Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Professional monograph from Dr. Anna Sitkoff, ND

Family: Pleurotaceae

Common names

Oyster mushroom

Habitat

Widely distributed throughout North America on both hardwoods and softwoods.

Description

A gilled mushroom with an oyster-shaped cap. The flush presents in clusters on dead logs and living trees.

Part used

Mushroom/sporophore/basidiocarp, mycelium, primordia

Energetics

Slightly warm and sweet

Constituents

Ergosterol, (1-3, 1-6)-ß-D-glucans, polysaccharides, chrysin, ergothioneine, lovastatin, GABA

Pharmacology

Oyster mushroom contains the most ergothioneine of any known mushroom, and so the antioxidant and neuroprotective actions of ergothioneine are a major component of the benefits of this mushroom. Other unique compounds found in oyster mushroom include chrysin, lovastatin, and GABA.

Respiratory support. Pleuran, a ß-glucan isolated from oyster mushroom, may support a healthy respiratory system through a reduction of peripheral blood eosinophils and stabilized levels of total IgE in serum (1).

Antiatherogenic. There are many factors that aggregate and result in hardening of the arteries, and oyster mushroom research has demonstrated protection against many of these factors. In an animal study, rats were administered chrysin-rich Pleurotus extract. After administration there was a significant decrease in mean blood serum levels of glucose, lipid profile parameters, and liver enzymes, and a simultaneous increase in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant parameters (2).

P. ostreatus is the richest known source of ergothioneine, containing 118.91mg/kg. Ergothioneine protects against DNA damage and lipid oxidation. Oyster mushroom water extract supports a healthy cardiovascular system through inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) (3).

Oyster mushroom also contains lovastatin, a naturally occurring compound that reduces LDL cholesterol through inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase (4).

Current and traditional medicinal use

History and folk use

Oyster mushrooms have no boundaries – they grow everywhere, on most anything, and are used as food throughout the world. According to some resources, they were first cultivated in Germany during World War I as an important food source. Oyster mushrooms are an especially fascinating mushroom because they are considered carnivorous - they are one of the few mushrooms known to consume critters, specifically nematodes, as a nitrogen source.

Current research

Integumentary. In a split-body study of 80 patients, topical P. ostreatus-based β-glucan cream application resulted in improvement of both subjective and objective symptoms of skin inflammation. The patients applied the cream on one segment of the body with skin inflammation and no treatment on another inflammatory segment. On the application site there was a significant decrease in the number of days and severity of skin inflammation (5).

Respiratory. Pleuran extract from oyster mushrooms has clinical evidence for support of a healthy respiratory system (6).

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized multicentric study, 175 children were treated with either pleuran or placebo over a 12-month period. Children treated with pleuran experienced a healthier respiratory system (1,7). These findings agreed with a Spanish study investigating 166 children aged one to ten years old who were also treated with pleuran (8).

Advantageous respiratory effects of pleuran were also observed in adult athletes. A study included 50 athletes treated with pleuran over a three month period of time and found a significant improvement in respiratory health as compared to athletes treated with placebo. Blood samples of the athletes showed significantly higher levels of circulating NK cells in the pleuran group as compared to the placebo group (9).

Cholesterol. 20 subjects were randomized to take either one portion of soup containing 30g dried oyster mushrooms or a tomato soup (placebo) on a daily basis for 21 days. Standardized blood concentrations of lipid parameters and oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) were measured at baseline and after 21 days. Treatment with oyster mushroom soup decreased both triacylglycerol and oxidized LDL levels significantly, and showed a significant tendency towards lowering total cholesterol values (10).

Pharmacy

Double extraction. 1:1 - 1:5 liquid extract. The mushroom has been extracted with both water and alcohol.

Hot aqueous extract. Mushroom has been boiled for multiple hours either as a tea or used as a broth.

Powdered extract. 1:1 - 10:1. May be extracted only with water or with both water and alcohol. The extract is then dehydrated into a powdered extract. 10:1 implies that every 1g of extract is equivalent to 10g of dried mushroom.

Myceliated grain. Mycelium is grown on grain substrate and when the mycelium seems to have digested the majority of the grain, the entire block is extracted.

Find oyster mushroom in our LUNGS and BRAIN & NERVES formulas

Lucidum Medicinals LUNGS formula bottle image

Lucidum Medicinals LUNGS formula 180-capsule bottle product label

LUNGS

$59.95

30-60 day supply | 90 grams (180 capules)

CORDYCEPS | REISHI | OYSTER MUSHROOM

Supports respiration, immunity, inflammation, exercise performance, and a healthy allergic response. Potently adaptogenic, featuring Cordyceps 10:1 and Reishi 8:1 fruiting body extracts.

Ingredients

Organic Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris)

10:1 powdered extract

(>18% ß-glucan, <5% α-glucan)

Organic Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

8:1 powdered extract

(>20% ß-glucan, <5% α-glucan)

Organic Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

1:1 powdered extract

(>25% ß-glucan, <5% α-glucan)

Suggested use

Full serving

Take 6 capsules (3 grams) daily

Maintenance serving

Take 3 capsules (1.5 grams) daily, or as recommended by your healthcare practitioner

GLUTEN FREE
100% fruiting body extract

ORGANIC
VEGAN

Quantity

100% satisfaction

Fast shipping

Secure checkout

Lucidum Medicinals BRAIN & NERVES formula

Lucidum Medicinals BRAIN & NERVES 180-capsule bottle product label

Lucidum Medicinals BRAIN & NERVES 90g jar product label

Lucidum Medicinals BRAIN & NERVES product shot

BRAIN & NERVES

$59.95

30-60 day supply | 90 grams

LION'S MANE | TREMELLA | OYSTER MUSHROOM

Supports healthy cognition, mood, memory, and neurogenesis. Potently nootropic, featuring 8:1 Lion's mane fruiting body extract.

Ingredients

Organic Lion's Mane (Hericeum erinaceus)

8:1 powdered extract

(>15% ß-glucan, <5% α-glucan)

Organic Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

1:1 powdered extract

(>25% ß-glucan, <5% α-glucan)

Organic Tremella (Tremella fuciformis)

1:1 powdered extract

(>10% ß-glucan, <5% α-glucan)

Suggested use

Full serving

Take 3 grams (6 capsules, or 1.5 teaspoons) daily

Maintenance serving

Take 1.5 grams (3 capsules, or 3/4 teaspoon) daily, or as recommended by your healthcare practitioner

GLUTEN FREE
100% fruiting body extract

ORGANIC
VEGAN

Capsules (180 x 500mg)

Bulk Powder (90g jar)

Quantity

100% satisfaction

Fast shipping

Secure checkout

References

Want to learn more? Visit our research collection on PubMed

1. Jesenak M, Hrubisko M, Majtan J, Rennerova Z, Banovcin P. Anti-allergic Effect of Pleuran ( b -glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus ) in Children with Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infections. 2014;474(March 2013):471-474.

2. Anandhi R, Annadurai T, Anitha TS, Muralidharan AR, Najmunnisha K, Nachiappan V, Thomas PA, Geraldine P. Antihypercholesterolemic and antioxidative effects of an extract of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, and its major constituent, chrysin, in Triton WR-1339-induced hypercholesterolemic rats. J Physiol Biochem. 2013 Jun;69(2):313-23. doi: 10.1007/s13105-012-0215-6. Epub 2012 Oct 27. PubMed PMID: 23104078.

3. Piskov S, Timchenko L, Grimm W-D, Rzhepakovsky I, Avanesyan S, Sizonenko M, Kurchenko V. Effects of Various Drying Methods on Some Physico-Chemical Properties and the Antioxidant Profile and ACE Inhibition Activity of Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus Ostreatus). Foods. 2020; 9(2):160. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9020160

4. Hamdi M, Abidin Z, Abdullah N, et al. Therapeutic properties of Pleurotus species ( oyster mushrooms ) for atherosclerosis : A review. Int J Food Prop. 2017;20(6):1251-1261. doi:10.1080/10942912.2016.1210162.

5. Jesenak M, Urbancek S, Majtan J, Banovcin P, Hercogova J. b -Glucan-based cream ( containing pleuran isolated from pleurotus ostreatus ) in supportive treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis. 2016;6634(4):351-354. doi:10.3109/09546634.2015.1117565.

6. Minov J, Bislimovska-karadzhinska J, Petrova T, Vasilevska K, Stoleski S. Effects of Pleuran ( Β – Glucan from Pleurotus Ostreatus ) Supplementation on Incidence and Duration of COPD Exacerbations. 2017;5(7):893-898.

7. Jesenak M, Urbanclkova I, Banovcin P. Respiratory Tract Infections and the Role of Biologically Active Polysaccharides in Their. Nutrients. 2017:1-12. doi:10.3390/nu9070779.

8. Pico Sirvent L, Sapena Grau J, Morera Ingles M, Rivero Urgell M. Effect of supplementation with β–glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus in children with recurrent respiratory infections. Ann Nurr Metab. 2013; 63 (1): 1378.

9. Bergendiova K, Tibenska E. Pleuran ( b -glucan from Pleurotus ostreatus ) supplementation , cellular immune response and respiratory tract infections in athletes. 2011:2033-2040. doi:10.1007/s00421-011-1837-z.

10. Schneider, I.; Kressel, G.; Meyer, A.; Krings, U.; Berger, R.G.; Hahn, A. Lipid Lowering Effects of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus) in Humans. Journal of Functional Foods 2011, 3(1), 17–24. DOI:http://Dx. Doi.Org/10.1016/J.Jff.2010.11.004