About
Lentinula edodes, commonly known as Shiitake, is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed mushrooms globally, second only to Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom). Native to East Asia, it is prized not only for its rich, savory umami flavor but also for its well-documented health benefits. It has been used for centuries in traditional Asian medicine and cuisine and continues to play a central role in modern functional foods and nutraceuticals.
History
Shiitake mushrooms have been cultivated in China for over 1,000 years and are deeply integrated into Chinese and Japanese culture. The earliest records date back to the Song Dynasty, where it was used both as a food and medicine. In Japan, it was known as a “longevity mushroom” due to its reputation for promoting vitality and immunity.
Modern interest in Shiitake has expanded globally, particularly after the isolation of lentinan—a beta-glucan with immune-stimulating and potential anti-cancer properties. Shiitake cultivation has also become a model of sustainable agroforestry, often grown on oak logs or sawdust blocks.
Overview
Lentinula edodes features a brown, convex cap 5–10 cm wide, with white gills and a fibrous, sometimes scaly surface. The stem is tough and typically removed before cooking. It thrives on hardwood, especially oak, and can be found both in the wild and in commercial cultivation.
In the kitchen, Shiitake is known for its deep, meaty taste and is used in soups, stir-fries, broths, and vegan dishes. It contains key nutrients including B vitamins, copper, selenium, and polysaccharides like lentinan. Medicinally, it supports immune function, reduces inflammation, and has cholesterol-lowering and antiviral potential.
Flavors
Umami
Rich and savory flavor, often described as brothy or meaty
Textures
Chewy
A unique chewy texture when cooked
Fragrances
Earthy
A rich, earthy aroma
Physical Characteristics
Caps:
Convex cap with a wide range of colors from light brown to dark brown
Gills:
Off-white to cream-colored gills
Helps With
Immune System
Shiitake mushrooms contain compounds that can enhance the immune system.
Heart Health
Certain compounds in shiitake mushrooms may promote heart health.
Oxidative Stress
Shiitake mushrooms are a good source of antioxidants that can help protect against oxidative stress.
Digestion
Shiitake mushrooms may have beneficial effects on the digestive system.
Arthritis
Shiitakes could directly reduce inflammatory symptoms caused by immune-related arthritis, and maitake mushrooms have immune-boosting properties.2 Medicinal mushroom extracts are packed with antioxidants that break down free radicals to help the body stay healthy.
Gut Microbiome
Shiitake mushrooms act as prebiotics, providing a food source for beneficial gut bacteria. This promotes a healthy balance in the gut microbiome, which is essential for proper digestion and immune function. Studies have shown that Shiitake mushrooms can enhance gut immunity and protect against pathogenic infections by supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
Medicinal Chemistry
Similar Species
Species: Agaricus bisporus
Edibility: edible
Key Differences: Agaricus bisporus has a more rounded cap and lacks the distinctive gill pattern of Lentinula Edodes.
Species: Agaricus bisporus
Edibility: edible
Nutrition Facts
Mushroom Ratings
0.0
Based on 0 Reviews
5
★4
★3
★2
★1
★Share your thoughts
If you've consumed this mushroom, share your thoughts with our community
References
Exploring the Phytochemical Compositions, Antioxidant Activity, and Nutritional Potentials of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms
Medicinal Mushrooms as Multicomponent Mixtures—Demonstrated with the Example of Lentinula edodes
Shiitake mushroom powder supplementation increase antioxidative activity in dogs
An Assessment of Mushroom Consumption on Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Factors and Morbidities in Humans: A Systematic Review
Nutraceutical Potential of Lentinula edodes’ Spent Mushroom Substrate: A Comprehensive Study on Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Antibacterial Effects
Two Strains of Lentinula edodes Differ in Their Transcriptional and Metabolic Patterns and Respond Differently to Thermostress
Structural and functional characterization of the cytotoxic protein ledodin, an atypical ribosome‐inactivating protein from shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes)
Efficacy and Safety of Orally Administered Lentinula edodes Mycelia Extract for Patients Undergoing Cancer Chemotherapy: A Pilot Study
Mycelial polysaccharides of Lentinus edodes (shiitake mushroom) in submerged culture exert immunoenhancing effect on macrophage cells via MAPK pathway
The protective effects of a novel polysaccharide from Lentinus edodes mycelia on islet beta (INS-1) cells damaged by glucose and its transportation mechanism with human serum albumin
This review provides a bibliometric analysis of the recent literature on biological activities, highlights trends in the field, and highlights the countries and journals with the highest contribution. It also discusses the nutritional value of the total content of phenolic and other phytochemicals in some species of mushrooms.
2024
Medicinal mushrooms are multicomponent mixtures (MOCSs). They consist of a large number of individual compounds, each with different chemical structures, functions, and possible pharmacological activities. In contrast to the activity of an isolated pure substance, the effects of the individual substances in a mushroom or its extracts can influence each other; they can strengthen, weaken, or complement each other. This results in both advantages and disadvantages for the use of either a pure substance or a multicomponent mixture.
2024
The prevalence of age-related diseases, including obesity (a lipid metabolism disorder), increases with the increase in a dog’s lifespan. Most of age-related diseases are associated with oxidative stress by excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from impaired mitochondrial functions. Safe and effective supplements with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities are required to prevent obesity and associated complications. Shiitake mushroom exhibit various functions including antioxidant activity. We investigated the effect of shiitake powder supplementation in healthy dogs.
2024
Mushrooms, unique edible fungi, contain several essential nutrients and bioactive compounds which may positively influence cardiometabolic health. Despite a long history of consumption, the health benefits of mushrooms are not well documented. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effects of and associations between mushroom consumption and cardiometabolic disease (CMD)-related risk factors and morbidities/mortality.
2023
Lentinula edodes, commonly known as shiitake mushroom, is renowned for its potential health advantages. This research delves into the often-overlooked by-product of shiitake cultivation, namely spent mushroom substrate (SMS), to explore its nutraceutical properties. The SMS samples were collected and subjected to different extraction methods, namely short or long agitation, and ultrasound-assisted extractions using different temperatures and distilled water or a 50% (v/v) ethanol as solvents.
2023
This study investigates the phenotypic, transcriptomic, and metabolic features of L. edodes with different temperature types under both control (25 °C) and high (37 °C) conditions.
2023
This study suggests that Lentinula Edodes possesses potent cytotoxic proteins that can inhibit synthesis in certain ribosomes.
2023
Lentinula edodes mycelia extract (L.E.M.) is extensively utilized as an herbal medicine. However, its safety and effectiveness have not yet been scientifically verified. In this study, we investigated its safety and its influence on quality of life (QOL) and the immune response in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Seven patients were studied in total. The patients were undergoing postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer (n = 3) or gastrointestinal cancer (n = 2), or were receiving chemotherapy to prevent recurrence of gastrointestinal cancer (n = 2). The first course of treatment was chemotherapy alone and the second was chemotherapy plus concomitant administration of L.E.M. Adverse events and changes in the QOL score, lymphocyte subpopulations, lymphocyte activity and serum immune indices were evaluated during the study period.
2019
A crude polysaccharide fraction (termed cLEP) and two derived fractions (termed LEP1 and LEP2) from Lentinus edodes mycelia were purified and characterized. LEP1/-2 were classified as α-type heteropolysaccharides with 1 → 2, 1 → 3, 1 → 4, 1 → 6 linkages. Their monosaccharide components were respectively Gal, Glc, Man, Ara, Fuc, and Rha (molar ratio 10.17:9.75:9.01:1.61:1.26:1), and Glc, Man, Fuc, Rha, and Gal (molar ratio 5.18:4.69:2.85:1.43:1). In vitro culture experiments with macrophage RAW264.7 cells showed no cytotoxic effects of the polysaccharides. Phagocytosis (neutral red uptake) was significantly enhanced by LEP1/-2. Levels of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 were higher in LEP1/-2-treated groups than in cLEP-treated group. qRT-PCR analysis showed that LEP1/-2 had greater enhancing effect on mRNA transcription of iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-6 genes. Western blotting analysis revealed that LEP1/-2 strongly promoted phosphorylation of kinases ERK and JNK, and suggested that they exert immunoenhancing effects via MAPK signaling pathway.
2019
High glucose can lead to toxicity on islet beta cells. The protective effects of a novel Lentinus edodes mycelia polysaccharide (LMP) on INS-1 cells damaged by glucose were investigated. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, cell apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected. P38 MAPK, JNKand NF-kappaB pathways were analyzed to reveal the inhibitory mechanism of LMP on glucose-induced INS-1 cells toxicity. The results showed that LMP could decrease cellular oxidative stress, reduce intracellular ROS levels, decrease MDA content and increase SOD activity. Furthermore, the glucose-induced cell apoptosis in cells were inhibited by regulating the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase3 and cleaved caspase1.
2019