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Taingan-daga
Auricularia auricula-judae Schrot.
JEW'S EAR
Hei Mu-erh

Taingan-daga is a shared common name of: (1) Taingan-daga, Auricularia auricula-judae, Jew's ear; and (2) Taingan-daga, Oxalis repens, Indian sorrel.
Common names 
Taingan-daga (Tag.)
Jew's ear
Judas's ear
Wood ears
Cloud ears
Hei Mu-erh (Chinese)

Gen info
"Judas's ear' name comes from the legend that Auricularia formed its ear-shaped fruting body as a curse on the tree that Judas hanged himself after his betrayal of Jesus. source

Botany
A saprophytic fungus, growing in tree stumps in damp moist forests. Plant is formed by multi-celled hyphae extracting nutrients from decaying tree trunis or logged timber. Spores extending from the tree trunk are shaped like human ear, of variable sizes, smooth, dull brown to gray,sticky when moist, leathery when dry.

Species
Auricularia is found throughout the Philippines. Other than the auricula-judae species, another specie reported edible is Auricularia affinis Leville.

Distribution
In damp moist forests.

Constituents and properties
Neutral, pleasant tasting.
Produces different polysaccharides and believed to be an immune system stimulant. Also considered antitumor, hypolipidemic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and of cardiovascular benefit.

Uses
Folkloric
Used for metrorrhagia, urinary tract diseases, dysentery.
Bleeding hemorrhoids.
Dropsy and sore throat.
In Chinese traditional medicine, used for weakness after childbirth, cramps, numbness,dysentery, piles, enteritis, heavy menstrual bleeding, leucorrhea.
Culinary
Imported in dry state from China and Japan. A popular ingredient for chop-suey, sotanghon, pinsic, etc.

Studies
Hypoglycemic: (1) Study on mice reports of a 3% polysaccharide extract reducing the fasting blood gtlucose. Another found the crude polysacchardie improved glucose tolerance to intraperitoneal glucose loading; and neutral polysaccharides showed dose-dependent lowering of fasting and nonfasting lugcose and insulin.(2) Study showed the hypoglycemic effect of a water-soluble polysaccharide from the fruiting body of AA on genetically diabetic mice
Hypocholesterolemic: Study showed hypocholesterolemic effect in rats, lowering the total and LDL cholesterols without affecting the HDL concentration.
Anticoagulant Activity: Study isolated an acidic polysaccharide from the edible mushroom AA, with the alkali extract showing highet anticoagulant activity. The effect was through an inhibition of platelet aggregation.
Antioxidant Activity / Hypocholesterolemic: Study showed lowering of total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increased total antioxidant capacity.
Anticomplement Activity: Study of exo-polymer of AA showed a 70%-anti-complementary activity.
Auricularia auricula Polysaccharide Flour / Antioxidant: Study showed that up to 9% of Auricularia auricula polysaccharide flour could be included in bread formulation without altering the sensory acceptance of the blended flour at the same time markedly increasing the antioxidant property of the bread. Breads containing AAP may be regarded as health-promoting functional foods.
Anti-Tumor Activity: Study compared the antitumor activities of two (1 goes to 3)-beta-D-glucans isolated from the fruiting body of Auricularia auricula-judae.

Availability
Wild-crafted.
Imported.


Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Potential of Fungi Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Auricularia / Anna Bonell 2001
(2)
The nontoxic mushroom Auricularia auricula contains a polysaccharide with anticoagulant activity mediated by antithrombin / doi:10.1016/j.thromres.2003.10.022 / Thrombosis Research Vol 112, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 151-158
(3)
Effect of Polysaccharide from Auricularia auricula on Blood Lipid Metabolism and Lipoprotein Lipase Activity of ICR Mice Fed a Cholesterol-Enriched Diet / G Chen, Y C Luo et al /Journal of Food Science Vol 73 Issue 6, Pages H103 - H108 / 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.00821.x About DOI
(4)
Production of an anti-complement exo-polymer produced by Auricularia auricula-judae in submerged culture / Biotechnology Letters . Vol 26, Number 11 / June, 2004/ 10.1023/B:bile.0000025904.21519.3a
(5)
Hypoglycemic Effect of Water-soluble Polysaccharide from Auricularia auricula-judae Quel. on Genetically Diabetic KK-Ay Mice / Huan Z et al /Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry Vol. 62 (1998) , No. 10 pp.1898-1903
(6)
Antioxidant Capacity of Fresh and Processed Fruit Bodies and Mycelium of Auricularia auricula-judae (Fr.) Quél / Y S Kho et al / Journal of Medicinal Food / February 2009, 12(1): 167-174. / doi:10.1089/jmf.2007.0568
(7)
Evaluation of antioxidant property and quality of breads containing Auricularia auricula polysaccharide flour / Lisheng Fan et al / Food Chemistry • Volume 101, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 1158-1163
/ doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.03.017
(8)
Studies on interrelation of structure and antitumor effects of polysaccharides: antitumor action of periodate-modified, branched (1 goes to 3)-beta-D-glucan of Auricularia auricula-judae, and other polysaccharides containing (1 goes to 3)-glycosidic linkages / Misaki A et al / Carbohydr Res. 1981 May 18;92(1):115-29./ /

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Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Potential of Fungi Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Auricularia / Anna Bonell 2001
(2)
The nontoxic mushroom Auricularia auricula contains a polysaccharide with anticoagulant activity mediated by antithrombin / doi:10.1016/j.thromres.2003.10.022 / Thrombosis Research Vol 112, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 151-158
(3)
Effect of Polysaccharide from Auricularia auricula on Blood Lipid Metabolism and Lipoprotein Lipase Activity of ICR Mice Fed a Cholesterol-Enriched Diet / Journal of Food Science Vol 73 Issue 6, Pages H103 - H108 / 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.00821.x About DOI
(4)
Production of an anti-complement exo-polymer produced by Auricularia auricula-judae in submerged culture / Biotechnology Letters . Vol 26, Number 11 / June, 2004/ 10.1023/B:bile.0000025904.21519.3a
(5)
Hypoglycemic Effect of Water-soluble Polysaccharide from Auricularia auricula-judae Quel. on Genetically Diabetic KK-Ay Mice / Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry Vol. 62 (1998) , No. 10 pp.1898-1903
(6)
Antioxidant Capacity of Fresh and Processed Fruit Bodies and Mycelium of Auricularia auricula-judae (Fr.) Quél / Journal of Medicinal Food / February 2009, 12(1): 167-174. doi:10.1089/jmf.2007.0568.

Latest Updated Tagalog and English Lists of Philippine Medicinal Plants

List of Philippine Medicinal Plants with Chinese Names
SOURCES