RT Journal Article ID 7201b330327ff6ab A1 Sumba, Julius David T1 GACOCA Formulation of East African Wild Mushrooms Show Promise in Combating Kaposi's Sarcoma and HIV/ AIDS JF International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms JO IJM YR 2005 FD 2005-09-02 VO 7 IS 3 SP 473 OP 474 AB Preliminary studies involving the use of a formulation comprising a mixture of powdered fruit bodies of several wild medicinal East African mushrooms in the treatment of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (an opportunistic skin cancer affecting patients afflicted with HIV/AIDS) show promising therapeutic results. The same product has also benefited patients with HIV/AIDS.
The product, GACOCA, has been used in Tanzania since 2001. Initially it was used to treat patients with HIV/AIDS in Ifakara Morogoro in central Tanzania under the supervision of Dr. Henry Moshi of St. Francis Hospital, who found that patients achieved noticeable improvement in health. Later, trials in Dare s-Salaam on patients with Kaposi's sarcoma revealed encouraging responses with complete resolution of the condition in a fraction of these patients. GACOCA has also demonstrated promising effectiveness in other conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, libido problems, and bedwetting. These encouraging medicinal values of the GACOCA mushroom warrant further evaluation in properly designed clinical trials.
GACOCA contains several mushrooms of established medicinal value, which are abundantly available in the East African woodlands. I list them below according to their botanical names. Some mushrooms such as Schizophyllum commune Fr.:Fr., Phellinus igniarus (L.) Quél., and Fomes fomentarius (L.) J.J. Kickx are mixed in GACOCA. These species of the woody mushroom are common in East Africa. Traditional healers in the regions use the mushroom as medication. It is claimed, that mixed in various proportions, they could be effective in treating epilepsy and general chest pain. The treatment is performed by having patient inhale smoke from a burning substance under a cloth hood, by inhaling vapor from boiling substances, and sometimes by taking the liquid in a cup of tea. These mixtures are also used locally for the treatment of mental disorders (claimed in the traditional medicine setting to remove demons).
The literature reports that these mushrooms can heal the inflammation of the brain (as in Alzheimer’s disease) at early stages. Phellinus linteus (Berk. et M.A. Curt.) Teng is a more familiar product in the medical literature. It has antitumor and immuno-modulating properties, especially in the enhancement of activity of B lymphocytes. Studies reported in 2000 found that this mushroom had the highest rate of inhibition against implanted sarcoma cancer 180 in mice, resulting in 96.7% inhibition. A report in 2001 explored the antimutagenic properties of this mushroom, showing activity in limiting or preventing tumor development. Research in Korea led to the establishment of Ph. Linteus as a standard treatment for cancer.
The mushroom species described above have been identified in large quantities in Tanzania and East Africa, and we are working with hospital clinicians, natural therapists, and traditional healers to study their medicinal value in our settings. It is my intention to make this information available so that the GACOCA mushroom will interest scientists, medical professionals, environmentalists, the business community, educators, and any other stakeholders in the region and the world. I believe there is big potential here, especially now when pollution is already a concern elsewhere in the world.
I was introduced to this mushroom back in 1967. At that time I was staying in Sigulu Island on lake Victoria, Uganda, with my grandmother Veronica Ajiambo, who adopted me after the death of my father in 1963 at Jipe, Mwanga in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. She taught me the art of identifying and picking mushrooms.
In 1980 I learned about mushroom cultivation. In 1993 I started collecting mushroom literature from the best world authorities. I read all I could about mushrooms, cultivated them, collected them, identified them, and worked with local consultants to design clinical trials.
Today in Tanzania the GACOCA mushroom is being used as an immune booster by patients with HIV+, Kaposi's sarcoma, and arthritis, among other illnesses. Through HBCPs (home based care providers) the GACOCA mushroom is distributed to the community in the Kibaha coast region. I work with KIDEFO (Kibaha Development Foundation) to support the community healthwise. We intend to expand the service countrywide, and expect to make GACOCA extracts in early 2005. The center for production of this mushroom is in Kibaha Maili moja coast region in Tanzania. It is collected from different regions in the country and processed for community. Some is sold to pharmaceutical shops and supermarkets to sustain the GACOCA project. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,0d0f121956dd501b,7201b330327ff6ab.html