Recent progress of research on medicinal mushrooms, foods, and other herbal products used in traditional Chinese medicine
Lee, K. H., Morris-Natschke, S. L., Yang, X., Huang, R., Zhou, T., Wu, S. F., Shi, Q., & Itokawa, H. · Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine · 2012 April
DOI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3942920/
Objective
This article will review selected herbal products used in traditional Chinese medicine, including medicinal mushrooms (巴西蘑菇 bā xī mó gū; Agaricus blazei, 雲芝 yún zhī; Coriolus versicolor, 靈芝 líng zhī; Ganoderma lucidum, 香蕈 xiāng xùn; shiitake, Lentinus edodes, 牛樟芝 niú zhāng zhī; Taiwanofungus camphoratus), Cordyceps (冬蟲夏草 dōng chóng xià cǎo), pomegranate (石榴 shí liú; Granati Fructus), green tea (綠茶 lǜ chá; Theae Folium Non Fermentatum), garlic (大蒜 dà suàn; Allii Sativi Bulbus), turmeric (薑黃 jiāng huáng; Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), and Artemisiae Annuae Herba (青蒿 qīng hāo; sweet wormwood).
Conclusions
As part of the TCM and other folk medicine systems, many plant and fungal species are used as foods and dietary supplements to promote good health, as well as to prevent or treat many diseases. Relatively nontoxic herbal products are particularly desireable for alleviating chronic health effects. However, the pharmacological effects of TCM and other natural products on the human body must be ascertained, toxicological studies must be performed, authenticity must be verified, and quality control standards must be maintained to ensure both maximal safety and efficacy to treat both chronic and acute conditions. Modern scientific methodology and medicinal chemistry approaches will continue to identify and evaluate the bioactive components found in TCM prescriptions, and validate their use as sources of new, effective, and safe world-class new medicines and dietary supplements.
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