MOEA, DOH deny hiding poison data

By Joy Lee, The China Post May 23, 2013, 12:01 am TWNTAIPEI, Taiwan --Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) chief Chang Chia-chu (張家祝) yesterday denied a report that the ministry has hidden research showing that antrodia camphorate (牛樟芝) could contain poison that might harm humans. According to reports, the Development Center for Biotechnology was sponsored by the MOEA to conduct research that revealed Antrodia camphorata may contain poison that can harm the liver, kidney and ovaries. The MOEA and the Department of Health (DOH), however, chose not to publish the research that was finished last February, the reports claimed. Chang said that if the research is not finished or only done partially, government officials cannot publish the data. "Research organizations have the right to decide if they want to publish their research," Chang said, "so it is not up to the MOEA to decide if we want to publish the findings." Wang Hui-ying (王慧英) of the DOH's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that the DOH received the research this April instead of last February as reported. "The FDA will ask the Development Center for Biotechnology to provide more details regarding the research like all observations, the conclusions of the study and the source of the test samples," said Wang. "Meanwhile," Wang said, "the FDA will collect all related information and send it to the food safety committee for discussion." If the FDA can confirm that antrodia camphorata does do harm to human bodies, Wang said, the administration will immediately take measures to control antrodia camphorata products."There are only three Antrodia camphorata products that are approved by the DOH," Wang said, "and they are all mycelial Antrodia camphorata products that have passed toxicant and safety tests." Lin Ja-liang (林杰樑), head of the Department of Nephrology and the Division of Clinical Toxicology at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said that antrodia camphorata could be toxic as one of his uremic patients's uremia index increased dramatically after taking antrodia camphorate. Antrodia camphorata, also known as stout camphor fungus, is a species of fungi in the genus Taiwanofungus. It is a highly valued medicinal mushroom that is commonly used to fight cancer and allergies and protect the liver in traditional medicine in Taiwan. The price for 37.5 grams of Antrodia camphorata once reached NT$100,000 when it was first introduced to the public. Researcher's Response The spokeswoman for the Development Center for Biotechnology Kuo Mei-hui (郭美慧) said that even though the research did show that Antrodia camphorate may do harm to human bodies, this is only an initial finding that no confirmed conclusion can be made from. Wang Chia-lin (汪嘉林), the CEO of the Development Center for Biotechnology, also said that the toxicant experiment of Antrodia camphorata was only done once, so the center cannot come up with a confirmed conclusion solely from this single test result.