''Ganoderma tsugae'', also known as hemlock varnish shelf, is a flat

polypore Polypores are a group of fungi that form large fruiting bodies with pores or tubes on the underside (see Delimitation for exceptions). They are a morphological group of basidiomycetes-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi, and not all polyp ...

mushroom of the genus ''

Ganoderma ''Ganoderma'' is a genus of polypore fungi in the family Ganodermataceae that includes about 80 species, many from tropical regions. They have a high genetic diversity and are used in traditional Asian medicines. ''Ganoderma'' can be differen ...

''.

Habitat

In contrast to ''

Ganoderma lucidum ''Ganoderma lucidum'' is a red-colored species of ''Ganoderma'' with a limited distribution in Europe and parts of China, where it grows on decaying hardwood trees. Wild populations have been found in the United States in California and Utah, but ...

'', to which it is closely related and which it closely resembles, ''G. tsugae'' tends to grow on

conifer Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All ex ...

s, especially hemlocks.

Properties

Like ''G. lucidum'', ''G. tsugae'' is purported to have medicinal properties including use for dressing a skin wound.

Phylogenetic analysis In biology Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that pro ...

has begun to better differentiate between many closely related species of ''Ganoderma''; however, there is still disagreement as to which have the most medicinal properties. In addition, variations within the same species as well as the growth substrate and environmental conditions all the way through to preparation can have a substantial effect on the medicinal value of the product.

Edibility

Like ''G. lucidum'', ''G. tsugae'' is non-poisonous but generally considered inedible, because of its solid woody nature; however, teas and extracts made from its fruiting bodies supposedly allow medicinal use of the compounds it contains, although this is controversial within the scientific community. A hot water extraction or tea can be very effective for extracting the

polysaccharide Polysaccharides (), or polycarbohydrates, are the most abundant carbohydrates found in food. They are long chain polymeric carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. This carbohydrate can react with ...

s; however, an alcohol or alcohol/glycerin extraction method is more effective for the

triterpenoid Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squale ...

s. The fresh, soft growth of the "lip" of ''G. tsugae'' can be sautéed and prepared much like other edible mushrooms. While in this nascent stage it is not woody, it can still be tough and chewy.

Medicinal use

Studies in mice have shown that ''G. tsugae'' shows several potential medicinal benefits including anti-tumor activity through some of the active polysaccharides found in ''G. tsugae'' ''G. tsugae'' has also been shown to significantly promote wound healing in mice as well as significantly increase the proliferation and migration of

fibroblast cells A fibroblast is a type of biological cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, produces the structural framework ( stroma) for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing. Fibroblasts are the most common cells ...

in culture.Su CH, Sun CS, Juan SW et al
Development of fungal mycelia as skin substitutes: effects on wound healing and fibroblast
Biomaterials 1999; 20(1):61-68.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5521451 Ganodermataceae Dietary supplements Inedible fungi Medicinal fungi