For thousands of years, mushrooms have been used as food and medicine. Evidence of their use has been documented by the ancient Greeks and Romans. There is evidence of o more brood-based use in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 3000 years, In Japan and other Asian nations, the use of mushrooms dotes bock hundreds of years.
Mushrooms are not plants but are classified as fungi, with over 1 .5 million types classified between edible, toxic, psychoactive and medicinal. In the medicinal category, the most commonly known are reishi, maitake, shiitake, and turkey tail among others.
In Japan, Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) is the leading medicinal mushroom in complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), as an adjuvant with cancer chemotherapy drugs after the removal of a malignant tumor (Mizuno 1. International J of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2002), (Ley 8. Medicinal Mushrooms for Immune Enhancement: Agaricus blazei Murrill, 2001). ABM contains a high concentration of beta-d -glucan, ergosterol, and is rich in linoleic acid, palmitorenic acid, and B- vitamins.
Agaricus blazei MurilI is native to the Atlantic Rainforest region of Southeastern Brazil. Unlike other mushroom species, ABM flourishes only under specific environmental conditions. Of the ABM cultivated In Brazil, approximately 90% are exported to Japan, which has become a dominant worldwide market for this mushroom, and a very quality- conscious market place, as well. It is presently one of the most expensive and valued cultivated mushrooms on the world market.
In Brazil, ABM has been port of the regular diet of local residents in the Piedade area, for many generations. In the late 1960’s, Japanese researchers discovered a very low incidence of chronic illness among these local people, such as, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and heart disease. This discovery, led them to believe that the ABM mushroom was a contributing factor and samples were sent for further research and evaluation to the Deportment of Pharmacology at Tokyo University and the National Cancer Center in Japan. Many of the studies examined the mushroom’s immunostimulating, anti-tumor and anti-mutagenic activities. In addition, other studies were done to show how ABM might promote the body’s natural defense mechanisms to fight a variety of ‘infectious agents including cancers. There is over 40 years of scientific research worldwide.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Researchers have found the highest concentration of polysaccharides in ABM - more so than other mushrooms; including reishi, maitake and shitake. These biochemical’s are one of the most important substances responsible for boosting the body’s defense system against viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic or neoplastic invaders. They also help to reduce excessive immunological reactions to help maintain a healthy immune system overall balance. The polysaccharides contained in ABM may activate various immune system cells and vitalize the production of immune mediators, resulting in the production of cytokines, interferon and interleukin, which are important components of white blood cells.
Many other bioactive compounds hove been isolated from ABM including medicinal triterpenoids and sterols. Triterpenoids and natural sterols promote good blood circulation and assist to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol (LDL). Mushrooms are considered one of the best sources of ergosterols, which are considered to be a natural anti-angiogenic substance. Its mechanism of action consists of inhibiting the proliferation of blood vessels that support tumors and restricting its growth. The tumors may become stationary, smaller in size, and more responsive to surgery and/or chemotherapy.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Mushrooms ore also natural adaptogens, which help regulate the endocrine functions, bringing the body into balance by normalizing glands, organs, hormones and other internal functions. ABM also Contains several valuable nutrients as needed to maintain health. The FDA rates healthy foods by the amount of daily nutrients needed in a single serving, with 20% being rated as excellent and 10% as good. In several categories mushrooms rate excellent. Many health practitioners are recommending mushrooms to be included in their patient’s diets or used as supplements to help with weight loss, immune disorders and non-insulin dependent diabetes. ABM contains 192 nutrients, much more than any other herb or plant.
It is a general belief cancer is triggered by the break down of the immune system caused by aging, exposure to toxins and pollutants, high stress life styles, poor diet and more. In the quest to discover ways to enhance the human immune system, researchers studying ABM established it contains many unique components. Most ABM studies focused on cancer have shown beta-d-glucon possesses antimutagenic, anti-metastic and anti-tumor effects attributed to immunological host mediated mechanisms.
The most common form of conventional treatment of cancer is radiotherapy, surgery and/or chemotherapy, but they frequently result in serious side effects that cause damage and discomfort to patients undergoing treatment. These side effects may be greatly reduced by boosting the body’s own immune system. The proteins, glycoproteins, polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides found in ABM have these immune enhancing properties.
ABM AND DIABETES
Recent research on ABM was done to determine if it improves insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. A randomized clinical double. blind, placebo-controlled trial was done using registered type 2 diabetic patients. All were diagnosed with the condition for at least one year and who were taking anti-diabetic drugs for o minimum of six months. Participants were randomly assigned placebo or supplement of ABM extract for 12 weeks. The results showed the ABM group had insulin resistance significantly lowered and plasma adiponectin, a protein hormone that modulates a number of metabolic processes, including glucose regulation, increased 20% over the placebo group (Hsu CH, Liao YL, Lin SC, Hwong KC, Chou P Agaricus Blazei Murill in combination with metformin and gliclazide J Alterm Complement Med. 2007).
In a Japanese study, tests were conducted to determine the effect of ABM on diabetic symptoms (Higoki M, Eguchi F, Watanabe Y. Pharmacological effects of the Agaricus blazei] Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi, 1997). Results showed both blood sugar levels of all the type 1 and type 2 patients become normal after 2 months. Glucose levels in urine became negative for both type patients after three months, and the remainder after four months.
ABM has an excellent texture, and a pleasant almond flavor which has attracted the interest of gourmet chefs around the world, incorporating the mushroom into soups, sausages, canned products, crackers, pastry, teas and other culinary applications.
The statement contained herein has not been evaluated by the FSA. The information contained is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used to diagnose, prescribe or replace proper medical core.
