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Emerging Bioresources with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Prospects pp 115–126Cite as

Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) Mushroom: Nutraceutical Assesement Based on Latest Findings

Part of the Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future book series (AESE)

Abstract

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a white-rot fungus growing on birch trees. It looks like burnt coal, has edibility and is regarded a traditional medicinal mushroom in China, Russia, Poland, other Baltic countries. It is hailed as a folk remedy against diabetes, digestive disorders, intestinal worms, liver ailments, cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis and cancer etc. Recently, it has grabbed attention from mainstream medicine as a therapeutic mushroom. The discovery of a diverse range of secondary metabolites including, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, melanins, lanosterol, inotodiol, ergosterol and trametenolic acid have promoted it as a potential drug candidate. Biological roles as antioxidant, antiinflammation, anticancer, immunomodulation, antiallergy, antilipemic, hypoglycaemic, antiviral, neurostimulation have been validated. This chapter delves into the biological roles and mechanisms governing the effects.

Keywords

  • Chaga
  • Inonotus obliquus
  • Polysaccharide
  • Antioxidant anticancer
  • Antiviral

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  1. San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA

    Seema Patel

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  1. Seema Patel
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Correspondence to Seema Patel .

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Patel, S. (2015). Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) Mushroom: Nutraceutical Assesement Based on Latest Findings. In: Emerging Bioresources with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Prospects. Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12847-4_11

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