For Immediate Release

Biologically Active Anti-Viral Mushroom Extract Now Available

Gibsons, British Columbia, January 1, 2001

Chaga, a mushroom used by Russians as a folk remedy for cancer is now available as a standardized extract from the leading North American supplier of medicinal mushroom products. NAMMEX, formerly known as North American Reishi, the primary source of mushroom extracts to the U.S.A. nutritional supplement industry, announced today that it had completed the research and development phase of its Chaga project.

Chaga is the common name for the mushroom Inonotus obliquus, also called the birch polypore because of its growth on birch trees. Russians and Eastern Europeans have used Chaga for hundreds of years as a folk remedy for stomach diseases including gastritis, ulcers, stomach pain and cancer. Some commercial preparations have been available during the past 30 years but their quality control and standardization has been imperfect.

Under the direction of NAMMEX, the University of British Columbia conducted a detailed chemical analysis of Chaga extract. They purified two compounds that had been identified and characterized by researchers in Finland as biologically active. The most active compound, called inotodiol, was chosen as the standard. Tests by Finnish researchers have shown inotodiol to be active against influenza viruses A and B, and various cancer cells.

A high potency standardized extract of Chaga, manufactured and tested in Vancouver, Canada, is now available from NAMMEX and its international distributor, Garuda International, Inc.