The tubers were reportedly eaten by some Native American tribes. In China, it is used as traditional medicine and to make
fuling jiabin, a kind of snack.
Botanical extract The species is a source of
triterpenoid compounds,
pachymic acid, polysaccharides, choline, and histidine which has been the object of scientific study based upon the mushroom's role in
traditional Chinese medicine.
Medicinal uses The
polysaccharides of
W. extensa and their derivatives have garnered significant interest due to their wide range of biological activities. These compounds exhibit potent anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral effects, which indicate their potential for further development as therapy or adjuvant therapy for cancer, immune modulation, and viral diseases. Its main ingredients,
triterpenoid compounds, exhibit significant pharmacological properties such as anti-diabetic and tonic medicine. Particularly, specific components like
pachymic acid, acid, and polyporenic acid C have been shown to significantly increase
hypoglycemic activity, which is traditionally used in treating hyperglycemic disorders like
diabetes. In addition, triterpenoids from
W. extensa have been also found to demonstrate significant diuretic activity in rats. Specifically, tetracyclic triterpenoids from
W. extensa are aldosterone antagonists that can bind to renal cytoplasmic aldosterone receptors. This action enhances the urinary Na+/K+ ratio in rats and inhibits the Na+-K+
ATPase in the kidney and erythrocytes, which reduce the reabsorption of crude urine, leading to increased urine excretion, as diuresis application. A novel immunomodulatory glycoprotein from
W. extensa is demonstrated to be capable of activating murine macrophages, cells that play a crucial role in the body's defense against diseases, such as
bacterial infections and
tumor cells involved in tumor lysis and growth inhibition. This suggests its immunomodulatory effects as a herbal remedy. Modern pharmacological studies suggest multiple neurological benefits associated with the use of
W. extensa. For instance, the aqueous extract has been found to improve long-term potentiation in the
hippocampus of rats and ameliorate
scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment. Furthermore, it is a key ingredient in many
traditional Chinese medicinal formulas used to manage neurodegenerative diseases. In Chinese medicine,
W. extensa is commonly used for the treatment of primary
dysmenorrhea. It is known for its clinical efficacy in activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis. ==References==