Umbrella Polypore (Zhu Ling)
A mushroom present in Chinese medicine recipes as Zhu Ling for 2,500 years — a potent diuretic. Modern research on the isolated polysaccharide PPS focuses mainly on hepatitis B and anticancer mechanisms in a test tube, not standalone supplementation.
Table of contents
TL;DR
A mushroom present in Chinese medicine recipes as Zhu Ling for 2,500 years — a potent diuretic. Modern research on the isolated polysaccharide PPS focuses mainly on hepatitis B and anticancer mechanisms in a test tube, not standalone supplementation.
- →Traditionally used in Chinese medicine as one of the strongest herbal diuretics — the effect confirmed mainly in animal models
- →Drugs based on PPS registered in China have been used since 1990 as adjuvant therapy for hepatitis B — a review of more than 11,000 Chinese clinical cases suggested a beneficial effect, especially combined with standard antiviral therapy
- →In vitro studies on human bladder cancer cell lines showed that a homogeneous Polyporus polysaccharide inhibited their proliferation and migration — an early stage of preclinical evidence, not a clinical trial in patients
| Latin name | Polyporus umbellatus (syn. Dendropolyporus umbellatus) |
|---|---|
| Family | Polyporaceae (bracket fungi) |
| Active compounds | PPS polysaccharide (beta-1,3/1,6-glucan) |
| Form | Dried sclerotium for a TCM decoction; PPS capsules/injections are a registered drug only in China |
| Level of evidence | Hypothesis — mainly in vitro, animal models, and observational data from China |
| Interactions | Diuretics, immunosuppressants |
| Status | A partially protected species in Poland; no standalone dietary-supplement status in the EU |
Understand
Overview
Umbrella polypore (Polyporus umbellatus, synonym Dendropolyporus umbellatus), also known in Poland as "żagwica wielogłowa" or "huba okółkowa," is a rare mushroom that forms a characteristic bouquet of small, umbrella-shaped caps growing from a large, black sclerotium hidden underground, usually near beech roots. In Poland it's partially protected and occurs rarely — all commercially available material comes from cultivation or wild harvest in China. Under the Chinese name Zhu Ling, it's one of the oldest materials in Chinese medicine, already listed in the Shennong Bencao Jing (c. 200 BCE), where it's classified as an herb that "dries dampness" with strong diuretic activity — it's a key ingredient, among others, of the classic formula Wu Ling San (together with Poria/Fu Ling, Alisma rhizome, and Atractylodes).
Modern research on umbrella polypore comes almost entirely from China and focuses on the isolated polysaccharide (PPS, polyporus polysaccharide) — available there in the form of registered drugs (capsules and injections) used since 1990 as adjuvant therapy in hepatitis B and certain cancers. Outside China, umbrella polypore practically doesn't exist as a standalone, standardized supplement in the style of reishi or lion's mane — it remains primarily a TCM herbal raw material and an ingredient in multi-component formulas.
Realistically, for the average person looking for a standalone supplement, umbrella polypore won't help almost anyone in practice today — it doesn't exist as a standardized product outside China, so there's nothing to buy and take in a controlled dose. Sensible use is limited to people using classical TCM formulas (e.g., Wu Ling San) under the care of a practitioner of Chinese medicine. It is not, however, an answer to bladder cancer or hepatitis B for anyone looking to self-treat — the evidence for these effects comes from in vitro studies and Chinese medical practice unavailable in Poland.
Where it's found
A rare mushroom forming bouquets of small, umbrella-shaped caps growing from a large, black sclerotium hidden underground, usually near beech roots. In Poland it's partially protected and occurs rarely; all commercially available material comes from cultivation or wild harvest in China.
History of use
One of the oldest materials in Chinese medicine — already listed in the Shennong Bencao Jing (c. 200 BCE) as an herb that "dries dampness" with strong diuretic activity. A key ingredient of the classic formula Wu Ling San, used together with Poria, Alisma rhizome, and Atractylodes.
Mechanism of action
The main compound studied is PPS — a polysaccharide with a beta-(1→3)-glucan backbone and beta-(1→6)-glucopyranose side chains. In studies on human cell lines and in vitro models, PPS activated macrophages and reprogrammed them toward a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, which in laboratory conditions inhibited the proliferation and migration of bladder cancer cells. The traditional diuretic effect is hypothetically linked to an effect on renal tubules and aquaporin regulation, studied mainly in animals. Hepatoprotective and antiviral (hepatitis B) mechanisms are based on observation of clinical effect rather than a clearly identified pathway of action.
Beyond macrophage activation and the renal tubule hypothesis, the literature has not so far identified a specific receptor or single, leading signaling pathway responsible for the diuretic or hepatoprotective effect — the M1-phenotype macrophage polarization described in the in vitro study is typically associated with increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but this hasn't been directly confirmed at the level of specific markers in humans.
PPS structure
A polysaccharide with a beta-(1→3)-glucan backbone and beta-(1→6)-glucopyranose side chains, recognized by innate immune cells.
Macrophage activation
In vitro, PPS reprogrammed macrophages toward a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype.
Inhibition of cancer cells (in vitro)
In human bladder cancer cell lines, inhibition of proliferation and migration was observed — in laboratory conditions only.
Hypothetical diuretic effect
The traditional diuretic action is hypothetically linked to an effect on renal tubules, studied mainly in animals.
Evidence: limited — based on 2 studies in this database.
Benefits
Common myths
MythUmbrella polypore (Zhu Ling) is a proven, store-bought "bladder cancer supplement."
FactDrugs based on PPS registered in China are injections and capsules used exclusively as adjuvant therapy under an oncologist's supervision, unavailable outside China. Evidence of bladder cancer cell inhibition comes from in vitro studies on cell lines.
Forms & variants
Umbrella Polypore (Zhu Ling) comes in several forms that differ in bioavailability and use case — the form you pick genuinely matters for how effective the supplementation is.
Dried sclerotium / raw material slices
The most common form available in herbal shops and Chinese pharmacies — a raw material for preparing a decoction.
Best for: People using Chinese medicine formulas, ideally under the guidance of a TCM practitioner
Ingredient in ready-made multi-component formulas (e.g., Wu Ling San)
The most common form in the West — umbrella polypore as one of several herbs, not as a standalone product.
Best for: People using classical TCM formulas under a specialist's supervision
Practice
Frequently asked questions
Almost exclusively the latter — in the West it doesn't function as a standalone, standardized product, only as a TCM herbal raw material or an ingredient in ready-made formulas.
In China, PPS capsules and injections are a registered drug used as adjuvant therapy. This is preclinical data and medical practice limited to China — it doesn't translate into a supplement available in Poland with proven effects in patients.
Dosage & timing
Typical dose
In TCM formulas, usually 6–15 g of dried sclerotium daily as a decoction, always as part of a multi-component formula (e.g., Wu Ling San)
Form
Dried, sliced sclerotium as a TCM herbal raw material or powder from it; PPS capsules and injections are registered drugs in China, not available as a dietary supplement in Poland or the EU
Dosage information is provided for reference and reflects the ranges used in the cited studies — it does not replace consultation with a doctor or pharmacist.
Best times to take it
- In Chinese medicine, usually as a decoction, as an ingredient of a specific formula (e.g., Wu Ling San)
What to combine with
Good combinations
Poria (Fu Ling) — A classic pairing in the traditional Chinese formula Wu Ling San — no modern clinical trials on the combination itself
Safety
Side effects & contraindications
Possible side effects
Generally considered well tolerated based on centuries of traditional use as an herbal raw material
Rare joint/pain reactions reported in China with PPS injections (a drug form unavailable outside China)
Increased urination, consistent with the traditional diuretic effect
Contraindications
Pregnancy and breastfeeding — insufficient safety data for the isolated raw material
Conditions requiring strict control of hydration and electrolytes, due to the diuretic effect
A partially protected species in Poland — wild specimens may not be harvested independently
Interactions
Diuretics — potential enhancement of the dehydrating effect and electrolyte disturbances
Immunosuppressants — theoretical interaction due to the immunomodulatory activity of the polysaccharides
Is it worth taking?
Who it's for
- Traditionally used in Chinese medicine as one of the strongest herbal diuretics — the effect confirmed mainly in animal models
- Drugs based on PPS registered in China have been used since 1990 as adjuvant therapy for hepatitis B — a review of more than 11,000 Chinese clinical cases suggested a beneficial effect, especially combined with standard antiviral therapy
- In vitro studies on human bladder cancer cell lines showed that a homogeneous Polyporus polysaccharide inhibited their proliferation and migration — an early stage of preclinical evidence, not a clinical trial in patients
Not for
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — insufficient safety data for the isolated raw material
- Conditions requiring strict control of hydration and electrolytes, due to the diuretic effect
- A partially protected species in Poland — wild specimens may not be harvested independently
Evidence
Worth knowing
The sclerotium, not the fruiting body, is the main raw material harvested in TCM.
PPS has been a registered pharmaceutical drug in China since 1990 — a rare case of a functional mushroom that is formally a drug in one country while practically absent as a consumer product in the West.
Studies
Homogeneous polyporus polysaccharide inhibits bladder cancer by polarizing macrophages to M1 subtype in tumor microenvironment
Research hypothesisJia W, Luo S, Lai G, Li S, Huo S, Li M, Zeng X · BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies · 2021
An in vitro study on human cell lines showed that a homogeneous Polyporus polysaccharide reprogrammed macrophages toward an M1 phenotype, inhibiting the proliferation and migration of bladder cancer cells.
View studyThe efficacy of Polyporus Umbellatus polysaccharide in treating hepatitis B in China
Early-stage evidenceGuo Z, Zang Y, Zhang L · Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science · 2019
A systematic review of more than 11,700 Chinese clinical cases suggested the efficacy of PPS in treating hepatitis B, mainly in combination with a vaccine or antiviral drugs.
View studySources & bibliography
Citations are illustrative for this demo version and require full bibliographic verification by the editorial team before production publication.
Compare with similar entries
About the authors of this entry
Author
Michał NowakClinical Dietitian
Michał specializes in metabolic nutrition, intermittent fasting and sports supplementation.
61 publications on this site
Medical review
dr Piotr ZielińskiEndocrinologist
Piotr reviews content on hormones, metabolic health and supplement pharmacology.
131 publications on this site
Related entries
3.8Poria (Fu Ling)
A sclerotium-forming fungus present in Chinese medicine formulas as Fu Ling for centuries — as a standalone supplement, though, it has very modest, indirect clinical data in humans.
4.1Maitake (Hen of the Woods)
A functional mushroom also known as 'Hen of the Woods,' studied mainly for immune modulation (D-fraction) in oncology and, more preliminarily, for carbohydrate metabolism — evidence in healthy people remains limited.
4.5Turkey Tail
The mushroom behind PSK and PSP — the only fungal polysaccharides registered in Japan as drugs supporting chemotherapy. Among the most solid clinical evidence of any functional mushroom, but this is NOT a standalone cancer therapy.
4.3Shiitake
A culinary-functional mushroom rich in lentinan and beta-glucans, studied clinically for immune modulation and lipid profile — one of the best-researched functional mushrooms on the market.
4.3Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
One of the most popular edible mushrooms in Poland, containing a natural compound structurally similar to lovastatin — studied mainly for its effects on lipid profile and immunity.
4.2Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
A functional mushroom with more than 2,000 years of history in Chinese and Japanese medicine, studied for its immune-modulating effects — human clinical evidence, however, remains modest and partly contradictory.
4.1Almond Mushroom (Agaricus blazei)
A mushroom from the Brazilian forests studied mainly for immune modulation and blood-sugar support — human evidence is mixed and preliminary, despite the supplement's considerable popularity.
Related articles
Opinie ekspertówFunctional Mushroom Ranking: Which Ones Have the Strongest Scientific Evidence
Reishi, shiitake, lion's mane, cordyceps, chaga... The VitMode knowledge base covers more than 50 species of medicinal mushrooms. We picked the five with the most solid evidence base and ranked them by specific use case.
August 18, 2026
PoradnikiCold Showers and Immunity: Do You Really Get Sick Less?
"Cold exposure boosts your immune system" is one of the most repeated claims in biohacking — but the newest, largest meta-analysis on the topic shows something more complex: inflammation rises short-term, and immune markers don't budge. There is, though, one real, if surprising, long-term effect. We break down the evidence.
August 22, 2026
PoradnikiZinc and the Common Cold: Does It Really Shorten It?
"Zinc shortens colds" is one of the oldest claims in supplementation — and one of the few backed by meta-analyses with concrete numbers. But this story has an instructive plot twist: part of the key Cochrane evidence was withdrawn over data errors. We break down the topic, including what you shouldn't trust uncritically.
August 22, 2026
PoradnikiVitamin C and the Common Cold: Does the Pauling Myth Hold Up?
Two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling argued in the 1970s that megadoses of vitamin C could prevent the common cold — a belief that still drives supplement sales worldwide today. The largest Cochrane review, covering over 11,000 participants, tells a far more nuanced story: for the average person, regular vitamin C supplementation barely moves the needle on catching a cold. But there's a clear exception — and the data behind it is some of the strongest in the entire review.
August 23, 2026
Comments (2)
- KW
Kasia W. 2 weeks ago
Very clearly explained, especially the interactions section — I hadn't seen it laid out this well anywhere else.
- MT
Marek T. a month ago
Are you planning to update this with the newest study from this year? I saw an interesting meta-analysis.