How It Works
Bottom Line: There is preliminary evidence suggesting that Agaricus extract may benefit patients with certain cancers. More studies are needed to confirm these observations.
Agaricus blazei is an edible mushroom grown in Brazil and Japan. It is used to treat arteriosclerosis, hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, dermatitis, and cancer. Laboratory studies and experiments done in mice have shown that Agaricus can stimulate the immune system and may have anticancer effects. The active components are thought to be polysaccharides and compounds that prevent formation of blood vessels required for tumor development. A recent study done in gynecological cancer patients showed that Agaricus extract, when taken orally, improved their quality of life. However, more data are needed to confirm these observations. There are case reports showing Agaricus may cause liver damage and death.
Purported Uses
Arteriosclerosis
There is no clinical data to support this use.
Cancer treatment
One study showed that Agaricus extract taken orally, improved the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancers.
Chronic hepatitis
Agaricus is used in traditional medicine to treat hepatitis but there is no scientific data to confirm this use.
Diabetes
There are limited in vitro and animal data suggesting that Agaricus mushroom has antidiabetic effect.
Hyperlipidemia
This use is not backed by scientific evidence.
Stimulant
There is no clinical data to support this use.
Research Evidence
Cancer treatment:
Hundred patients with cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers were treated with either carboplatin plus VP16 (etoposide), or carboplatin plus taxol every 3 weeks for at least three cycles. They were divided into two groups that received oral Agaricus extract or placebo along with the treatments. Based on blood tests, researchers found that the Agaricus group had a significantly higher natural killer cell activity compared to those on placebo. In addition there was a reduction in chemotherapy associated side effects such as emotional instability, alopecia, general weakness, and decrease in appetite. However, there was no difference in lymphokine-activated killer and monocyte activities between the two groups.
Do Not Take If
You are allergic to Agaricus or other mushrooms.
Side Effects
May cause liver damage in cancer patients
Scientific Name
Agaricus blazei Murrill
Common Name
Himematsutake, Agarikusutake, Kawarihiratake, Cogumelo do Sol, Sun mushroom
Clinical Summary
Agaricus blazei is an edible mushroom native to Brazil and cultivated in Japan for its medicinal uses. It has been used to treat arteriosclerosis, hepatitis, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, dermatitis, and cancer. In vitro experiments and studies done in mice have shown that Agaricus has immunomodulatory, antitumor, and antimutagenic properties. The polysaccharides and anti-angiogenic compounds present in Agaricus are thought to be responsible for its antitumor properties. Such effects are believed to be exerted by immunopotentiation or direct inhibition of angiogenesis (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6). A recent randomized study showed that oral administration of Agaricus extract improved the natural killer cell activity and quality of life in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (7). However, more studies are needed to confirm these observations. Agaricus was also shown to have antidiabetic effects in vitro and in animal studies (10) (11). In addition, results from a study done in human subjects with type 2 diabetes suggest benefits of agaricus extract in improving insulin resistance (13). Liver damage and deaths following consumption of Agaricus have been reported (12). Due to its immunopotentiating effects, Agaricus can potentially interfere with immunomodulating drugs althought such interactions have not been studied.
Food Sources
Agaricus is an edible fungus. It is available as freeze-dried mushroom or as concentrated liquid extracts, teas, or capsules. The whole mushroom is often added to soups, sauces, or hot teas.
Purported uses
- Arteriosclerosis
- Cancer treatment
- Diabetes
- Hepatitis
- Hyperlipidemia
- Stimulant
Constituents
Polysaccharides: β-1, 6-D-glucan
Sterols: Ergosterol
Linoleic acid
Lipids
Anti-angiogenic compounds: Sodium pyroglutamate (A-1) and A-2
(1) (2)
Mechanism of Action
A major constituent of Agaricus, ergosterol, was found to inhibit tumor growth in mice via direct inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis
(2). Other studies demonstrated that polysaccharides present in Agaricus extract caused activation of macrophages
(6) or natural killer cells
(8) and induced cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity in tumor-bearing mice. Both aqueous and organic extracts of Agaricus offered protection to cells exposed to methyl methanesulphonate, a mutagenic agent. The stimulus produced by linoleic acid on β DNA polymerase, an enzyme involved in repair mechanism following exposure of DNA to alkylating agents, is thought responsible for such an effect
(9).
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to Agaricus.
Adverse Reactions
Consumption of Agaricus has been associated with hepatic dysfunction in cancer patients (12).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Because Agaricus extract activates the immune system, it may interfere with certain drugs that modulate the immune system.
Lab Interactions
- May lower blood glucose level (10).
- May cause elevation of liver enzymes (12).
Literature Summary and Critique
Ahn W.-S, et al. Natural killer cell activity and quality of life were improved by consumption of a mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murrill Kyowa, in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2004; 14:589-594.
In this study 100 patients with cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers were treated with either carboplatin plus VP16 (etoposide), or carboplatin plus taxol every three weeks for at least three cycles. They were randomized to receive oral Agaricus extract (three packs per day, one pack each time) or placebo along with the treatments. Blood samples were drawn one day before first chemotherapy and one day before second chemotherapy. Researchers found that the Agaricus group had a significantly higher natural killer cell activity compared to those on placebo. In addition there was improvement in chemotherapy associated side effects such as emotional instability, alopecia, general weakness, and decrease in appetite. However, there was no difference in lymphokine-activated killer and monocyte activities between the two groups. Further studies are required to confirm these observations.
References
- Kimura Y, et al. Isolation of an anti-angiogenic substance from Agaricus blazei Murill: its antitumor and antimetastatic actions. Cancer Sci 2004; 95(9):758-764.
- Takaku T, Kimura Y, Okuda H. Isolation of an antitumor compound from Agaricus blazei Murill and its mechanism of action. J Nutr 2001; 131(5):1409-1413.
- Lee YL, et al. Oral administration of Agaricus blazei (H1 strain) inhibited tumor growth in a sarcoma 180 inoculation model. Exp Anim 2003; 52(5):371-375.
- Itoh H, et al. Inhibitory action of a (1-->6)-beta-D-glucan-protein complex (F III-2-b) isolated from Agaricus blazei Murill ("himematsutake") on Meth A fibrosarcoma-bearing mice and its antitumor mechanism. Jpn J Pharmacol 1994; 66(2):265-271.
- Fujimiya Y, et al. Selective tumoricidal effect of soluble proteoglucan extracted from the basidiomycete, Agaricus blazei Murill, mediated via natural killer cell activation and apoptosis. Cancer Immunol Immunother 1998; 46(3):147-159.
- Mizuno M, et al. Polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei stimulate lymphocyte T-cell subsets in mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 1998; 62(3):434-437.
- Ahn WS, et al. Natural killer cell activity and quality of life were improved by consumption of a mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa, in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2004; 14(4):589-594.
- Takimoto H, et al. Potentiation of cytotoxic activity in naive and tumor-bearing mice by oral administration of hot-water extracts from Agaricus brazei fruiting bodies. Biol Pharm Bull 2004; 27(3):404-406.
- Luiz RC, et al. Mechanism of anticlastogenicity of Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom organic extracts in wild type CHO (K(1)) and repair deficient (xrs5) cells by chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchange assays. Mutat Res 2003; 528(1-2):75-79.
- Gray AM, Flatt PR. Insulin-releasing and insulin-like activity of Agaricus campestris (mushroom). J Endocrinol. 1998; 157(2):259-66.
- Swanston-Flatt SK, et al. Glycaemic effects of traditional European plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. Diabetes Res. 1989; 10(2):69-73.
- Mukai H, Watanabe T, Ando M, et al. An alternative medicine, Agaricus blazei, may have induced severe hepatic dysfunction in cancer patients. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2006 Dec;36(12):808-10.
- Hsu CH, Liao YL, Lin SC, et al. The mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill in combination with Metformin and Gliclazide improves insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Alt Comp Med. 2007;13(1):97-102.
