Zhu Ling
fungus PolyporaceaePolyporus umbellatus
Also known as: Umbrella Polypore, Chorei (Japan), Zhuling
clinical_notes Clinical Summary
Polyporus umbellatus (Zhu Ling) is one of the most clinically validated diuretic fungi in Traditional Chinese Medicine, with its ergone and polysaccharide constituents demonstrating diuretic, nephroprotective, and immunomodulatory effects in both preclinical and clinical studies.
The sclerotium has been used for over 2,000 years for oedema, urinary dysfunction, and nephritis, and is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
Modern research supports adjunctive use in bladder cancer and chronic hepatitis B via Polyporus polysaccharide (PPS)-mediated immune modulation and apoptosis induction.
Pregnancy Safety
Limited safety data. Listed as a caution in pregnancy in TCM references due to strong diuretic action potentially disturbing fluid balance. Avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy; rated B3 by precautionary principle.
Lactation Safety
No specific data. Culinary use in broth unlikely to pose risk; medicinal/standardized extract not recommended during lactation.
warning Contraindications
- Yin deficiency (TCM) — dry mouth, scanty urine (caution)Clinically Proven
- Anticoagulant therapy (caution)Theoretical
- Immunosuppressant therapy (caution)Theoretical
vital_signs Clinical Profile
Primary Indications
- check_circle Oedema and urinary retention
- check_circle Acute and chronic nephritis
- check_circle Urinary tract infections and urolithiasis
- check_circle Bladder cancer adjunct (preclinical)
- check_circle Immune support and anti-tumour adjunct
- check_circle Chronic hepatitis B
- check_circle Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (preclinical)
- check_circle Diarrhoea
Therapeutic Actions
System Affinities
- check_circle kidney
- check_circle bladder
- check_circle liver
- check_circle immune system
labs Active Constituents
Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharides (PUP): GU-1 to GU-4, ZPS, ZP
Ergosterol
Ergone (ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetren-3-one — primary diuretic compound)
Polyporusterones A–G
Acetosyringone
Long-chain fatty acids
Anthraquinones
Nucleosides
Beta-D-glucans
psychiatry Mycology
Compound polypore, 10–40 cm rosette of multiple fan/spoon-shaped caps, each 1–4 cm across; yellowish-brown surface; white pore surface with small angular pores. Underground sclerotium (medicinal part): irregular dark-brown to black tuber-like mass 2–20 cm.
Underground sclerotia attached to roots of deciduous trees (especially oak and beech); fruiting bodies emerge from sclerotia at soil surface
Temperate forests of China, Japan, Korea, North America, and Europe; more common in East Asia. Habitat-specific; relatively rare in wild.
sclerotium
White
Cultivation is challenging; P. umbellatus cannot survive without Armillaria mellea symbiont. Biotechnological cultivation techniques are being developed. Most commercial supply is from wild harvest in China. Sclerotia must be sliced, slightly steamed, and dried before use.
Look-alikes: other underground tuber-like fungi and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Fruiting body can resemble Grifola frondosa (Maitake) but grows from sclerotia at soil level rather than from tree bases.
history_edu Traditional Use
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
猪苓 (Zhū Líng)
First described in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Han dynasty). Listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010. Grows in a unique symbiotic relationship with Armillaria mellea (honey fungus). The sclerotium (not fruiting body) is the TCM medicinal part.
Traditional Uses Across Healing Systems
While many herbs lack controlled clinical trials, centuries of traditional practice across cultures provide valuable insight into their therapeutic applications.
Diuretic for oedema, urinary disorders, nephritis, urinary stones, jaundice, diarrhoea
One of the oldest recorded diuretic fungi in Chinese medicine; documented in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing and Shang Han Lun
Diuretic, urinary tract support, nephritis; component of Chorei-to and Sairei-to formulas
Used for centuries in Kampo medicine for oedema and urinary dysfunction
Diuretic, anti-oedema
Used as traditional diuretic for oedema and urinary complaints in parts of India
spa Parts Used
sclerotium
- Diuresis
- Oedema
- Nephritis
- Urinary dysfunction
- Immune modulation
Standard TCM preparation: slice sclerotium, steam slightly, dry, then decoct 15–30 min in water (10–15g per dose). Hot-water extract capsule also appropriate.
shield Safety
Contraindications — Evidence Basis
Yin deficiency (TCM) — dry mouth, scanty urine
Long-term use may exacerbate Yin deficiency and fluid depletion. Avoid in patients with dry mouth, scanty concentrated urine, or dehydration.
Anticoagulant therapy
High-dose polysaccharides may affect platelet function; monitor in patients on blood thinners.
Immunosuppressant therapy
Immune-enhancing polysaccharides may interfere with immunosuppression.
Monitoring Parameters
Monitor during use, especially with prolonged or high-dose therapy.
Electrolytes (Na, K)
Renal function (Cr, eGFR)
Liver function tests
Toxicity
Generally well tolerated. High doses (animal studies): monitor renal and hepatic function. No established human toxic dose.
Rare: liver injury, allergic reactions. Monitor for GI upset and electrolyte imbalance with high-dose diuretic use.
Discontinue and seek medical advice if signs of liver dysfunction or severe allergic reaction. Ensure adequate hydration during diuretic use.
Adverse Effects
CYP Metabolism
No well-characterised CYP interactions. Pharmacokinetic studies show ergosterol and ergone are primarily distributed and absorbed in plasma and excreted in faeces; no significant CYP drug interactions documented.
swap_horiz Interactions
Loop and Thiazide Diuretics (Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Bumetanide)
Class: Diuretic
P. umbellatus contains ergone (ergosta-4,6,8,22-tetraen-3-one), triterpenes, and d-mannitol with well-documented diuretic activity via anti-aldosteronic mechanisms, increasing urinary sodium and chloride excretion. Oral decoction of 8g produced a 62% increase in 6-hour urine output in clinical studies. Concurrent use with prescription diuretics creates additive diuresis and electrolyte depletion risk.
Monitor electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) regularly. Reduce or adjust diuretic dose if additive diuresis is observed. Caution in patients with renal impairment or cardiovascular disease. Advise patients to maintain adequate hydration.
Lithium (Lithium Carbonate, Lithium Citrate)
Class: Mood Stabilizer
P. umbellatus diuretic effects (increased urinary sodium excretion via anti-aldosteronic mechanisms) reduce intravascular volume, compensatorily increasing proximal tubular sodium reabsorption. Because lithium is reabsorbed alongside sodium in the proximal tubule, sodium depletion caused by P. umbellatus diuresis can markedly elevate lithium plasma levels, increasing risk of lithium toxicity (tremor, ataxia, confusion, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus).
Strongly caution against combining P. umbellatus supplements with lithium therapy. If co-use occurs, monitor serum lithium levels frequently. Lithium toxicity can occur even within the normal therapeutic range when diuresis intensifies. Ensure adequate sodium and fluid intake.
Immunosuppressants (Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus, Azathioprine)
Class: Immunosuppressant
Polyporus polysaccharides (PPS) activate macrophages, T-cells, and NK cells via TLR4-mediated signaling, enhancing innate and adaptive immune responses. This immunostimulatory activity may directly counteract the efficacy of immunosuppressant therapy in transplant recipients or patients with autoimmune conditions.
Avoid co-administration in organ transplant recipients. Monitor immunosuppressant drug trough levels (cyclosporine, tacrolimus) if P. umbellatus supplementation is identified. Consult transplant specialist.
Chemotherapy Agents (Cyclophosphamide, Mitomycin C, Cisplatin, Doxorubicin)
Class: Antineoplastic
Co-administration of P. umbellatus polysaccharide extracts with chemotherapy is licensed in China for cancer therapy. In vivo studies show increased survival rates (119.9% vs 70.1% for Mitomycin C alone) and clinical evidence for improved quality of life. Beta-glucans mitigate bone marrow suppression and boost white blood cell recovery. Timing of administration relative to chemotherapy must be managed to avoid immunological interference.
P. umbellatus polysaccharide injection is licensed as adjuvant cancer therapy in China; consult oncology team before use. Coordinate timing to avoid immunological interference with chemotherapy. Monitor CBC closely for additive myeloprotective or immunostimulatory effects.
Antihypertensive Agents (ACE Inhibitors, ARBs, Calcium Channel Blockers)
Class: Antihypertensive
Diuretic properties of P. umbellatus may potentiate antihypertensive therapy by further reducing preload and blood pressure. The combination is analogous to combining a thiazide diuretic with other antihypertensive agents.
Monitor blood pressure and renal function when combining P. umbellatus with antihypertensive medications. Risk of hypotension is low but increased in elderly patients or those taking multiple antihypertensives. Maintain adequate hydration.
hub Combinations
Synergistic pairings can enhance therapeutic outcomes, while knowing suitable substitutes helps when specific herbs are unavailable or contraindicated.
Classical Formulas
1Poria
Traditional UseCore pairing in Wuling San and Zhuling Tang. Zhu Ling provides stronger diuresis via ergone; Fu Ling adds Shen-calming and Spleen-tonifying. Synergistic for oedema, urinary dysfunction.
Listed in Shang Han Lun (200 CE); Chinese Pharmacopoeia formula.
science Studies
A systematic review of advances in preparation, structures, bioactivities, structural-property relationships, and applications of Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharides
Systematic ReviewThis systematic review spanning over 50 years of research catalogued the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and biological activities of Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharides (PUPs). PUPs exhibit a diverse range of bioactivities including diuretic, nephroprotective, immunomodulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects, making them among the most pharmacologically versatile fungal polysaccharides. Structural analysis reveals that PUPs consist of complex branched glucan chains, and structure-activity relationships indicate that molecular weight and degree of branching are key determinants of biological potency. Current pharmaceutical applications include PUPS capsules and injections approved for clinical use in China for immune support and liver protection. The authors call for more rigorously designed clinical trials to validate the full therapeutic scope of PUPs.
Polyporus Umbellatus Protects Against Renal Fibrosis by Regulating Intrarenal Fatty Acyl Metabolites
In VivoThis in vivo study used lipidomic analysis to investigate how Polyporus umbellatus (PPU) and its active compound ergone protect against renal fibrosis and lipid metabolic disturbances in adenine-induced chronic renal failure (CRF) rats. Lipidomic profiling identified 65 significantly altered lipid species in CRF kidney tissue, with fatty acid metabolism as the most perturbed pathway. Treatment with both PPU n-hexane extract and ergone significantly improved creatinine clearance rate, reduced serum urea, uric acid, and lipid markers, and attenuated renal fibrosis. These findings demonstrate that the antifibrotic mechanism of PPU operates primarily through modulation of fatty acid metabolism rather than exclusive targeting of single molecules. This study positions PPU as a promising therapeutic for CRF-related renal fibrosis and lipid disorder management.
medication Dosing
decoction
10–15 g sclerotium per decoction (severe oedema: up to 30 g short-term under supervision)
1–2x/day divided doses
Standard TCM decoction: slice sclerotium, simmer 20–30 min in water. Often combined with Poria (Fu Ling) and Alisma (Ze Xie) in Wuling San formula for oedema.
Disclaimer: This information is largely AI-generated and reviewed by human experts at Evara Health. It is intended for educational and clinical reference purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.
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