Dr Myko San - Health from Mushrooms
Dr Myko San – Health from Mushrooms () is a Croatian biotechnological private company, based in Zagreb, producing and selling medicinal mushroom preparations. Dr Ivan Jakopovic and Marija Jakopovic founded the company in September 1990, making it the first company in Europe in this field. These preparations are promoted as treatments for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, viral infectious diseases (i.e. AIDS-HIV, hepatitis) and neurodegenerative diseases.
Company overview
The company Dr Myko San – Health from Mushrooms currently produces 11 preparations, five of which are intended for use against cancer. Though the use of mushrooms against diseases has been a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 2500 years (medicinal usage was first mentioned in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, but was probably practiced long before that) and some are used today as official anti-cancer medications in Japan, China and Korea, these preparations are special blends modified by proprietary production methods based on modern scientific research to improve effectiveness. So far, it has been used with 'significant results' on thousands of patients, mostly from Croatia and other former Yugoslav Republics, but also from Western Europe, USA, Canada and Australia. Croatian media have on multiple occasions reported on the effectiveness of these preparations in treating cancer, including cases of recovery to a disease-free status of patients suffering from advanced forms of breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer etc., as well as a case of inoperable brain astrocytoma in a five year old girl using only the company’s preparations. While usually recommended as a complementary therapy, it was reported that it has been used successfully as a primary therapy as well. Users also reported a decrease in side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and general improvements in sleep, appetite and pain reduction. The preparations are in a class of nutraceuticals; as of early 2008 five of the company’s products are in the process of registering as dietary supplements.
Research
Medicinal mushrooms have been studied in depth and some species (notably Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Trametes versicolor etc.) have been shown to be rich in beta-glucans, lentinan, PSK, PSP, ganoderic acid, triterpenes et al.) for which the ability to modulate the human immune response, to lower elevated blood pressure, blood lipids concentrations, blood sugar concentration, to inhibit certain tumour growths and microbial activity, reduce inflammation etc. have been thoroughly researched in the last five decades. Dr Myko San – Health from Mushrooms and Dr Ivan Jakopović have contributed to some of this research. During the 1999–2002 collaborative research effort with Ruđer Bošković Institute, they have shown strong effects of mushroom preparations on tumours in vitro and in vivo, and published them in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. In September 2007 Dr Ivan Jakopović presented his research on treating human cancers with medicinal mushroom preparations–an analysis of 109 breast cancer and 51 colorectal cancer cases–at the Fourth International Medicinal Mushroom Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The research of 30 medicinal mushroom species found in central Europe, their chemical composition and antitumor effects of extracts made by Dr Myko San (both of single mushroom species and their combinations) are currently being tested at the Ruđer Bošković Institute with the support from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, which is the first research of its kind in this part of Europe. The preliminary results have been presented at the Fourth International Medicinal Mushroom Conference, and have been described as "very promising". The research is expected to be completed by late May 2009.
List of preparations and supposed usage
- Lentifom, Lentram, Polyporin, Super Polyporin, Agarikon – to be used against cancer, reduce side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- Mykomix, Armilent – used against cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia; in prevention and to hasten recovery from myocardial infarction and stroke, improving blood circulation responsible for erectile disfunction, ischemia, gangrene, thrombosis...
- Mykoprotect – strong immunostimulation used against viral infections: HIV - AIDS, hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, influenza...
- Dimemykon – used against diabetes – used to lower glucose levels in blood and recommended to lower risks of serious complications in diabetics
- Mykotonik – used as a general tonic, adaptogen and preventative
- Neuromykon – used against neurodegenerative diseases
See also
- Medicinal mushrooms
- Grifola frondosa
- Ganoderma lucidum
- Hericium erinaceus
- Lentinus edodes
- Beta-glucans
- International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms
- Ruđer Bošković Institute
- Cancer
- Krestin