History

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

For over ten years, research teams for I’m-Yunity® have worked in collaboration with internationals research and clinical institutions, conducted numerous studies of the basic science, mechanism and effects of Polysaccharropeptide from Coriolus Versicolor mushrooms, the unique proprietary strain found in I’m-Yunity®. With increasing numbers of immune health-conscious people becoming interested in using mushroom extracts, it’s important that peer-reviewed research and clinical findings on specific types of PSP with proven benefits be available to health care professionals.

SCIENCE AND RESEARCH RESOURCES

For health care professionals, who’d like to learn more about I’m-Yunity® and Polysaccharopeptide (PSP) from proprietary strain, here is a link to a detailed scientific summary that will provide in-depth information and published studies about Polysaccharopeptides (PSP) and its many benefits and effects on the immune system including its:

• Proprietary cultivation technology and extraction method, and effective delivery mechanism
• How it supports immune health and helps stabilize white blood cell counts
• How it enhances quality of life by maintaining good energy levels and appetite

ABOUT THE ZHI MUSHROOM

Coriolus versicolor is known as Yunzhi in ancient China. In Chinese, the first word “yun” means cloud and the second word “Zhi” refers to a mushroom with powerful health-promoting properties.

The effects of “Zhi” have been known for centuries and are documented in Chinese medical texts throughout history. The earliest complete Chinese pharmacopoeia reference, Shennong Bencaojing (Classic of Herbal Medicine), published over hundreds of years ago regarded “Zhi” as a godly medicine. In the Ming dynasty (1368-1644AD), Li Shizhen’s Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) described the zhi’s effects as invigorating vital energy, maintaining one’s optimal weight, favoring longevity and avoiding unnecessary aging, if taken appropriately.

Researchers started asking new questions in light of the broad health benefits of zhi mushrooms recorded. They began to ask if these well-known effects might also be related to our immune function in terms of modern physiology, and consensus proved immuno-enhancing effects play a major role in the overall health benefits of zhi mushrooms. Researchers from all fields such as fungus biology, botany, herbology, pharmacology, biology, physiology, biochemistry, Western medicine, TCM, immunology and even oncology are studying zhi mushrooms to better understand the health benefits locked inside them. Research evidences from these studies show some promising results in different in-vitro and in-vivo study settings. The most researched of the zhi mushrooms are the Yunzhi (Coriolus versicolor) and Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidium).

IMMUNE HEALTH

In Western physiology, the immune system guards the body against any foreign body invasions. These foreign bodies include pathological microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins. Our immune system also keeps guard against any abnormal cells or any abnormal changes in the cells of the body that are recognized as foreign by the immune system. Some research suggests that if these abnormal cells develop mechanisms to escape the recognition and elimination by the immune system, serious health consequences may occur. These functions are known as immune defense and immune surveillance respectively.

There are various types of white blood cells taking part in different parts of the immune system. They include the acquired immune system, which can form antibodies and activated lymphocytes that attack and destroy specific foreign organisms and toxins. Cells involved in the acquired immune system include cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells and suppressor T cells. The T lymphocyte system can kill foreign bodies directly once induced by antigens of foreign bodies and/or by the subsequent activation of plasma and “memory” cells of the B lymphocyte system, which produce antibodies upon antigen stimulation and activation.

There is another innate immune system that does not need antigen stimulation and activation, including natural killer cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. These cells act as the body’s first line of defense and can kill the foreign bodies before the activation of the T cells and B-lymphocytes. In addition to immune cells, some small molecular proteins also take part in the immune system and help regulate and mediate the activities of the immune cells. These proteins are called cytokines. Interleukins (IL), interferon (IF) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) are examples of cytokines.

IN CHINESE MEDICINE, THERE IS NO SPECIFIC TERM FOR “IMMUNITY”

Instead, it embraces the holistic concept of balancing. Chinese medicine focuses on the internal harmony of qi to maintain immune health. This internal harmony encompasses the balance of qi movement throughout the body and the balance of qi in the organs. If any organ is disturbed, the body becomes susceptible to certain types of evil qi in the environment. In the Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine), there is a classic saying, “If normal qi is present inside our body, evils cannot interfere with the body.”

ABOUT MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

For close to 5,000 years, mushrooms have been consumed for medicinal purposes, documented and published in the earliest Chinese pharmacopoeia Shennong Bencao Jing and Bencao Gangmu (1368-1644AD). In particular, references described the effects as invigorating vital energy, maintaining one’s optimal weight, favoring longevity and avoiding unnecessary aging, if taken appropriately.

Researchers from all fields including western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and immunology have been investigating some medicinal mushroom’s ability to inhibit tumor growth, alter immune function, exhibit antibacterial and antiviral activity, and thus they have been subjects of research for approximately 50 years. The most researched of the medicinal mushrooms are Coriolus versicolor (Yunzhi, turkey tail mushroom) and Ganoderma lucidium (Lingzhi, reishi).

SELECTIVE SPECIES OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

Coriolus versicolor (turkey tail mushroom, trametes versicolor, kawaratake, yun-zhi) is probably the best documented medicinal mushroom. An isolate derived from Coriolus versicolor, known as polysaccharide-K (PSK or PSP), is used in some countries as an adjunctive therapy for patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Also known by its brand name Krestin, it is intended to counteract the negative effect that many chemotherapeutic agents have on the immune system. A detailed scientific review of polysaccharide-K by the MD Anderson Cancer Center, reported 40 clinical and 55 animal studies have been conducted on this mushroom isolate. PSP in China and PSK in Japan, both mushroom extracts are government registered anticancer drugs, commonly used as a supplement to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Ganoderma lucidum (língzhī, reishi, mannentake) mushrooms have a long and very well established history in traditional Asian medicine. Ganoderma is the most famous medicinal mushroom in Asia and can be found in many herbal remedies. Ganoderma teas are described in Shennong Ben Cao Jing and Bencao Gangmu. The Ganoderma mushroom is also seen in many ancient Chinese art. Cellular and animal research has shown Ganoderma may contain anticancer and immune system enhancing properties. Researchers have noted Ganoderma appears to have antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Animal studies have noted Ganoderma may protect the live and protect against radiation. A randomized clinical study noted Ganoderma improved urinary tract symptoms in men. Research has shown that Ganoderma contains compounds that may act as ACE inhibitor, inihibit blood platelets, and fibrosis.

Grifola frondosa (Maitake, hen-of-the-woods) is an edible mushroom commonly found on oak trees. The mushroom has long been esteemed in Japan and during feudal times, was worth its weight in silver. In 2009, a systematic review published by the Massachusetts General Hospital, stated randomized controlled trials were warranted to investigate maitake in cases of cancer, diabetes, and for altering the immune response. Maitake may partially inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase and aspects of angiogenesis.

Cordyceps (Caterpillar fungus, dong chong xia cao) is an herbal remedy with a long history in China according to a review by the Stanford University of Medicine. The fungus is parasitic to insects. Research has indicated Cordyceps may promote vasodilation, cellular health, have anti-depressant activity, as well as possible anti-cancer activity.

MUSHROOM POLYSACCHARIDES, THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND CANCER

In western physiology, the immune system guards the body against bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins and any abnormal cells or any abnormal changes in the cells. Research suggests that serious illness may occur when these abnormal cells escape the immune defense.

Clinical and animal studies suggest medicinal mushrooms may be able to alter the immune response. Compounds in medicinal mushrooms most responsible for up-regulating the immune response, are a diverse class of polysaccharides compounds. According to a 2000 review from Harvard Medical School, “polysaccharide immunomodulators were first discovered over 40 years ago. Although very few have been rigorously studied, recent reports have revealed the mechanism of action and structure-function attributes of some of these molecules. Certain polysaccharide immunomodulators have been identified that have profound effects in the regulation of immune response.”

The potential anticancer effects of medicinal mushrooms are linked to the immune response. Examining the mushroom polysaccharide known as PSK and PSP, the review stated, “the antitumor activity has been evaluated in Japan for prevention of esophageal, gastric, and lung cancer in humans with promising results. In phase II and phase III trials in China, PSP significantly enhanced immune status in 70 to 97% of patients with cancers of the stomach, esophagus, lung, ovary, and cervix. In these studies, PSK and PSP increased the number of immune cells and facilitated dendritic and cytotoxic T-cell infiltration of tumors. The polysaccharides were well-tolerated and compatible with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.”

REFERENCE ON OTHER POTENTIAL EFFECTS AND BENEFITS INCLUDING:

• Effects on blood sugar, cholesterol
• Research has shown that some medicinal mushrooms may have potential to lower elevated blood sugar levels and some mushrooms have been shown to be able to have an inhibitory effect on cholesterol levels.
• In vitro antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial activities
• Fungi produce various antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial compounds to survive in the wild against competing or pathogenic organisms. These compounds are produced because fungi lack immune systems which protect animals, and lack thick cellulose cell walls which protect plants. The famous antibiotic penicillin and the antifungal drug griseofulvin are both produced from the fungus.
• In vitro anti-hormone activity
• Mushrooms may be able to influence the production of certain human hormones, based on evidence from enzyme assay analysis.
• Antioxidant activity
• Mushrooms are known to contain various types of antioxidant compounds.
• Epidemiological research
• Research in Japan found enokitake mushroom producers had lower cancer rates than the rest of the population. A case-control study published by the International Journal of Cancer in 2009, compared the diets of 1009 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer with 1009 healthy women. Compared to nonconsumers of mushrooms, women who consumed at least 10 grams of fresh mushrooms per day had a breast cancer risk of only 36%. The risk for those who consumed at least 4 grams of dried mushrooms per day was 53%. A similar case-control study involving 362 women with breast cancer also found a strong association between mushroom consumption and decreased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal, but not premenopausal, women.