Wolfiporia extensa
A medicinal fungus with a large underground sclerotium used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Wolfiporia extensa, also known as Poria cocos, is a wood-decay fungus in the Polyporaceae family that grows underground and forms a large, long-lasting sclerotium resembling a small coconut. It is notable for its extensive use as a medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine.
Quick Facts
- Synonym
- Poria cocos F.A.Wolf
- Family
- Polyporaceae
- Common names
- hoelen
- poria
- tuckahoe
- China root
- fu ling
- matsuhodo
- Growth habit
- subterranean sclerotium
Facts from the source article.
History
The medicinal use of Wolfiporia extensa was recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica by Li Shizhen. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is indicated for promoting urination, invigorating spleen function, and calming the mind. It has also been used for adverse urination, edema, and spleen deficiency with diarrhea.
Uses
Some Native American tribes reportedly ate the tubers. In China, it is used in traditional medicine and to make fuling jiabing, a snack. The species contains triterpenoid compounds, pachymic acid, polysaccharides, choline, and histidine. Its polysaccharides have been studied for anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects, and some show antidepressant activity and suppress T and B cell proliferation. Triterpenoid compounds exhibit anti-diabetic and tonic properties; specific components like pachymic acid, 3-epidehydrotumulosic acid, and polyporenic acid C increase hypoglycemic activity. Tetracyclic triterpenoids act as aldosterone antagonists, enhancing urinary Na+/K+ ratio and inhibiting Na+-K+ ATPase, leading to diuresis. A novel immunomodulatory glycoprotein from the fungus activates murine macrophages, suggesting immunomodulatory effects.
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