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Chaga

Inonotus Obliquus

Common Names: Chaga, Clinker Polypore

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Medicinal

About

Chaga mushroom, also known as the "King of Medicinal Mushrooms," grows predominantly on birch trees in cold climates such as Northern Europe, Russia, Korea, and parts of Canada and the United States. Historically, Chaga has been used for centuries in Siberia and other parts of Asia as a traditional medicine to boost immunity and overall health. It was also popular in folk medicine for a variety of ailments, ranging from gastrointestinal issues to skin conditions. Foraging for Chaga involves identifying the right trees (typically older birch trees) and looking for the distinct black, charred-like appearance of the Chaga conk that protrudes from the tree bark. The part of Chaga used medicinally is the dense black mass that is visible on the outside, while the interior is a rusty yellow-brown. It is crucial to harvest Chaga sustainably, ensuring not to overharvest from any single tree and to allow time for the fungus to regrow. Chaga is rich in a complex array of bioactive compounds including antioxidants, polysaccharides (such as beta-glucans), triterpenoids, and melanin, a pigment that is known for its protective effects against radiation and oxidative stress. These compounds contribute to Chaga’s reputation as an immune modulator, as well as its anti-inflammatory and liver-protective properties. Studies have suggested that Chaga can help in boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and even fighting cancer cells. The antioxidant properties are particularly noteworthy, with Chaga demonstrating higher levels of antioxidant activity than other well-known superfoods like blueberries.

Physical Characteristics

Caps:

Irregular, crusty, black

Gills:

None

Choosing the Right Products

• Check whether Wild or Cultivated Mycelium:

Wild will be more potent, but cultivated is much more sustainable. If cultivated verify seller has testing for beta-glucan / triterpene levels.

Cognitive Effects

Calm

Chaga mushroom has been shown to have calming effects.

Helps With

Immune System

Shown to stimulate immune system function

Cancer

May help prevent cancer

Diabetes

May help lower blood sugar levels

Inflammation

May help reduce inflammation

Oxidative Stress

Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a powerful natural remedy known for its exceptional antioxidant properties, making it highly effective in combating oxidative stress. Rich in bioactive compounds like polysaccharides, melanin, and superoxide dismutase, Chaga helps neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, thereby protecting cells from damage and reducing inflammation.

Injury Recovery

Chaga is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet, and helps to stimulate the most powerful antioxidant in the body: superoxide dismutase, which helps to protect against oxidative stress. Exercise, especially intense or long-duration forms, creates a lot of free-radicals in the body which can cause damage, and Chaga mushroom with its antioxidant powers can help to combat this. Anti oxidents have also been shown to help with injury recovery.

Ulcers

Chaga mushroom has anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, metabolism-stimulating, and antioxidative properties that can help heal a gastric ulcer.

Arthritis

Chaga mushroom has anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, metabolism-stimulating, and antioxidative properties that can help heal arthritis.

Look Alike Species

Phellinus Igniarius

Specie:

Phellinus igniarius

Edibility:

Inedible and could cause digestive issues if consumed.

Differences:This fungus has a hard, woody texture and grows as a perennial conk on trees. It can be dark in color, somewhat similar to Chaga.

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References

  • Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production—A Review

    • Medicinal mushrooms, e.g., Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers.), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát), Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones and Spatafora), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler), and Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd), are considered new-generation foods and are of growing interest to consumers. They are characterised by a high content of biologically active compounds, including (1,3)(1,6)-β-d-glucans, which are classified as dietary fibre, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, and sterols.

    2023

  • Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential

    • Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) is an inexpensive fungus with a broad range of traditional and medicinal applications. These applications include therapy for breast, cervix, and skin cancers, as well as treating diabetes. However, its benefits are virtually untapped due to a limited understanding of its mycochemical composition and bioactivities. In this article, we explore the ethnobotany, mycochemistry, pharmacology, traditional therapeutic, cosmetic, and prospective agricultural uses. The review establishes that several secondary metabolites, such as steroids, terpenoids, and other compounds exist in chaga.

    2023

  • Mycelial growth of Inonotus obliquus on malt extract media and on wood of different host species

    • Interest in the cultivation of mushrooms, including medicinal mushrooms like Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) has increased in recent years. This study provides insights into the growth rates of various strains of I. obliquus on different substrates and temperatures.

    2023

  • Water Extract of the Chaga Medicinal Mushroom Inonotus obliquus (Agaricomycetes) Inhibits the SARS-Cov-2 Replication at Vero E6 and Vero Cell Cultures Experiments

    • The antiviral properties of water extracts from pharmaceutical raw materials of the chaga mushroom, Inonotus obliquus, were studied against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). All studies with infectious materials were carried out in an isolated virological laboratory of the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector of Rospotrebnadzor, which has a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion for the right to work with pathogenic biological agents of I-II pathogenicity groups.

    2022

  • Comparison of Polysaccharides Extracted from Cultivated Mycelium of Inonotus obliquus with Polysaccharide Fractions Obtained from Sterile Conk (Chaga) and Birch Heart Rot

    • The polysaccharides of the sterile conk of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga) have demonstrated multiple bioactivities. The mycelium of this basidiomycete, obtained after submerged cultivation, has been considered a feasible alternative to the sterile conk for the production of polysaccharides. However, previous research has paid little attention to the differences in the structures of polymers obtained from the different resources. Moreover, the birch wood colonized by I. obliquus has never been investigated as a source of bioactive polysaccharides. In the present study, polysaccharide fractions produced from cultivated mycelium, sterile conks of different geographical origins, and birch heart rot were investigated.

    2021

  • Stimulatory Effects of Oleci Acid and Fungal Elicitor on Betulinic Acid Production by Submerged Cultivation of Medicinal Mushroom Inonotus obliquus

    • To evaluate the novel strategy of oleic acid and fungal elicitor (made from Aspergillus niger) to elicit betulinic acid biosynthesis in medicinal mushroom Inonotus obliquus, we conduct the stimulatory effects investigation for synthesizing betulinic acid from betulin. HPLC results indicated oleic acid and fungal elicitor were effective stimulators. The supplementation of 1.0 g/L oleic acid led to the highest increase of betulinic acid either in dry mycelia or fermentation broth by 2-fold of the control. Fungal elicitor at 45 mg/L markedly increases mycelia growth by 146.0% and enhance intracellular betulinic acid accumulation by 429.5% as compared to the controls.

    2021

  • Synergistic effects of surfactant-assisted biodegradation of wheat straw and production of polysaccharides by Inonotus obliquus under submerged fermentation

    • Current work proposes an innovative wheat straw biomass utilization strategy that connects efficient lignocellulose biodegradation with exo-polysaccharide (EPS) production in I. obliquus under submerged fermentation. The addition of Tween 80 increased the activities of ligninolytic enzymes MnP, LiP and Lac by 1200%, 125% and 39.9%, respectively. When wheat straw lignin recalcitrance was substantially reduced with the aid of Tween 80, I. obliquus was capable of utilizing the substrates and in turn accumulated EPS.

    2019

  • Inonotus obliquus Extract as An Inhibitor of α-MSH-Induced Melanogenesis in B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells

    • Melanogenesis is a biosynthetic pathway for producing of the pigment melanin in human skin. Tyrosinase, a key enzyme, catalyzing is the first step in melanogenesis and the downregulation of the tyrosinase enzyme activity is the most reported method for anti-melanogenesis. According to the hyperpigmentation as an important issue in cosmetic industry, there is a big demand for melanogenesis inhibitors. In the present study, we identified the anti-melanogenic effect of Inonotus Obliquus in α-MSH-induced B16F10 mouse melanoma cells as a new inhibitor.

    2019

  • Chemical Characterization and Hypoglycaemic Activities In Vitro of Two Polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus by Submerged Culture

    • Polysaccharides from the fungus Inonotus obliquus have been found to be biologically active. In this study, we carried out a preliminary characterisation and assessment of the hypoglycaemic activities of the polysaccharides (IOEP) from Inonotus obliquus obtained by liquid fermentation.

    2018

  • Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide regulates gut microbiota of chronic pancreatitis in mice

    • Polysaccharide is efficient in attenuation of metabolic ailments and modulation of gut microbiota as prebiotics. The therapeutic effect of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOP) on chronic pancreatitis (CP) in mice has been validated in our previous study. However, it is not clear whether IOP is conducive to maintaining the homeostasis between gut microbiota and host. The aim of this study is to testify the potential effects of IOP on gut microbiota composition and diversity in mice with CP. The changes in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), lipase and trypsin levels were measured by commercial assay kits, meanwhile the gut microbiota composition and diversity were analyzed by high throughput sequencing.

    2017
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