable natural ingredients with anticancer properties, and could be utilised in the food and pharmaceutical industry for their beneficial effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Chaga research
There are currently 5 peer-reviewed studies on Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), involving 0 total participants. Research covers Antioxidant, Tumour / Cancer. The overall evidence strength is rated as Weak.
The evidence is currently rated as "Weak Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (0 human studies, 4 animal studies), and reported outcomes.
Chaga has been researched for: Antioxidant, Tumour / Cancer. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Currently all 5 studies on Chaga are animal or in-vitro studies. Human clinical trials are needed before the evidence can be rated above "Weak".
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