Shiitake Mushrooms and How They Help Prevent Cancer

When I was studying at the National Research Center in Cairo, I was instructed to study the medicinal value of mushrooms. This was in 1991 and my supervisor told the story of a small town in Japan in the 1970’s that seemed to be untouched by cancer.  Researchers were perplexed and investigations pointed to two shiitake mushroom factories that emitted spores which the residents inhaled.  These spores activated their resilient immune systems and created a barrier against cancer. By 1987, the Japanese researchers had developed three anti-cancer medications that were the top 10 best sellers of anti-cancer agents. I found this so exciting!

Ayman Daba with Dr Chang, father of Mycology

This revelation acted as a guiding star throughout my scientific pursuit. Serendipity struck when I stumbled upon a yellow envelope filled with research papers from Japanese scientists, providing a whisper of insight into unlocking the potential of these extraordinary mushrooms.

I devoted many years of study on the scientific literature about this with my supervisor.  We cultivated mushrooms, isolated the polysaccharides, and created the structure analysis.  Polysaccharides are large sugar molecules linked together in a long chain with branches. These cannot be digested and end up stimulating the immune system.  My primary aim? To decipher whether these mushrooms could significantly extend life and combat the rampant proliferation of cancer cells.

Precipitation of polysaccharides

Over the years, I devoted time and energy to this issue, a journey of trial and error, ultimately leading to the revelation of potent polysaccharides. This marked an important chapter in my scientific exploration. It was a labor of passion and perseverance,  decoding the complexities that lay hidden within these remarkable fungi.

In time, my research bore fruit. I received several patents outlining the milestones I had discovered in the realm of mycology. This success opened doors for me in the United States where I was privileged to serve as a Fulbright scholar at Tom Volk‘s esteemed laboratory. I spent six amazing months with him which opened so many interesting threads of inquiry for me.  I returned to Egypt where I headed a research department on Pharmaceutical Bio Products and led students to more work on the medicinal properties of the mushrooms.

Ayman with Tom and other fellows  (See this post for more on that time.)

The complexities of polysaccharides and how their molecular weight correlates with their anticancer activity interested me greatly. All mushrooms have this potential but size matters! And, of all these mushrooms, shitaake are the best ones so far because their polysaccharides have the largest molecular weight. It was during this research journey that I was astounded by the  sight of the mushroom mycelia under the microscope — an intricate and vast network of delicate threads, resembling an interconnected web. The intricacy and interconnectedness of this mycelium, resembling a tapestry woven by nature, led me to realize the incredible potential it held. It travels vast distances, connecting cities with an unseen network. I’m in awe of nature’s  ingenuity: the powerful threads beneath our feet.

Mycelial net work and mushroom fruit bodies

Ayman Daba 2023