Tiger Milk Mushroom
EVIDENCE: INSUFFICIENTAlso sold as: Lignosus rhinocerus, Lignosus rhinocerotis, TM02, cendawan susu rimau
Tiger milk mushroom is a Southeast Asian fungus used traditionally for coughs and asthma. A 2026 systematic review found the asthma evidence mostly from animal and lab studies, with a single small human study.
Compiled by iSupplementReviews editorial team ·Researched 2026-10-16 · 3 sources
- Type
- Medicinal mushroom (sclerotium)
- Studied dose
- 1,040 mg/day of the cultivated TM02 extract in one 6-month RCT (cancer survivors)
- Best form
- cultivated sclerotium powder or standardized extract (e.g. TM02)
- Our rating
- INSUFFICIENT — No meaningful human evidence
What is tiger milk mushroom?
Tiger milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) is a rare fungus from Malaysian forests whose underground tuber, the sclerotium, is used in traditional medicine for coughs, asthma and fever.
Other names and forms
Lignosus rhinocerotis, cendawan susu rimau, TM02 (a cultivated product).
Where does tiger milk mushroom come from?
Wild sclerotia were once hard to find; most supply now comes from cultivation in Malaysia.
How does tiger milk mushroom work in the body?
Lab and animal studies show anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects from its polysaccharides and proteins (Nallathamby et al., 2017). Animal asthma models showed reduced airway inflammation.
What is tiger milk mushroom claimed to do?
Support lung tissue, ease breathing and boost immunity.
What does the research show?
| Claim | Evidence | Dose studied | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma | Animal/lab + one small human study | — | Insufficient |
| Quality of life and fatigue | One RCT in cancer survivors | 1,040 mg/day TM02, 6 months | Weak (trend) |
| Safety | Same RCT | 1,040 mg/day | Well tolerated |
Asthma
A 2026 systematic review found the asthma evidence mostly preclinical. Paneerselvam et al. identified one human study reporting better lung function and inflammatory markers and concluded larger trials are needed.
The randomized trial
In breast-cancer survivors, TM02 showed a trend toward less fatigue and was well tolerated. Eng et al. (2025) gave 52 women 1,040 mg a day or placebo for six months.
What dose was studied?
| Goal | Dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of life, fatigue | 1,040 mg/day TM02 | 6 months |
Side effects
None beyond placebo in the 6-month trial.
Drug interactions
Not well studied. Immune-modulating effects raise a theoretical concern with immunosuppressants.
Who should not take tiger milk mushroom?
People who are pregnant, and those on immunosuppressants without medical advice.
What the authorities say
No regulator recognizes tiger milk mushroom as a respiratory treatment. Reviews call for larger human trials.
What to know about tiger milk mushroom
Tiger milk mushroom’s lung claims rest mainly on animal research and one small human study. The best-studied form is the cultivated TM02 extract.
Frequently asked questions about Tiger Milk Mushroom
Does tiger milk mushroom help asthma or lungs?
The evidence is early. A 2026 systematic review found mainly animal and lab studies plus one small human study, and called for larger trials.
What is TM02?
A cultivated, standardized tiger milk mushroom product from Malaysia used in most modern studies. Other products may not match it.
Is tiger milk mushroom safe?
In a 6-month trial of 52 breast-cancer survivors, 1,040 mg a day of TM02 caused no more side effects than placebo.
References
- [1]Paneerselvam GS et al. — Effectiveness of tiger milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) on asthma: a systematic review (BMC Pulm Med, 2026)
- [2]Eng JY et al. — Efficacy and safety of Lignosus rhinocerus (Cooke) Ryvarden TM02 supplementation for immune-challenged patients with localised breast cancer in remission: a randomised controlled trial (BMC Complement Med Ther, 2025)
- [3]Nallathamby N et al. — A Status Review of the Bioactive Activities of Tiger Milk Mushroom Lignosus rhinocerotis (Front Pharmacol, 2017)
Products we reviewed containing Tiger Milk Mushroom
Based on recorded labels or seller-described formulas. Inclusion does not establish a match to the strains, preparations or amounts studied here; check each review's disclosure limits.