Shiitake Mushroom | Role Of shiitake Mushroom In Cancer Treatment | Shiitake Mushroom And Cancer Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes (Berk) Sing) : Lentinula edodes is an antiproliferative mushroom widely known as Shitake mushroom an edible fungus native to Asia, and cultivated for food in many countries. The fresh and dried forms of the mushroom are commonly used in East Asian cooking. Extracts from the mushroom, and sometimes the whole dried mushroom, are used in herbal remedies. Shiitake mushroom is used for boosting the immune system, lowering blood cholesterol levels, treating prostate cancer, and as an anti-aging. One shiitake extract called lentinan is a beta glucan. This is a type of complex sugar compound. Beta glucan is believed to stimulate the immune system and trigger certain cells and proteins in the body to attack cancer cells. In laboratory studies, it seems to slow the growth of some cancer cells. Lentinan, a compound found in Shitake, is used as an intravenous ant