Suggested dosing of Lentinus edodes (lentinan)
Adjunctive Treatment for Cancer & HIV
1-4 mg IV/IM once/week
Suggested uses of Lentinus edodes (lentinan)
Cancer, HIV
Efficacy
Possibly effective as adjunct when administered with didanosine in HIV
Insufficient Evidence to rate as adjunctive treatment for breast, gastric, prostate cancer. Preliminary evidence suggests improvement
Lentinus edodes (lentinan) adverse (side) effects
Thrombocytopenia
Chronic large dose of whole shiitake can cause dermatitis, eosinophilia
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy category: N/A
Lactation: N/A
Pregnancy categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.
C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.
D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.
X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
NA: Information not available.
Pharmacology of Lentinus edodes (lentinan)
Metabolism: N/A
Excretion: N/A
Mechanism of action
Potentiates NK cell, macrophage, T-helper cell function
