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Ag3.5
Agarikon Research
Mostly mechanism / observational
10 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Mostly mechanism / observational
Most Agarikon studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality randomised trials published 2011–2026 with a typical study size of 52 participants.
Based on 10 studies · 1 RCT · 52 total participants
InflammationEmerging anti-inflammatory properties from polysaccharides · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies2 studies
By the numbers
Pulled from 8 studies with measurable effects
People studied
52
typical study: 52 people
Strongest designs
1
0 pooled, 1 randomised
Populations Studied
Cancer models2
Systematic review of F. officinalis studies1
General population for prevention and treatment1
Review of in vitro and in vivo F. officinalis studies1
Active research area
5 studies in the last 5 years
201120182026
1Therapeutic effects including anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activitySystematic ReviewCited 12×2020
It has been proved that both crude extracts and the compounds isolated from F. officinalis have a wide spectrum of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial effects.
Muszyńska B et al. · Chemistry & biodiversity (2020)
Because of its valuable biological properties and its use in 18th and 19th-century pharmacy, Fomitopsis officinalis used to be mass-collected.
Moreover, the large demand for larch wood and non-wood materials (resin) caused an excessive exploitation of larch forests, which directly contributed to the disappearance of F. officinalis from its natural environment.
The qualities of medicinal preparations obtained from the F. officinalis fruiting bodies are determined by the unique composition of its bioactive compounds, such as: triterpenoids, polysaccharides, organic acids, coumarins and phenolic compounds.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registered on ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04951336 on June 30, 2021.
Saxe G, Smith CN, Golshan S, Shekhtman T, Bair ZJ, Beathard C, Davis RA, MacElhern L, Shubov A, Slater D, Kao LK, Senowitz P, Wilson S. · BMC immunology (2026)
There were no adverse events and the groups had overlapping 95% confidence intervals for the percentage of participants transitioning from normal to abnormal renal/hepatic function when comparing Days 1 and 14.
All participants (100%) completed the study and treatment adherence was greater than 95%.
In the COVID-Naive FoTv group, Ab responses were preserved across 6 months (and possibly increased), an effect not observed among other groups.
3Antitumor activity through immunity activation and angiogenesis inhibitionObservationalCited 14×2024
The following mechanism examination discovered that FOBP50-1 interacted with TLR-4, PD-1, and VEGF to activate immunity and inhibit angiogenesis according to a series of cell, transgenic zebrafish,...
Shen Y et al. · International journal of biological macromolecules (2024)
The following mechanism examination discovered that FOBP50-1 interacted with TLR-4, PD-1, and VEGF to activate immunity and inhibit angiogenesis according to a series of cell, transgenic zebrafish, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments.
The KD values indicating the association of FOBP50-1 with TLR-4, PD-1, and VEGF, were 4.69 × 10-5, 7.98 × 10-6, 3.04 × 10-6 M, respectively, in the SPR experiments.
All investigations have demonstrated that the homogenous fungal polysaccharide FOBP50-1 has the potential to be turned into a tumor immunotherapy agent.
4Antitumor effect via immune activation and angiogenesis inhibitionObservationalCited 13×2024
The following mechanistic analysis discovered that the in vivo antitumor effect was linked to immune activation and angiogenesis inhibition.
Liu W et al. · International journal of biological macromolecules (2024)
The following mechanistic analysis discovered that the in vivo antitumor effect was linked to immune activation and angiogenesis inhibition.
These effects were mediated by the interactions of FOBP90-1 with TLR-2, TLR-4, PD-L1, and VEGFR-2, as determined through a series of experiments involving cells, transgenic zebrafish, molecular docking simulations, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR).
All the experimental findings have demonstrated that FOBP90-1, a purified fungal polysaccharide, is expected to be utilized as a cancer treatment agent.
5Immune strengthening and antiviral effectsObservationalCited 11×2011
Also, with a very broad spectrum of action, generally formulated as "to strengthen immunity," MYKOPROTECT. 1 is intended as an important element in the prevention and fighting of serious viral infections, whether they are caused by well-known viruses (hepatitis, HIV, etc.) or newly emerging ones.
Jakopovich I · International journal of medicinal mushrooms (2011)
If progressive modem medicine were redefined in a more effective and humane way, cancer mycotherapy should be a part of a broad concept of biological prevention and therapy of cancer.
Also, with a very broad spectrum of action, generally formulated as "to strengthen immunity," MYKOPROTECT. 1 is intended as an important element in the prevention and fighting of serious viral infections, whether they are caused by well-known viruses (hepatitis, HIV, etc.) or newly emerging ones.
6Broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral activityReview2019
According to several reports there is evidence of a broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral activity by F. officinalis, including pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Ortopox virus.
Girometta C · Mycology (2019)
According to several reports there is evidence of a broad-spectrum antibacterial and antiviral activity by F. officinalis, including pathogens like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Ortopox virus.
Chlorinated coumarins from mycelia and lanostane triterpenoids from basidiomes have been demonstrated to be directly responsible for antiviral-antibacterial and trypanocidal activity, respectively.
Nevertheless, in vivo tests on bees provided promising results in order to develop sustainable solutions against the pathogens responsible for colony collapse disorders.
This data provides good basis for an expanded translational study.
Jakopovic B et al. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2020)
AGARIKON.1 and AGARIKON PLUS exhibited immunostimulatory and antiangiogenic properties in vivo which resulted in significantly increased survival and reduction in tumor volume.
The administration of AGARIKON.1 and AGARIKON PLUS did not show genotoxic effect.
This data provides good basis for an expanded translational study.
8Anti-oxidant and anticancer effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cellsIn VitroCited 12×2022
This study reports that Fo3-chloroformic extract is rich in antitumor activity, which was previously not investigated in cancer.
Altannavch N et al. · Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry (2022)
This study reports that Fo3-chloroformic extract is rich in antitumor activity, which was previously not investigated in cancer.
To develop the impact of F. officinalis among natural products to treat/prevent oxidative stress disorders or cancers, further examinations of F. officinalis are needed to develop new natural drugs to treat cancer.
However, this study assessed only one extract, Fo3-chloroformic, which has a significant impact against cancer cell lines.
9Inhibition of gastric cancer cell proliferationIn Vitro2025
In vitro experiments demonstrated that Fomitopsis officinalis polysaccharides and triterpenic acids could significantly inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells.
Guan X et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology (2025)
In vitro experiments demonstrated that Fomitopsis officinalis polysaccharides and triterpenic acids could significantly inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells.
The IC50 after 24 h and 48 h of treatment were 41.26 μg/mL and 16.21 μg/mL, respectively.
These components arrested the gastric cancer cell cycle at the G1, inhibited cell migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis by activating CASP3.
10Cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell linesIn VitroCited 24×2013
In addition, the comparison of investigated blended mushroom extracts with three well-known commercial mushroom products derived from single mushroom species or single mushroom compounds shows that blended mushroom extracts exhibit significantly stronger cytotoxic effects on human tumor cell lines.
Durgo K et al. · International journal of medicinal mushrooms (2013)
To determine cytotoxic effects of single and blended mushroom extracts, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and neutral red assays were conducted using human small cell lung cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, colon cancer, and brain astrocytoma cancer cells.
These results reveal that these extracts exhibit different cytotoxic effects on tumor cells originating from different tissues.
In addition, the comparison of investigated blended mushroom extracts with three well-known commercial mushroom products derived from single mushroom species or single mushroom compounds shows that blended mushroom extracts exhibit significantly stronger cytotoxic effects on human tumor cell lines.