Detection of Mushroom Extract Use in Patients Coming to the Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic for Routine Check-up and the Relationship Between Changes in Their Clinics
Abstract
This study focuses on cancer types with high mortality rates, such as stomach and pancreatic cancer, by examining the clinical effects of using the ethyl acetate extract of the lichen species Usnea longissima. The study includes a patient with gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM), a patient with pancreatic cancer, and a patient with stomach cancer.
A 40-year-old woman diagnosed with gastric intestinal metaplasia was positive for Helicobacter pylori and had undergone eradication therapy, which she could not complete. She used mushroom extract for 2 months, and a subsequent stomach biopsy showed that intestinal metaplasia was negative.
An 80-year-old woman diagnosed with pancreatic cancer had undergone Whipple surgery and chemotherapy. Afterward, she began using mushroom extract. Imaging reports showed tumor regression, and cancer observed no signs of progression.
A 78-year-old man diagnosed with stomach cancer received six cycles of chemotherapy and used mushroom extract concurrently. Control PET-CT examinations showed a decrease in FDG uptake related to stomach cancer, indicating a positive response to treatment.
Usnea longissima is known for its potent antioxidant effects. This study evaluated the potential anticancer properties of the lichen extract by presenting three patient examples. Notably, the patient with gastric intestinal metaplasia showed improvement after using the mushroom extract despite incomplete H. pylori eradication therapy. Similar positive responses to treatment and tumor regression were observed in the pancreatic and stomach cancer cases.
Literature reviews indicate that the anticancer effects of Usnea longissima are supported by preclinical studies, but more research is needed for clinical use. Therefore, we believe that the anticancer potential of Usnea longissima should be investigated more comprehensively through clinical studies.
Keywords
Gastric intestinal metaplasia, Usnea longissima, Ethyl acetate extract
References
- Gupta S, Li D, El Serag HB, Davitkov P, Altayar O, Sultan S, et al. AGA clinical practice guidelines on management of gastric intestinal metaplasia. Gastroenterology. 2019;158(3):707-34. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2019.12.003
- Rustgi SD, Zylberberg HM, Hur C, Shah SC. Management of Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2023;21(9):2178-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2023.03.010
- Van Cutsem E, Sagaert X, Topal B, Haustermans K, Prenen H. Gastric cancer. The Lancet. 2016;388(10060):2654-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30354-3
- Smyth EC, Verheij M, Allum W, Cunningham D, Cervantes A, Arnold D. Gastric cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Annals of Oncology. 2016;27(suppl_5):v38-v49. https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdw350
- Kocatakan P, Ataseven H. Pancreatic cancer. Ankara Education and Research Hospital Medical Journal. 2021;54(1):59-65. https://doi.org/10.20492/aeahtd.806164
- Bingul E, Bulut S, Mammadov R, Cicek B, Dogru TE, Suleyman H, et al. Effect of ethyl acetate extract from Usnea longissima on chemotherapy-associated multiple organ dysfunction in rats. Biomed Pharmacother. 2024;181:117636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117636
- Ganie SA, Haq E, Masood A, Hamid A, Zargar MA. Antioxidant and protective effect of ethyl acetate extract of Podophyllum hexandrum rhizome on carbon tetrachloride induced rat liver injury. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2011;2011:238020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/238020
- Mammadov R, Suleyman B, Altuner D, Demirci E, Cetin N, Yilmaz A, et al. Effect of ethyl acetate extract of Usnea longissima on esophagogastric adenocarcinoma in rats. Acta Cir Bras. 2019;34(3):e201900305. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0102-865020190030000005