English name - Snow Fungus
Japanese name - Shirokikurage / Hakumokuji
Chinese name - Bai Mu Er / Yin Er

As well as being a popular culinary mushroom in oriental cuisine, T. fuciformis has a long history of medicinal use and was one of the mushrooms included in the Shen Nong Ben Cao (c.200AD). Its traditional indications include clearing heat and dryness, nourishing the brain and enhancing beauty!

Like other jelly fungi, T. fuciformis is rich in polysaccharides and these are the main bioactive component. The principal polysaccharide is a glucoronoxylomannan with a linear backbone of 1,3 linked α-D-mannan residues with side chains consisting mainly of xylose and glucoronic acid. The glucuronic acid side chains in Auricularia auricula have been found to be essential for its anti-clotting action and they are likely to contribute to T. fuciformis's action in this regard. Unlike in some other mushrooms research has shown no effect on immunological activity from changes in size of the polysaccharide molecules.

Research in China has focussed on its use to alleviate the side effects of radiotherapy and as an anti-aging supplement with over 40 Chinese patents citing it during the 1990's alone.


Source: http://www.mushroomnutrition.com/tremella-fuciformis