Poria extract 20:1 | Poria cocos

Properties: Poria cocos is one of the most interesting mushrooms that are commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Due to its excellent health-promoting properties, Poria helps to increase the defensive potential of the body and improve its overall vitality – just like many other mushrooms used in natural medicine. It enhances the secretion of cytokines, which allow immune cells to efficiently transmit information to each other. The active substances contained in Poria cocos have also been proven to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and stimulate the natural mechanisms by which the body finds and eliminates degenerated cells. This is particularly important because these cells can promote the development of cancer, posing a serious threat to the healthy ones. Therefore, Poria extract can be a great support in cancer prevention and therapy. Research in this area is still ongoing, yet it is worth conducting further studies to identify more mechanisms by which this mushroom is able to stimulate immunity so effectively. However, the preliminary results of the studies are interesting and suggest that the intuitions of natural medicine practitioners actually make sense. 

The wide range of Poria’s health properties includes supporting the proper functions of the cardiovascular system. Indeed, the results of scientific studies indicate that the active compounds found in this species contribute to lowering the total cholesterol level. This way, they prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels, promoting proper blood flow. In addition, they improve fat metabolism, making Poria extract a valuable support for weight reduction. Importantly, they also bring benefits for the functioning of the liver and kidneys – organs that play a huge role in the context of cleansing the body. Thanks to their efficient work, toxic substances and unnecessary metabolic products can be neutralized and then removed from the body. It has been proven that due to the presence of numerous active compounds, P. cocos extract protects both the liver and kidneys from the destructive effects of toxins and certain germs. And thanks to its diuretic properties, Poria facilitates the removal of excess water from the body and prevents swelling, while stimulating detoxification. At the same time, it supports the activity of natural antioxidant compounds, thus helping to ensure the good condition of the body cells and counteracts skin aging.

It is also worth noting that Poria extract can benefit the functioning of the nervous system on many levels. There is evidence that the substances found in the mushrooms of this species enhance the process of neurogenesis, i.e. the production of new nerve cells. In addition, they help to increase the activity of acetylcholine in the brain. As one of the main excitatory neurotransmitters, acetylcholine improves communication between neurons, and largely supports cognitive functions, including memory and concentration. The antioxidant properties of Poria are also important in this context, as free radicals promote faster degradation of neurons. And since the active substances of this mushroom counteract oxidative stress, they support the proper work of the brain. And if that wasn’t enough, they have a positive effect on mood. This is because they increase the activity of serotonin, dopamine and GABA – brain chemicals that help to maintain a positive attitude and a high level of stress resilience. Therefore, it is pretty evident that Poria extract is a good way to improve well-being – both physical and mental.

Occurrence: Poria cocos is a fungus from the Polyporaceae family. It is a saprotroph and feeds on dead wood, often pine trees. It grows similarly to the European truffle, producing edible underground sclerotia, which resemble coconut in appearance. They can weigh up to 1 kg and reach a diameter of 30 cm. They are soft and flexible inside, with a sweet and slightly bland taste. Sclerotia dried in shadow are the main resource used in the countries of the East, primarily China and Japan.

Biochemistry: The two main groups of active compounds present in Poria are triterpenes and polysaccharides. Among the former are lanostane, secolanostane and eburican derivatives. They include tramethenolic acid, dehydrotramethenolic acid, eburic acid, pachymic acid, tumulose acid or poricoic acids. Among polysaccharides, compounds belonging to beta-D-glucans are the most important. In addition, Poria cocos also contains glycoproteins, ergosterol, hyperin, choline, histidine, amino acids and potassium salts.

Fun fact: Poria has been known in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2 000 years. Experts believe that it has the ability to remove moisture (Shi) from the body and supports the Qi energy of the spleen. For this reason, it is a highly valued raw material, included in many formulas used in natural therapies.