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. 2008 Jun;5(2):205-19.
doi: 10.1093/ecam/nem016.

Immunomodulating Activity of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 in Mice and in Human Volunteers

Ying Liu  1 , Yasushi Fukuwatari, Ko Okumura, Kazuyoshi Takeda, Ken-Ichi Ishibashi, Mai Furukawa, Naohito Ohno, Kazu Mori, Ming Gao, Masuro Motoi
Affiliations

Immunomodulating Activity of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 in Mice and in Human Volunteers

Ying Liu et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Jun.

Abstract

We performed studies on murine models and human volunteers to examine the immunoenhancing effects of the naturally outdoor-cultivated fruit body of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (i.e. Agaricus blazei). Antitumor, leukocyte-enhancing, hepatopathy-alleviating and endotoxin shock-alleviating effects were found in mice. In the human study, percentage body fat, percentage visceral fat, blood cholesterol level and blood glucose level were decreased, and natural killer cell activity was increased. Taken together, the results strongly suggest that the A. brasiliensis fruit body is useful as a health-promoting food.

Keywords: outdoor-cultivated; A. brasiliensis; NK activity; clinical research; cold water extract; safety.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Cell number and population of splenocytes from AgHWE or CWE p.o. mice. AgHWE, CWE or saline (200 μl/mouse, 1 day, 1 shot), was p.o. administered to C3H/HeN mice for 14 days. The splenocytes were collected from each group of mice on day 14. Total cell number was counted with a hemocytometer (left). CD4/CD8α were measured by flow cytometory (right). The results represent the means ± S.D. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 compared with control by Student's t-test.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Effect of AgCWE or HWE p.o. on Con A-Induced liver injury. (Left) AgHWE or CWE (200 μl/mouse) was p.o. administered to Balb/c mice for 7 days. Con A (20 mg kg−1) was iv administered on day 7 and the sera were prepared 24 h later from each group of mice. Results are expressed as the mean ± SD *P < 0.05 compared with control by Student's t-test. (N = 7). (right) AgHWE or CWE (600 μl/mouse) was p.o. administered to Balb/c mice for 7 days. Con A (20 mg kg−1) was iv administered on day 7 and the sera were prepared 24 h later from each group of mice. Results are expressed as the mean ± SD ***P < 0.001 compared with control by Student's t-test. (N = 3).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Effect of oral A. brasiliensis on LPS-induced cytokine production. β-Glucan (SCG, 200 μg/mouse) was i.p. administered to Balb/c mice on day 0. AgHWE or CWE was p.o. administered to these mice for 7 days. LPS (10 μg/mouse) was iv administered as a triggering reagent on day 7 and the sera were prepared 1.5 h later from each group of mice. IL-6 and TNF-α was measured by ELISA. Results are expressed as the mean ± SD *P < 0.05 compared with control by Student's t-test. (left) TNF-α, (right) IL-6.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on body weight. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on BMI. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on percentage body fat. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on percentage visceral fat. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on total protein level. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on blood glucose level. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on blood cholesterol level from the viewpoint of Mibyou. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on neutral fat level from the viewpoint of Mibyou. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 12.
Figure 12.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on liver function. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 13.
Figure 13.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on liver function (GOT Value) from the viewpoint of mibyou. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 14.
Figure 14.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on liver function (GPT Value) from the viewpoint of mibyou. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 15.
Figure 15.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on liver function (γ-GTP Value) from the viewpoint of mibyou. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 16.
Figure 16.
Comparison of NK cell count between groups before and after administration of A. brasiliensis. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 17.
Figure 17.
Effect of A. brasiliensis on NK cell activity. (Comparison between A. blazei group and placebo group). Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 18.
Figure 18.
Comparison of NK cell activity before and after administration of A. brasiliensis. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
Figure 19.
Figure 19.
Comparison of NK cell activity before and after administration of placebo. Experimental protocol was shown in ‘Methods’.
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