Hifas da Terra is a Biotech company focused on the development of products to complement conventional oncology treatments.
Scientific evidence suggests that mushrooms have huge potential to support cancer patients, especially those with nutritional deficiencies associated with this complex phenomenon. We know that when nutritional status improves, immunological responses improve. As a consequence, both the risk of opportunistic infections and secondary effects may be reduced.
WE SUPPORT YOU
Our nutritional supplements are coadjuvants to oncology treatments crafted from specific bioactive substances that help to improve patients’ quality of life.
We can help you
Mushrooms have huge potential to help those with a cancer diagnosis. The nutritional deficiencies associated with cancer are complex, but we know that improving nutritional status can improve the immune response and thereby reduce the risk of opportunistic infections and side effects. This is the first line of defense offered by mushrooms in the complimentary support of cancer, but it is not the only benefit.
In addition to being an excellent nutritional supplement, multiple studies justify the use of mushrooms to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and to reduce pain, as well as numerous other side effects (including loss of hair and appetite, vomiting, among others). There is also evidence of the modulation of the immune response by medicinal mushrooms. One of our R & D projects has demonstrated the anticancer activity of some of our mushroom extracts in a number of cell lines.
We adhere to the strict GMP pharmaceutical quality standards
- Certified Excellence: Organic products free from maltodextrins, artificial colourings, heavy metals and other toxic substances.
- Standardised extracts: Highly concentrated ratios with standardised levels of bioactive ingredients.
- Vegetable capsules: no animal ingredients used in any of our products.
- Capsules – Protects Against Time: Exclusive capsule sealing system. Packed in a controlled environment that avoids oxidation, keeping our mushroom constituents intact.
* Our products have demonstrated no significant interaction with medications
Biotechnology, innovation and ecology
At Hifas da Terra we develop formulas using biotechnology and innovation with an emphasis on ecologically sustainable practices. We encourage health via medicinal mushroom bioactives, which we grow, research, produce, extract and purify in-house.
We apply scientific knowledge in mycology to human health, in order to encourage wellbeing. By developing research studies and clinical trials, we aim to provide evidence-based validation of the safety and efficacy of our mushroom products, whilst upholding our social responsibility and commitment to the environment via our production and processing practices.
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Scientific evidence of mushroom in cancer
We like to understand why things work the way they do. When we started our research, we knew that traditional medicine draws on some 540 species of mushrooms and many had applications for metabolic, cardiovascular and nervous systems complaints. However, we soon discovered that of those 540 species, more than half also had anticancer properties. This began what is now our main line of research and an area in which we have some of our most compelling evidence:
Evidence of the modulation of the immune response
A study conducted in breast cancer patients previously treated with radiotherapy showed that the dry mycelia of Trametes versicolor (also Coriolus versicolor) increased the number of lymphocytes and the activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells in these patients.
In a study of 100 patients with cancer of the cervix, ovary and endometrium, extracts of Agaricus brasiliensis Murrill, administered concomitantly with chemotherapy, induced a significant increase in the activity of Natural Killer cells with respect to placebo.
In patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer, PSK extract (polysaccharide K found in Coriolus) administered in combination with chemotherapy induced an increase in the number of NK cells and a reduction in an acid-suppressing immunosuppressant protein, in addition to reducing the risk of recurrence.
- A study in children and adolescents (2-18 years) with leukemia and solid tumors previously treated with chemotherapy showed that treatment with Ganoderma lucidum induced benefits in the lymphoproliferative response of patients.
Evidence in the improvement of quality of life of patients treated with chemotherapy
- In patients with cancer of the cervix, ovary and endometrium, the extract of A. brasiliensis Murill administered concomitantly with chemotherapy induced improvements in the quality of life of patients in terms of appetite, alopecia, emotional stability and general weakness.
- 8 patients with gastric and colorectal cancer were administered a mycelium extract of Lentinula edodes used concomitantly with chemotherapy, which eliminated unwanted effects of chemotherapy such as nausea and abdominal pain.
- Improvements in the quality of life of patients undergoing hormonal therapy have also been observed. In 48 breast cancer patients receiving hormonal treatment who presented fatigue, the spore dust of G. lucidum induced significant improvements in physical wellbeing and fatigue, in addition to a reduction in levels of anxiety and depression.
- Ohwada S, Ogawa T, Makita F, Tanahashi Y, Ohya T, Tomizawa N, Satoh Y, Kobayashi I, Izumi M, Takeyoshi I, Hamada K, Minaguchi S, Togo Y, Toshihiko T, Koyama T, Kamio M (2006). Beneficial effects of protein-bound polysaccharide K plus tegafur/uracil in patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer: analysis of immunological parameters. Oncol Rep 15:861-8.
- Okuno K, Uno K (2011). Efficacy of orally administered Lentinula edodes mycelia extract for advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy: a pilot study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 12(7):1671-4.
- Shing MK, Leung TF, Chu YL, Li CY, Chik KW, Leung PC, Lee V, Yuen PM and Li CK (2008). Randomized, double-blind and placebo- controlled study of the immunomodulatory effects of Lingzhi in children with cancers. J Clin Oncol ASCO Vol 26, No 15S (May 20 Supplement), 2008: 1402
- Torkelson CJ, Sweet E, Martzen MR, Sasagawa M, Wenner CA, Gay J, Putiri A, Standish LJ (2012). Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast Cancer. ISRN Oncol. 2012; 2012: 251632.
- Zhao YY (2013). Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and quality control of Polyporus umbellatus (Pers.) Fries: A review. J Ethnopharmacol 149(1):35-48.
- Ahn WS, Kim DJ, Chae GT, Lee JM, Bae SM, Sin JI, Kim YW, Namkoong SE, Lee IP (2004). Natural killer cell activity and quality of life were improved by consumption of a mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa, in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Int J Gynecol Cancer 14:589-94.
- Sakamoto J, Morita S, Oba K, Matsui T, Kobayashi M, Nakazato H, Ohashi Y (2006) Efficacy of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with polysaccharide K for patients with curatively resected colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of centrally randomized controlled clinical trials. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 55, 404-411.
- Eliza WLY, Fai CK, Chung LP (2012) Efficacy of Yun Zhi (Coriolus versicolor) on survival in cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery 6, 78-87.
- Oba K, Teramukai S, Kobayashi M,·Matsui T,·Kodera Y,·Sakamoto Y (2007) Efficacy of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with polysaccharide K for patients with curative resections of gastric cáncer. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 56, 905-911.
- Dai Yu-C, Yang Z-L, Cui B-K, et al (2009). Species diversity and utilization of medicinal mushrooms and fungi in China (review). Int J Med Mush: 11: 287−302.