Several Korean and Chinese traditional medical books, including the Donguibogam, have written about its efficacy, stating, “It is effective for a person who has pain due to development of lumps on the side or pain due to an inflammation. It is also very effective for a person with a red nose from drinking.” In Korean traditional medicine, the mushroom is consumed in the form of hot tea and has a pleasant mild taste.
Mesima has been the subject of an ongoing scientific study since at least 1968. In addition to its antioxidant properties, it has scientifically documented anti-inflammatory properties.(1,2) Hispidin, a reservatrol-like compound, has recently been identified by Korean researchers as the key antioxidant molecule in this extract, which possesses antioxidant efficacy equivalent to vitamin C.(3) mesima extract may provide immuno-stimulatory and anticancer benefits without major side effects. In recent years, mesima has been the subject of significant clinical study because of these increasingly well-documented anticancer properties.(4,5,6)
Today, mesima extract is added to skin care formulations for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been recently shown to provide benefit for those with eczema.(7) Basic science research in Korea and Taiwan also suggest the possibility of an adjunctive role for mesima in the treatment of melanoma, as well as hyperpigmentation.(8,9,10) At this time, there is no rigorous clinical evidence to suggest that mesima extract inhibits formation or spread of human skin cancer, but it is an intriguing theoretical possibility.
Skin care formulators are excited about mesima extract’s role as a new antioxidant ingredient because it also brings potential brightening, anti-inflammatory, anti-eczema, and anticancer effects to the mix.

References:
1 Jin, Kim, et al., (2003). Anti-angiogenic, antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibition activities of the mushroom Phellinus linteus, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 88 (1): 113-116. Web.
2 Chang, Chang, et.al., (2011). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Hindawi, 2011: 1-8. Web.
3 Kim, Lee, et al., (2008). Antioxidant polyphenols from the mycelial culture of the medicinal fungiInonotus xeranticus and Phellinus linteus, Wiley Online Library, 104 (6):1824-1832. Web.
4 Ahn, Cho, et al., (1997). The Effects of Mesima-Ex, the Immunomodulator in Curatively Resected Gastric Cancer, J. Korean Cancer Association, 29 (5): 800-806. Web.
5 Song, et al., (2011). Protein-bound polysaccharide from Phellinus linteus inhibits tumor growth, invasion, and angiogenesis and alters Wnt/b-catenin in SW480 human colon cancer cells, BMC Cancer, 11: 1-11. Web.
6 Harvey, Jedinak, et al., Phellinus linteus suppresses growth, angiogenesis and invasive behaviour of breast cancer cells through the inhibition of AKT signaling, NCBI, 98 (8): 1348-1356. Web.
7 Kwon, Kim, et al., (2012). Immunomodulatory effect of water soluble extract separated from mycelium of Phellinus linteus on experimental atopic dermatitis, NCBI, 12 (1): 59. Web.
8 Chen, Lee, et al., (2014). Hispolon Decreases Melanin Production and Induces Apoptosis in Melanoma Cells through the Downregulation of Tyrosinase and Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor (MITF) Expressions and the Activation of Caspase-3, -8 and -9, NCBI, 15 (1): 1201-1215. Web.
9 Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Taejon, et al., (2006). Acidic polysaccharide from Phellinus linteus inhibits melanoma cell metastasis by blocking cell adhesion and invasion, NCBI, 6 (4): 697-702. Web.
10 Ahn, Gong, et al., (2005). Cambodian Phellinus linteus inhibits experimental metastasis of melanoma cells in mice via regulation of urokinase type plasminogen activator, NCBI, 28 (1): 27-31.