A key ingredient of medicinal mushrooms is polysaccharides that create an immune enhancing and regulating response in the body. The main reason this happens because they are rich in β-glucans (has been shown to protect against infection by bacteria, viruses, and pathogenic microorganisms) and low in α-glucans (boasts protection from digestive environments, such as the small intestine, efficient encapsulation, and preservation rates). A recent study analysed preparations from three mushroom species, Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake, and their β- and α-glucan content.
The positive results of these three individual extracts lead researchers to combine all three into a formula to evaluate their combined impact on the body's immune system. What they discovered was not only did the individual mushrooms have immune enhancing and regulating ability but they were able to show that the synergy between the mushrooms combined had a very positive effect beyond the combined individual results. When mixed together they displayed a highly potent immuno-stimulating effect beyond expectations.
This mushroom formula exhibited an immuno-stimulatory synergistic effect on the major markers of the immune system displaying the power and efficiency of combining medicinal mushrooms together to boost and support the immune system. Enhancing the positive effects of both cytokines, macrophages and gut flora. This shows the potential for effective immune enhancing effects of medicinal mushrooms.