gharikon is a well - known medicinal mushroom in iranian traditional medicine and mentioned several times in different kinds of authentic literature . considering both traditional and modern literature , the aim of this study is to present a review of its biological activities . using online databases ( e.g. pubmed , scopus , and google scholar ) as well as reviewing traditional medicinal literature ( e.g. makhzan - ul - adwiah , al - qanun fi al - tibb ) ; we reviewed the published literature on the pharmacological effects of laricifomes officinalis ( the most common species considered as  gharikon  ) . laricifomes officinalis ( polyporus officinalis ) is a wood - rotting fungus that grows on different hosts such as conifers . the mushroom is native to europe , asia , and north america . according to the judgment of traditional medicine , it has been used since the ancient times to treat sciatica , weakness of muscles , bronchitis , constipation , stomach and uterus pain , jaundice , fever and insect bites . the results showed that the biological effects of l. officinalis are anti - viral ( especially against smallpox , h5n1 influenza , and hepatitis c virus ) , anti - tuberculosis , boosting the immune system , treating dysmenorrhea , hemorrhoids , cough , rheumatoid arthritis and anticoagulant activity . a survey revealed that l. officinalis is a well - known medicinal mushroom with some formulations as dietary supplements on the market . considering traditional literature and recent findings on biological activities that in most cases corroborate each other , it seems that laricifomes officinalis needs more attention in new investigations , including more pharmacologic assays and clinical trials , which may lead to the development of new natural products .
background : gharikon is a well - known medicinal mushroom in iranian traditional medicine and mentioned several times in different kinds of authentic literature . 
 considering both traditional and modern literature , the aim of this study is to present a review of its biological activities.methods:using online databases ( e.g. pubmed , scopus , and google scholar ) as well as reviewing traditional medicinal literature ( e.g. makhzan - ul - adwiah , al - qanun fi al - tibb ) ; we reviewed the published literature on the pharmacological effects of laricifomes officinalis ( the most common species considered as  gharikon).results : laricifomes officinalis ( polyporus officinalis ) is a wood - rotting fungus that grows on different hosts such as conifers . 
 the mushroom is native to europe , asia , and north america . according to the judgment of traditional medicine , 
 its temperament is warm and dry . 
 it has been used since the ancient times to treat sciatica , weakness of muscles , bronchitis , constipation , stomach and uterus pain , jaundice , fever and insect bites . 
 it also has diuretic and emmenagogue effects . in recent decades 
 , several research studies have been performed on l. officinalis . 
 the results showed that the biological effects of l. officinalis are anti - viral ( especially against smallpox , h5n1 influenza , and hepatitis c virus ) , anti - tuberculosis , boosting the immune system , treating dysmenorrhea , hemorrhoids , cough , rheumatoid arthritis and anticoagulant activity . 
 a survey revealed that l. officinalis is a well - known medicinal mushroom with some formulations as dietary supplements on the market.conclusion:considering traditional literature and recent findings on biological activities that in most cases corroborate each other , it seems that laricifomes officinalis needs more attention in new investigations , including more pharmacologic assays and clinical trials , which may lead to the development of new natural products .