Medicinal Mushrooms

Steel-blue entoloma, Entoloma nitidum Quél.
  Source: Czech Wikipedia

   Source: USDA, Forest Mycology Team

Classification

Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Basidiomycota
Class Basidiomycetes
Order Agaricales
Family Entolomataceae
Genus Entoloma

Synonyms

Cap: 3-5 cm diameter, often broadly umbonate; steel-blue color.
Gills: at first white, later developing pink tinge.
Stem: striped with blue fibers on a white base; turning brown with age.
Spore print: light pink.
Habit and habitat: grows singly or in small groups in deciduous woods; more common at high altitudes. Summer to autumn.

Medicinal properties
Antitumor effects

A fruit body extract of E. nitidum inhibited the growth of Sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich solid cancers in mice by 60% and 70%, respectively (Ohtsuka et al., 1973).

References

Hongo T, Mills AK.
Five noteworthy larger fungi new to Tasmania Australia.
Nippon Kingakukai Kaiho. 1988 29(4):351-8.

Ohtsuka S, Ueno S, Yoshikumi C, Hirose F, Ohmura Y, Wada T, Fujii T, Takahashi E.
Polysaccharides having an anticarcinogenic effect and a method of producing them from species of Basidiomycetes.
UK Patent 1331513, 26 September 1973.

Willis JH, Crawford I.
A magnificent blue toadstool Entoloma nitidum.
Victorian Naturalist (Blackburn). 1987 104(3):85.

Last modified: 17-Aug-2008

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