Terpenes are compounds found in plants, fruits, vegetables, and fungi. They can be partially responsible for the aroma and flavor of these plants. Terpenes have gained attention recently with the legalization of cannabis. Cannabis terpenes help to create the effects felt from different strains of cannabis. Some may help with pain management and inflammation. Others may help you sleep or get into a better mood. “Terpenes and terpenoids can be found in abundance in mushrooms”. (source) In this article we will discuss the types of terpenes found in mushrooms, the potential benefits of terpenes found in mushrooms, and the entourage effect.
Terpenes commonly found in mushrooms are different from the popular cannabis terpenes. In fact, there are more than 20,000 known terpene varieties. Here is a list of some popular mushroom strains and the most abundant terpenes found in them.
Reishi - Reishi mushrooms contain Ganoderic Acid, Ganoderiol, and Triterpinoids. Known benefits include being an antihistamine, antiviral, and antioxidant.
Chaga - Chaga mushrooms contain Trametenolic Acid. This terpene is known for its anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.
Lion’s Mane - Lion’s Mane mushrooms contain hericenones. This can help with brain cell growth and may have antidepressant effects.
Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) - Psilocybin mushrooms contain several terpenes including Cubebol, B-copaene, Δ-cadinene, and Germacrene D.
Sadly, this is a little studied subject. There is a great need for more studies with more in-depth research. What we know from existing studies does show therapeutic promise in many wellness areas. Here (source, source) are a few of the most accepted benefits mushroom terpenes may have:
Antimicrobial - Terpenes found in certain mushroom varieties have shown promise in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria. Bacteria are constantly evolving and developing a resistance to the drugs we use to fight them. Therefore the search for natural alternatives with antimicrobial properties is “rapidly increasing”.
Antiviral - Like the search for natural compounds that can fight against bacteria, researchers are also on the hunt for compounds with antiviral properties to fight against viruses. Certain terpenes found in different mushroom varieties have shown promising antiviral properties.
Antiparasitic - Diseases like malaria are caused by a parasitic infection. This disease claims the lives of over 500,000 people each year. This is not made any better by the fact that there are limited treatment options available. Certain terpenes found in different types of mushrooms may provide a natural alternative to fighting against the likes of malaria and other parasitic diseases.
Antioxidant - Oxidation occurs to the cells in our body as we age, fight diseases, and deal with stress. This increases the speed at which we age.Antioxidants go against the oxidation process and it seems that some wild mushrooms may have therapeutic potential. Terpenes found in wild mushrooms have been shown to contain antioxidant properties.
Anti-inflammatory - The anti-inflammatory properties of terpenes found in a “wide variety of [mushroom] strains” are some of the most promising therapeutic results so far uncovered through the current research. There seems to be an abundance of terpenes and mushrooms containing these terpenes with anti-inflammatory properties.
Antitumor - One amazing area of research looks into how mushroom terpenes “counteract the growth of malignant tumors”. Certain terpenes found in mushrooms have shown promise in a laboratory setting. Much more research is needed on this topic.
Neurodegenerative - Mushroom terpenes extracted from a number of mushroom strains have shown neuroprotective properties. This means that they can protect cells from death and degeneration. Cell degeneration can lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s.
While the effects from isolated mushroom terpenes are all well and good, the real benefits of mushrooms lie within a phenomenon called the Entourage Effect. The entourage effect is basically like that old saying: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts (Aristotle said that!).
While research shows that mushroom terpenes can have therapeutic effects like anti-inflammation and antiviral, the highest level of benefits occurs when all parts of the mushroom are working together. The interactions between different terpenes and other compounds in mushrooms provides more benefits than just isolated mushroom terpenes. This, like most work on the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms, requires much more research to fully understand what is exactly going on.
