What is Antrodia?

Antrodia includes some medicinal fungi such as Antrodia camphorata; this species in particular is well-known and highly valued as a medicinal mushroom in Taiwan (known as Niu-Chang), where it is commonly used as an anti-cancer, anti-itching, anti-allergy, anti-fatigue, and liver protective drug in Taiwanese Traditional medicine. Also, the water extract of A. camphorata mycelia grown in liquid culture has antioxidant and anticancer properties, while A. camphorata is known to slows the growth of human breast cancer cells. 

Antrodia Camphorata has exceptionally high concentration of its triterpenoid compounds and their structural diversity. Other important bioactive compounds include superoxide dismutase SOD,polysaccharides, maleic/succinic acid derivatives, benzenoids and benzoquinone derivatives 

Anti-hepatitis- A. camphorata polysaccharides also show hepatoprotective properties8 and anti-hepatitis B activity, while a number of maleic/succinic acid derivatives showed potent inhibitory activity against hepatitis C virus protease through competitive inhibition.

Anti-Cancer - A. camphorata suppresses the invasive potential of liver cancer cells through inhibition of NF-kappaB11 and to induce apoptosis in human hepatoma cells. Also multiple studies in vitro and in vivo show inhibition of cancer cell growth and migration and increase in apoptosis in various cancer cell lines including breast, prostate, liver, bladder and oral carcinomal.

Anti-Asthma - The immune modulating and anti-inflammatory actions of A. camphorata offer potential in asthma treatment with animal experiments showing that A. camphorata polysaccharides dose-dependently inhibited the development of airway hyperresponsiveness, airway eosinophilia and Th2 immune status.

Anti-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) - A mycelial extract of A. camphorata reduced urine protein and creatinine levels and suppressed the thickening of the kidney glomerular basement membrane at a dose of 400mg/kg in a mouse model of SLE, suggesting ability to protect the kidney from immunological damage resulting from autoimmune disease.

Anti-Cardiovascular Disease - A. camphorata has traditionally been used to treat heart conditions, including hypertension and atherosclerosis and A. camphorata extracts have been reported to inhibit thickening of blood vessel walls and to promote vasodilation.

To replace the wild-collected material which is protected by government, Miljardaire developes  a variety of techniques to produce  pure mycelium (grown by submerged cultivation). Levels of triterpenes are as highest in the fruiting body products which are also the most expensive. We offer a cost effective alternative for treatment of liver conditions with a recommended dose of 1-3g/day.Caution:  Patients on anti-coagulant medication.

Reference:

1. Review of pharmacological effects of Antrodia camphorata and its bioactive compounds. Geethangili M, Tzeng Y.M. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009. 

2. Niuchangchih (Antrodia camphorata) and its potential in treating liver diseases. Ao Z.H, Xu Z.H, Lu Z.M, Xu H.Y, Zhang X.M, Dou W.F. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009;121(2):194-212.

3. Further studies on the hepatoprotective effect of Antrodia camphorata in submerged culture on ethanol-induced acute liver injury in rats. Lu ZM, Tao WY, Xu HY, Ao ZH, Zhang XM, Xu ZH. Nat Prod Res. 2010 Jul 9:1-12.

4. Fruiting body of Niuchangchih (Antrodia camphorata) protects livers against chronic alcohol consumption damage. Huang C.H, Chang Y.Y, Liu C.W, Kang W.Y, Lin Y.L, Chang H.C, Chen Y.C. J Agric Food Chem. 2010;58(6):3859-66.

5. Antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects of Antrodia camphorata extract. Hsiao G, Shen M.Y, Lin K.H, Lan M.H, Wu L.Y, Chou D.S, Lin C.H, Su C.H, Sheu J.R. J Agric Food Chem. 2003;51(11):3302-8.

6. Protection of oxidative damage by aqueous extract from Antrodia camphorate mycelia in normal human erythrocytes. Hseu Y.C, et al. Life Sci.2002;71(4):469-482.

7. Antioxidant properties of Antrodia camphorata in submerged culture. Song T.Y, Yen G.C. J Agric Food Chem. 2002;50(11):3322-7.

8. Protective effects of a neutral polysaccharide isolated from the mycelium of Antrodia cinnamomea on Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide induced hepatic injury in mice. Han H.F, Nakamura N, Zuo F, Hirakawa A, Yokozawa T, Hattori M. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2006;54(4):496-500. 

9. Antrodia camporata polysaccharides exhibit anti-hepatitus B virus effects. Lee, I.H, HuangR.L, Chen C.T, Chen H.C, Hsu W.C & Lu M.K. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 2002;209(1):63-67.

10. Inhibitory effects of antrodins A-E from Antrodia cinnamomea and their metabolites on hepatitis C virus protease. Phuong do T, Ma C.M, Hattori M, Jin J.S. Phytother Res. 2009;23(4):582-4.

11. Antrodia cinnamomea fruiting bodies extract suppresses the invasive potential of human liver cancer cell line PLC/PRF/5 through inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB pathway. Hsu Y.L, Kuo P.L, Cho C.Y, Ni W.C, Tzeng F, Ng L.T, Kuo Y.H, Lin C.C. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007;45(7):1249-57.

12. Induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma cells by mycelia of Antrodia camphorata in submerged culture. Song T.Y, Hsu S.L, Yen G.C. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;100(1-2):158-67.

13. Mycelia from Antrodia camphorata in submerged culture induce apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells possibly through regulation of Fas pathway.Song T.Y, Hsu S.L, Yeh C.T, Yen G.C. J Agric Food Chem. 2005;53(14):5559-64.

14. Antrodia camphorata extract induces replicative senescence in superficial TCC, and inhibits the absolute migration capability in invasive bladder carcinoma cells. Peng C.C, Chen K.C, Peng R.Y, Chyau C.C, Su C.H, Hsieh-Li H.M. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007;109(1):93-103

15. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and induction of apoptosis in estrogen-nonresponsive breast cancer cells by Antrodia camphorata. Hseu Y.C, et al. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2006;45:1107-1115. 
16. Unique Formosan mushroom Antrodia camphorata differentially inhibits androgen-responsive LNCaP and independent PC-3 prostate cancer cell. Chen, Kuan-Chou et al.Nutrition and Cancer 2007;57(1):111-121.

17. Administration of polysaccharides from Antrodia camphorata modulates dendritic cell function and alleviates allergen-induced T helper type 2 responses in a mouse model of asthma. Liu K.J, Leu S.J, Su C.H, Chiang B.L, Chen Y.L, Lee Y.L. Immunology. 2010;129(3):351-62.

18. An extract of Antrodia camphorata mycelia attenuates the progression of nephritis in systemic lupus Erythematosus-prone NZB/W F1 mice. Chang J.M, Lee Y.R, Hung L.M, Liu S.Y, Kuo M.T, Wen W.C, Chen P.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Sep 2. Epub

19. A novel inhibitory effect of Antrodia camphorata extract on vascular smooth muscle cell migration and neointima formation in mice. Li Y.H, Chung H.C, Liu S.L, Chao T.H, Chen J.C. Int Heart J. 2009;50(2):207-20.
20. The vasorelaxation of Antrodia camphorata mycelia: involvement of endothelial Ca(2+)-NO-cGMP pathway. Wang G.J, Tseng H.W, Chou C.J, Tsai T.H, Chen C.T, Lu M.K. Life Sci. 2003;73(21):2769-83.