Agaricus blazei is a medicinal
mushroom that contains a special class of polysaccharides known as "beta
glucans." Studies show beta glucans stimulate activity of natural killer (NK)
cells, which are an important part of the immune system.
The Agaricus blazei in this product is
extracted with the preferred hot water/alcohol method to increase its
digestibility and enhance bioavailability of the polysaccharides.
Originally discovered in Brazil,
Agaricus blazei is widely consumed in many countries, where it is regarded
as a health food, due to its medicinal properties. The mushroom is used both
in tea form and as a food. Since 1965, strains of Agaricus blazei have been
imported to Japan, where it is now widely cultivated and researched.1
Folk Use The folk use of this herb encompasses a broad profile of reported
effects,1,2 including:
__1) Fighting physical and emotional
stress.*
__2) Immune support.*
__3) Maintaining normal blood sugar levels.*
__4) Maintaining already normal cholesterol levels.*
__5) Digestive support.*
__6) Bone health.*
__7) Liver support*
Among the above properties attributed
to Agaricus, immune support is the major focus of usage scientific research
to date. Like other medicinal mushrooms, Agaricus contains complex
polysaccharides that stimulate the immune system. It is reported that
Agaricus is utilized for this purpose by 300,000 to 500,000 people in Japan
annually, where yearly production of the dried mushroom ranges from 100,000
to 300,000 kg.2
Agaricus blazei has been the subject of research in
Japan, where investigations have focused on the role of mushroom
polysaccharides as "biological response modifiers that can stimulate
immune function. Studies have shown that beta glucans extracted from
Agaricus are the active polysaccharides, with 1,6 beta-glucan as the most
potent immunomodulator.3 Fungi-derived beta glucans
have been found to stimulate the release of tumor necrosis factor from
immune cells called "macrophages."4 While activating
the immune response to abnormal cells, beta glucans have no effect on
normal cells.5 Additional experiments have shown
that Agaricus blazei activates the alternative complement pathway, which
is an important part of the body’s immune defense against foreign
organisms.6 Agaricus extracts have demonstrated an
ability to help maintain cellular health through an antimutagenic effect
on cells.2,7 In the test tube, isolated fractions of
Agaricus blazei have been found to inhibit proliferation of white blood
cells and cytokines that can cause inflammation if over expressed. These
results suggest Agaricus may help regulate immune over-activity.8
Liver protection against
toxins*
A water extract of Agaricus blazei was tested on rat
liver cells exposed to the toxic chemical diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Rats
were administered the mushroom extract for two weeks and then injected
with the toxin. Compared to control rats that did not receive the extract,
the rats given Agaricus showed markedly less liver damage. Different doses
of the toxin where used to gauge the level of protection exerted by the
mushroom. Liver enzymes were lower in rats that received moderate, but not
high, doses of the toxin, leading researchers to conclude that Agaricus
protects against moderate, but not severe, chemical-induced liver
toxicity. No adverse effects were seen.9
A group of medical researchers in
China has reported that 10 hepatitis patients given Agaricus blazei showed
improvements in liver function and hematology tests.10
Scientific References
1. Menoli, R. et al. Antimutagenic effects of the
mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill extracts on V79 cells. Mutation Research
2001; 496:5-13.
2. Takeshi, T, Kimura, Y, Okuda, H. Isolation of an antitumor compound from
Agaricus blazei Murrill and its mechanism of action. J. Nutr.
2001;131:1409-13.
3. Ohno, N, et al. Antitumor beta-glucan from the cultured fruit body of
Agaricus blazei. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 2001;24(7):820-28.
4. Olson. E, et al. Fungal beta-glucan interacts with vitronectin and
stimulates tumor necrosis factor release from macrophages. Infection and
Immunity 1996; 64:3548-54.
5. Fujimiya, Y, et al. Tumor-specific cytocidal and immunopotentiating
effects of relatively low molecular weight products derived from the
Basidiomycete, Agaricus blazei Murril. Anticancer Research 1999;19:113-18.
6. Shimizu, S, et al. Activation of the alternative complement pathway by
Agaricus blazei Murrill Phytomedicine 2002; 9(6):536-45.
7. de Olivera, JM, et al. Antigenotoxic effects of aqueous extracts of sun
mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill lineage 99/26) in mammalian cells in
vitro. Food and Chemical Toxicology 2002; 40:1775-80.
8. Kuo, Y-C, et al. Cell cycle progression and cytokine gene expression of
human peripheral blood mononuclear cells modulated by Agaricus blazei. J Lab
Clin Med 2002; 140:176-87.
9. Barbisan, LF, et al. Influence of aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei on
rat liver toxicity induced by different doses of diethylnitrosamine. Journal
of Ethnopharmacology 2002; 83:25-32.
10. Li Rong, W, et al. Observation on the treatment effect of Agaricus
blazei Murrill to the liver function of chronic hepatitis patients.
Unpublished report.
*Above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
