Polyporus umbellatus, Grifola umbellata  猪 苓 Zhū líng   Umbellate pore fungus, Polyporus       
Zhu Ling is a wood fungus found in deciduous woodland regions in northeastern North America, Europe, and the temperate regions of China, commonly growing on dead and fallen trees and stumps of trees such as old beeches or oak.
PART USED: Fungus body (sclerotium)- harvested in Spring or Autumn.
Nature: Neutral       FLAVOR: Sweet, tasteless, pleasant  CHANNELS: Kidney, Bladder, Spleen
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Diuretic
1. Promotes urination,[1,4] and leakes out dampness.[1,4]
2. Arrest bleeding, secure fetus.
INDICATIONS
1. Edema.[1,2,3,4] Urinary infections. Diminished urination.[4] Cloudy painful urinary dysfunction, jaundice.[4]
2. Diarrhea.[1,2,4] Distension.
3. Leukorrhea.[1,2] Gonorrheal discharge.[1] Vaginal discharge.[4]
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Absence of Dampness.[4] Do not overuse- can cause fluid deficiency- dry mouth. Profuse urination.[3] Long term use is discouraged, as this may injure the Yin.[4]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
COMBINATIONS
COMPARISON with Fu ling
- Strong action compared to Fu ling- tests show increase in urine by 62%.[3] Cooler than Fu ling
- Zhu ling used more for Hot S/S: Kidney infection swelling, Heat in body.
PREPARATIONS: Decoction. Dry fungus nucleus (Basidiocarp)  6-15 g.[1,2,3,4] Good quality is large, has a lustrous, very dark red outer skin, and is powdery and white on the inside.
HABITAT: Mostly found parasitic on the tree rots of oak, maple or mahogany.
DESCRIPTION: A basidiomycetic fungus. The basidiocarp is usually perennial, in patches or other irregular shapes, brownish-black on the surface, with numerous irregular and sunken tumor-like projections and wrinkles, as well as many irregularly sized small pores, white or light yellow internally, extremely hard after drying. the whole fungus formed by numerous interweaving white hyphae. The basidiocarp found growing from the basidium, umbrella-shaped, frequently several combining to form semi-circle fan-like cluster, deep tea-brown on the surface, with small scales, the center depressed, with radiating fine lines. The basidiospore: broadly ovate-rounded to ovate
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Constituents
Research

Combined effects of chuling (Polyporus umbellatus) extract and mitomycin C on experimental liver cancer.
You JS, Hau DM, Chen KT, Huang HF.
Abstract
Chuling (Polyporus umbellatus), one of the commonly used Chinese medical herbs, was combined with mitomycin C and then studied against intrahepatic implantation of sarcoma 180 tumor cells in mice. Oral administration of chuling extract, intraperitoneal injection of mitomycin C and the combination of both increased the life span of tumor-bearing mice 71.6%, 70.1% and 119.9%, respectively. The same treatments were found to be cytotoxic to Sarcoma-180-induced liver tumor cells. The synthetic rates of DNA, RNA and protein were all inhibited measurably by the combined treatment. Histopathological studies showed that lymphocytes infiltrated and surrounded the cancer cells, and there was some fibrosis found in normal cells and cancer cells. These results indicate the potential use of chuling as an anticancer agent.
PMID: 8030616 DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X94000048  Am J Chin Med. 1994;22(1):19-28. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Polyporus umbellatus inhibited tumor cell proliferation and promoted tumor cell apoptosis by down-regulating AKT in breast cancer.
Tan XL, Guo L, Wang GH.
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the foremost cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Polyporus umbellatus is a polysaccharide preparation of the Chinese traditional herb medicine, which has been explored as an inhibitory compounds in suppressing many cancers. And AKT has been known as an essential signaling pathway to regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis via Mdm2/p53 and Caspase-3 signaling pathways respectively. In our study, western blot, RT-PCR, immunochemical assay, immunofluorescence as well as flow cytometry were performed in vitro or in vivo to determine the effects of Polyporus umbellatus on the progression of human laryngeal cancer. First, the breast cancer cell growth, invasion and migration were inhibited, as well as the tumor volume in nude mice was down-regulated for Polyporus umbellatus use. Additionally, our data also showed that Polyporus umbellatus suppressed breast cancer cells proliferation, which was linked with the down-regulation of AKT activation by Polyporus umbellatus treatment. Mdm was inactivated while p53 was stimulated for Polyporus umbellatus administration, displaying inhibitory role in tumor growth. Furthermore, Polyporus umbellatus could up-regulate breast cancer cells in G0/G1 phase during cell cycle, and at the same time reducing cells in S phase. Also, flow cytometry and western blot assays suggested that apoptosis was induced by the administration of Polyporus umbellatus, which enhanced Caspase-3 expressions by AKT-regulated anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic signals. In conclusion, our data indicated that Polyporus umbellatus had a potential role in controlling human breast cancer through inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis regulated by AKT, which might provide a therapeutic strategy for breast cancer suppression in the future.
PMID: 27447121 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.06.049 Biomed Pharmacother. 2016 Oct;83:526-535. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.06.049. Epub 2016 Jul 20. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries: a review.
Zhao YY
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries (Polyporaceae, Zhuling ) has been commonly used in medicine for a wide range of ailments related to the edema, scanty urine, vaginal discharge, urinary dysfunction, as well as jaundice and diarrhea.
AIM OF THE REVIEW:
The present paper reviewed the traditional uses, propagation, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Polyporus umbellatus.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
All the available information on Polyporus umbellatus was collected via a library and electronic search (using Web of Science, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Splinker, Google Scholar, etc.).
RESULTS:
Phytochemical studies showed the presence of many valuable secondary metabolites such as steroids, polysaccharides, anthraquinones and nucleosides. Crude extracts and isolated compounds showed a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including diuretic, nephroprotective, anti-cancer, immuno-enhancing, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. The pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the ergosterol and ergone had a high distribution and absorption in the plasma and the two main components of Polyporus umbellatus were mainly excreted by faeces. The determination of multiple chemical components was successfully applied to the quality control of Polyporus umbellatus.
CONCLUSIONS:
Modern phytochemical, pharmacological and metabonomic investigations showed that the crude extracts and isolated compounds from Polyporus umbellatus possess many kinds of biological functions, especially in the diuretic activities and the treatment of kidney diseases as well as anti-cancer, immuno-enhancing and hepatoprotective activities. The pathways of the distribution, absorption, metabolism and excretion of main steroidal compounds were clarified by pharmacokinetic studies. Most of the pharmacological studies were conducted using crude and poorly characterized extracts of Polyporus umbellatus in animals especially in case of diuretic activities and the treatment of kidney diseases. Thus, more bioactive components especially diuretic compounds should be identified using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies and the possible mechanism of action as well as potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of multi-component mixtures derived from Polyporus umbellatus need to be evaluated integrating pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, bioavailability-centered and physiological approaches. In addition, more experiments including in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies should be encouraged to identify any side effects or toxicity. These achievements will further expand the existing therapeutic potential of Polyporus umbellatus and provide a beneficial support to its future further clinical use in modern medicine.
PMID: 23811047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.031 J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Aug 26;149(1):35-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.031. Epub 2013 Jun 26. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide on function of macrophages in the peritoneal cavities of mice with liver lesions. [Article in Chinese]
Zhang YH, Liu YL, Yan SC.
Abstract
The cells in peritoneal cavities of mice were taken out and cultured in vitro. The amount to release H2O2 of the macrophages was assayed by fluorimetry. Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide (PUP) could not only increase the number of macrophages and the amount of H2O2 release in the peritoneal cavities of normal mice, but also raise the lowered number of macrophages and the ability to release H2O2 in the peritoneal cavities of the mice with liver lesions caused by CCl4 significantly. So PUP could improve the cellular immunity of normal mice and the mice with liver lesions.
PMID: 1773459
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Apr;11(4):225-6, 198. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Diuretic activity and kidney medulla AQP1, AQP2, AQP3, V2R expression of the aqueous extract of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus FRIES in normal rats.
Zhang G, Zeng X, Han L, Wei JA, Huang H.
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY:
Zhuling, sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus FRIES, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, has long been used as a diuretic. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diuretic effect on the urinary electrolyte concentration (Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-)) and regulation of the relative mRNA expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP1), aquaporin-2 (AQP2), aquaporin-3 (AQP3) and vasopressin V(2) receptor (V(2)R) post-oral administration of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellata aqueous extract in normal rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Aqueous extract of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus (50 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg) or the reference drug, furosemide (10mg/kg) were administrated orally to male SD rats and their urine output was quantified and collected 24h and 8 days after the treatment. The kidney medulla AQP1, AQP2, AQP3 and V(2)R mRNA relative expressions were measured with RT-PCR.
RESULTS:
After single dose of the exact of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellata, urine output was found to be significantly increased, which began at 4h, and at 24h after the treatment, the sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus extract and furosemide treatment produced the similar total volume of urine excreted. The extract increases urinary levels of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-), to about the same extent, while furosemide increased urinary levels of Na(+) and Cl(-). After the 8-day doses, all two substances induced significant diuresis, natriuresis and chloriuresis. These two substances do not regulate the AQP1 and AQP3 mRNA level in normal rat kidney medulla. The AQP2 mRNA level of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellata extract was down-regulated significantly, the V(2)R mRNA level of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellata extract 50mg/kg dose group and 250 mg/kg dose group were down-regulated significantly too. Interestingly, the low-dose group had higher effect on regulation of AQP2 and V(2)R mRNA level.
CONCLUSION:
Aqueous extract of sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus has conspicuous diuretic effect confirming its ethnopharmacological use. From the pattern of excretion of water, sodium, potassium, chlorine, AQP2 and V2R mRNA level, it may be logically concluded that it has effect from down-regulating AQP2, and down-regulate AQP2 by down-regulating V(2)R.
PMID: 20083182 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.01.032 J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Mar 24;128(2):433-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.01.032. Epub 2010 Jan 18. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov