Oct 28, 2014 08:17 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Mushrooms may be helpful in treating the human papillomavirus, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found that the Japanese mushroom, AHCC (active hexose correlated compound), appears to be effective for the eradication of HPV.

AHCC is a readily available nutritional supplement that works to improve the innate immune system. Human and preclinical studies have shown that AHCC increases the number and/or activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells and cytokines, which help the body fight off infections and block tumor growth.

"The results are very encouraging," Judith Smith, principal investigator of the study, said in a statement. "We were able to determine that at least three months of treatment is necessary but some need to extend that to six months. Since AHCC is a nutritional supplement with no side effects and other immune modulating benefits, we will be planning on using six months of treatment in our phase II clinical study to have consistent study treatment plan. This confirms our earlier preclinical research."

Ten HPV-positive women were treated orally with the extract, AHCC, once daily for up to six months. Five achieved a negative HPV test result -- three with confirmed eradication after stopping AHCC -- with the remaining two responders continuing on the study.

Currently, there is no effective medicine or supplement to treat HPV, which is associated with more than 99 percent of cervical cancer cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, several other cancers are related to HPV, including 95 percent of anal cancer, 60 percent of oropharyngeal, 65 percent of vaginal cancer, 50 percent of vulvar cancer and 35 percent of penile cancer.

This research is proceeding to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial which has just begun at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Smith said.

The findings were presented at the 11th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology in Houston.

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