Almond Mushroom - Agaricus blazei Murrill – Mandelpilz – Agaricus subrufescens – Agaricus brasiliensis – Cogumelo do Sol – Royal Sun Agaric – Himematsutake - Ji Song Rong

Almond Mushroom

Agaricus blazei Murrill – Mandelpilz – Agaricus subrufescens – Agaricus brasiliensis – Cogumelo do Sol – Royal Sun Agaric – Himematsutake – Ji Song Rong

The mushroom for comprehensive prevention

 

Interesting compounds

  • High content of β-D-glucans – BRM (Biological Response Modifiers): immunomodulation and anti-tumor activity (1-7).

  • High protein content (45% in dried powder) (2,5).

  • High lipid content – linoleic, oleic, and stearic acid: important components of cell membranes (3,8).

  • Various polysaccharides with direct cytotoxic effects on degenerated cells - AB-P, ATOM, AB-FP: antitumor/anticarcinogenic activity (1).

  • Hydrazine-agaritine: some authors claim it has antitumor activity (4,9), although it has long been known to be carcinogenic in animals; however, a clinical study found no toxicity in humans (7).

  • Blazein: antitumor (2,9).

  • Blazeispiran A (syn. Blazeispirol A) (4): antitumor (2).

  • Agarol (ergosterol derivative): antitumor (2,5,7,10).

  • Agaricoglycerides (4): anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antidiabetic effects (2).

  • Synthesis of ubiquinone (syn. Coenzyme Q10) (1) - inhibits tyrosinase activity and melanin production (6,11,12).

  • Nutritional content: moisture 90%, protein 2-40%, fat 2-8%, carbohydrates 1-55%, fiber 3-32% (7), phosphorus 939mg/100g, iron 18.2mg/100g, calcium 41.6mg/100g, thiamine (Vit B1) 0.48mg/100g, riboflavin (Vit B2) 2.84mg/100g, niacin (Vit B3) 40.9mg/100g (5).

 

Areas of action and applications

  • Complementary cancer treatment (1-4,6-8):

  • In vitro studies have investigated the antitumor effect against lymphomas (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), breast, liver, prostate, lung, skin, and stomach cancer cells. Agaritine showed effects against leukemic cells (4,9), blazein – against lung and stomach cancer cells (2,9), blazeispiran A – against liver cancer cells (2), agarol – against lung, stomach, tongue, and oral cancer cells (2,5,7,10).

  • In vivo studies reported positive results with the administration of agarol in mice with solid tumors (10), with over 90% prevention and cure rates in mice with sarcomas (6,7). ABM showed inhibitory effects on tumor size, neoangiogenesis, and metastasis in fibrosarcoma, leukemia, myeloma, lung, ovarian, gynecological, and prostate cancers (13).

  • In clinical studies, it improves the effectiveness and alleviates the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers, leukemia, and multiple myeloma (13).

  • Autoimmune diseases:

  • Diabetes mellitus I (2,6).

  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (4).

  • Graves' disease (14).

  • Lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis (6).

  • Allergic diseases – protected against IgE-mediated allergy in a mouse model (1-3,8,13) and reduced general allergic symptoms in asthma patients in combination with H. erinaceus and G. frondosa (15).

  • Viral and bacterial infections:

  • HIV patients experienced positive effects in combination with conventional antiretroviral treatment (2,3).

  • Herpes simplex virus – antiviral effects in cell and animal studies (3,6).

  • Streptococcal infections – prevention and improved survival rate in vivo mouse models (2-4,6,7,13).

  • Septicemia – protection against fatal septicemia in a mouse model of fecal peritonitis (7).

  • Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) – reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood and calprotectin in stool in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (4,13).

  • Hepatoprotective:

  • Hepatitis B and C – reduces viral load and normalizes liver function in human studies (1-3,6-8,13).

  • Toxic liver damage – improved alcoholic liver damage in vivo (1,3,8).

  • Metabolic syndrome:

  • Diabetes mellitus II (1-3,8) - a clinical study reported improved insulin sensitivity (13).

  • Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (1-3,8) - clinical administration of ABM extract showed significant blood pressure reduction, although results on cholesterol-lowering effects were inconsistent across clinical studies (7).

  • Osteoporosis – positive effects in animal models (2).

  • Respiratory diseases:

  • Asthma – positive therapeutic effects in vivo mouse models (1-3,13).

  • Chronic bronchitis (1,6).

  • Skin health:

  • Protection from environmental toxins, pollution, chemicals, radiation. Reduces age spots, stimulates dermal fibroblasts, prevents benign keratoses, malignant growths, melanoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and mycosis fungoides (6).

  • Inhibits melanogenesis by suppressing tyrosinase activity in vitro and in vivo mouse models (16,17).

  • Traditional uses (7):

  • In TCM for lumbago (lower back pain), leg pain, numb limbs, discomfort in tendons and veins (6).

  • Physical and emotional stress.

  • Stimulating the immune system.

  • Improving quality of life in diabetics.

  • Lowering cholesterol levels.

  • Preventing osteoporosis.

  • Preventing stomach ulcers.

  • Treating circulatory and digestive problems.

  • Fighting cancer.

 

Side effects

  • Three cases of severe liver dysfunction were reported in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy during the administration of ABM extracts (7).

References

  1. Bianchi I, Marrocchesi R. Guarire con i funghi medicinali: proprietà terapeutiche e istruzioni per l'uso dei 12 funghi medicinali più importanti. Treviso: Editoriale Programma; 2015.

  2. Guthmann J. Heilende Pilze: die wichtigsten Arten der Welt: Beschreibung - Inhaltsstoffe - Wirkung. 2., aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Wiebelsheim: Quelle & Meyer Verlag; 2021. 446 p.

  3. Rebensburg P, Kappl A. Gesund mit Heilpilzen: Immunsystem stärken, Krankheiten heilen und Beschwerden lindern. München: riva; 2020. 271 p.

  4. Haertel B, Rimböck M, Neuerer T. Vitalpilze – modulierend - aufbauend - stärkend. Salzburg: Druckerei Roser GmbH; 2019.

  5. Stamets P. Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms =: Shokuyō oyobi yakuyō kinoko no saibai. 3rd ed. Berkeley, Calif: Ten Speed Press; 2000. 574 p.

  6. Rogers RD. The fungal pharmacy: the complete guide to medicinal mushrooms and lichens of North America. Berkeley, Calif: North Atlantic Books; 2011. 591 p.

  7. Firenzuoli F, Gori L, Lombardo G. The Medicinal Mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill: Review of Literature and Pharmaco-Toxicological Problems. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Mar;5(1):3–15.

  8. Martin Powell. Medicinal mushrooms. [Internet]. Place of publication not identified: Mycology Press; [cited 2021 Dec 27]. Available from: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11571096

  9. Wisitrassameewong K, Karunarathna SC, Thongklang N, Zhao R, Callac P, Moukha S, et al. Agaricus subrufescens: A review. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2012 Apr;19(2):131–46.

  10. Shimizu T, Kawai J, Ouchi K, Kikuchi H, Osima Y, Hidemi R. Agarol, an ergosterol derivative from Agaricus blazei, induces caspase-independent apoptosis in human cancer cells. Int J Oncol. 2016 Apr;48(4):1670–8.

  11. Hseu Y-C, Ho Y-G, Mathew DC, Yen H-R, Chen X-Z, Yang H-L. The in vitro and in vivo depigmenting activity of Coenzyme Q10 through the down-regulation of α-MSH signaling pathways and induction of Nrf2/ARE-mediated antioxidant genes in UVA-irradiated skin keratinocytes. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2019 Jun;164:299–310.

  12. Zhang M, Dang L, Guo F, Wang X, Zhao W, Zhao R. Coenzyme Q(10) enhances dermal elastin expression, inhibits IL-1α production and melanin synthesis in vitro. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2012 Jun;34(3):273–9.

  13. Hetland G, Johnson E, Lyberg T, Kvalheim G. The Mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill Elicits Medicinal Effects on Tumor, Infection, Allergy, and Inflammation through Its Modulation of Innate Immunity and Amelioration of Th1/Th2 Imbalance and Inflammation. Advances in Pharmacological Sciences. 2011;2011:1–10.

  14. Dr Walter Ardigò. Healing with Medicinal Mushrooms. A practical handbook. Youcanprint; 2017. 394 p.

  15. Hetland G, Tangen J-M, Mahmood F, Mirlashari MR, Nissen-Meyer LSH, Nentwich I, et al. Antitumor, Anti-inflammatory and Antiallergic Effects of Agaricus blazei Mushroom Extract and the Related Medicinal Basidiomycetes Mushrooms, Hericium erinaceus and Grifola frondosa: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Nutrients. 2020 May 8;12(5):1339.

  16. Huey-Chun H, Tzu-Fang H, Heng-Li C, Chin-Chu C, Shu-Wen C, Tsong-Min C. Inhibition of melanogenesis in murine melanoma cells by Agaricus brasiliensis methanol extract and anti-reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity. Afr J Microbiol Res. 2014 Feb;8(6):519–24.

  17. Mahmoud M, Hesham AE-L, Ahmed Y, Sayed M. Inhibition of melanogenesis by the extract from Agaricus blazei without affecting iNOS gene expression. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2010 Nov;26:2029–35.