What is Poria?
Poria is a mushroom that is both edible and medicinal, with a long history of use in China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Known by its Chinese name “Fu Ling” and its scientific name Poria cocos, it belongs to the family Polyporaceae and primarily grows underground on the roots of pine trees. Poria’s growth pattern in the wild is similar to that of European truffles. The sclerotium of Poria is its most common form and primary medicinal part, appearing as irregular lumps, spherical or compressed shapes. The outer skin is gray-brown or dark brown, while the interior is white, made up of dense mycelium. Its fruiting body resembles mushrooms or coconuts.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Poria is categorized as a “dampness-draining herb.” These herbs typically have diuretic properties, promoting urine production and helping expel excess moisture from the body. In TCM theory, dampness is considered a potential cause of various diseases, including edema, diarrhea, and joint pain. Poria’s diuretic action helps eliminate excess water and alleviate discomfort caused by dampness. Poria is essentially neutral, meaning it generally does not disrupt the balance of yin and yang in the body, which is key to health in TCM. The neutral nature of Poria makes it gentle and suitable for people with different constitutions.
As a significant traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Poria is highly regarded for its unique pharmacological effects and broad clinical applications. It provides effective support in treating various diseases through its diuretic, spleen-strengthening, stomach-soothing, sedative, immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, blood sugar and lipid-regulating properties.
Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Poria
Poria’s chemical constituents mainly include triterpenoids, polysaccharides, choline, steroids, amino acids, and histidine. Among these, Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) are the primary bioactive components, accounting for 84% of the dry sclerotium’s weight [1]. In recent years, PCP and its derivatives have shown various beneficial bioactivities, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects. Thus, PCP and its derivatives hold great potential as therapeutic or adjunctive treatments for cancer, immune modulation, and antiviral drugs.
β-glucans form a significant part of Poria and exhibit notable anti-cancer activity. Chihara and colleagues chemically modified pachymaran derivatives to enhance their inhibitory effects on S-180 tumors, revealing their significant potential in cancer treatment [2].
Triterpenoids, another major component, exhibit remarkable pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic and diuretic effects. Specific compounds like poric acid, 3-epidehydrotumulosic acid, and polyporenic acid C have been shown to significantly enhance hypoglycemic activity, traditionally used to treat diabetes and other hyperglycemia-related diseases [3]. Additionally, triterpenoids have shown potent diuretic activity in rat experiments, helping eliminate excess water and alleviate edema symptoms [4].
A schematic diagram of the β-glucan structure in Poria cocos [5].
Benefits of Poria
Protects Kidneys and Reduces Edema
In the realm of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Poria (Poria cocos) is widely used for its excellent diuretic effect and kidney-protective properties. Increasing research evidence indicates that P. cocos and its triterpenoids in the outer layer play a crucial role in its kidney-protective action. Scientific research reveals that the ethanol extract of its outer layer and its active components show immense potential in treating various kidney diseases, including chronic kidney disease and diabetic nephropathy, and effectively preventing renal fibrosis [6].
Further studies confirm that after consuming Poria for one week and four weeks, urine volume increased significantly, and urine osmolality decreased [7]. This finding further supports Poria’s effectiveness in promoting diuresis and kidney protection. Specifically, the triterpenoids in Poria act through multiple mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytoprotective actions, improving kidney function and preventing kidney damage.
Potential Anti-Cancer Properties
In vitro cell experiments have validated that Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) exhibit significant anti-proliferative effects on various tumor cell lines derived from humans and mice. PCP shows strong inhibitory effects on multiple tumor cell lines, effectively inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Furthermore, PCP enhances the host’s immune system by activating macrophages, lymphocytes, and NK cells, effectively inhibiting tumor growth.
Multiple studies indicate that Poria may have inhibitory effects on various cancer types, including gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).
A 2018 study reported that Pseudomonas cocos extract exhibited cytotoxicity in four human lung cancer cell lines. Additionally, triterpenoids in Poria cocos demonstrated significant bioactivity against gastric cancer, particularly poric acid (PA), which inhibited the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells (GC cells) [8].
Alzheimer’s Disease
The pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involve the loss of neurons and the atrophy of synapses [12]. Hence, promoting neuron differentiation and the reconstruction of neural circuits after brain injury becomes an effective strategy for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Experimental studies have found that choline, a key neurotransmitter precursor in ethanol extracts of Poria cocos (EEPC), promotes neuron differentiation and helps improve memory and cognitive function. Research results further show that EEPC promotes the morphological maturation of newborn neurons. However, whether P. cocos can improve learning and memory capabilities requires further verification through more animal experiments [13].
Immune System Enhancement
Research has clearly shown that Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) significantly enhance the phagocytic ability of macrophages, increase thymus and spleen indices, strengthen the host’s immune function, and stimulate immune responses. These immune responses include activating natural killer (NK) cells, increasing the secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN γ), and reducing interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5). Additionally, animal studies on Poria extracts reveal no immunotoxicity risk. Incorporating P. cocos extracts into diets, either without immunotoxicity concerns or for standalone use, will play a positive immunomodulatory role in improving immune deficiencies, enhancing the ability to prevent infections and allergic reactions [9]. Two polysaccharides extracted from Poria cocos—PCWPW and PCWPS—have shown significant antioxidant and antidepressant activity. Their antidepressant mechanism may be associated with potential immunomodulatory functions. These polysaccharides significantly enhance the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a major pro-inflammatory cytokine that promotes cell proliferation and participates in systemic immune responses [10].
Regulating Gastrointestinal Function
Studies reveal that polyphenolic compounds (PCP) optimize the physiological condition of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum by regulating short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), maintaining gut microbiota balance, and activating the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. These findings suggest that PCP may play a crucial role in preventing gut-related diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, and colon cancer [11].
Regulating Blood Sugar
In diabetic mouse models, PCP lowers blood sugar levels and promotes weight gain in mice [14]. Clinical research reveals that in controlling blood sugar, regulating blood lipids, and improving insulin resistance, combining Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas with Poria and conventional therapy shows additional therapeutic advantages compared to using hypoglycemic drugs alone [15].
Inhibiting Pigmentation
Poria cocos extract significantly reduces melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells and decreases melanin activity, helping reduce freckles and skin pigmentation [16].
Improving Sleep
In exploring sleep improvement, Poria cocos extract (PCET) has been proven effective in shortening sleep latency and prolonging sleep duration in normal and sleep disorder animal models [17]. As for other potential benefits of Poria, current research is relatively limited. To date, most studies focus on animal experiments or laboratory research. Despite this, existing research results already show positive signs, but more research is needed to further explore its potential.
Side Effects and Precautions
Pregnant Women: Pregnant women should consult a doctor before using Poria to ensure its safety.
Allergy Warning: A few individuals may have allergic reactions to Poria. If any allergic symptoms occur, discontinue use immediately and seek medical help.
General Safety: While Poria is generally considered safe, it is not recommended to take large amounts daily over a long period.
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