An Extract of the Mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill Administered Orally Protects Against Systemic Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection in Mice

Abstract

The aim was to investigate the antibacterial effect of the biologically active and edible mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM). A water extract of AbM or PBS control was administered orally before or with challenge to NIH/OlaHsd mice, experimentally infected intraperitoneally with the moderately virulent Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B. End points were bacteraemia and survival rate. The AbM extract, protected against systemic S. pneumoniae 6B infection in the mice. It was most effective when given 24 h before inoculation but did also have protective effects when given together with challenge compared with control. The lack of antibiotic effect on pneumococci in vitro and increased levels of cytokines MIP-2 and TNF-a in the serum of mice receiving AbM extract, indicated that the protective effect of AbM was due to the involvement of the native immune system. This is the first report of anti-infection effects of AbM in vivo. Our results suggest that AbM extract may be useful as additional prophylactic and possibly therapeutic treatment against bacterial and possibly other infections in humans.

Growth of Mycelium of Different Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms on Medium Supplemented with Digestate from AD Biogas Plant

“…Agaricus subrufescens is valued not only for its taste but also for health reasons. Antifungal properties (Bernardshaw et al, 2005), antivirals (Sorimachi et al, 2001), antioxidant properties (Oliveira et al, 2007;Soares et al, 2009) and antiallergic properties (Ellertsen and Hetland, 2009;Mizuno, 2010). In addition, it lowers blood cholesterol, stimulates the immune system, and is effective for treating AIDS (Mizuno, 2010;Liu et al, 2008;Lima et al, 2011).…”

Effect of Hot Water Extract from Agaricus Blazei Murill on Chemotaxis of Neutrophils

“…ABM extract is known for its anti-tumor activity [2,[7][8][9][10][11] and ability to activate immune cells, such as T cells, macrophages and NK cells [5,12,13]. A few studies describe ABM extract inhibiting bacterial infection [4,14]. Despite the reported anti-bacterial property of ABM hot water extract, there are no reports concerning its chemotactic activity for neutrophils.…”

“…In bacterial infection, neutrophils migrate to the site of infection, produce Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and phagocytize bacteria. Bernardshaw and colleagues found that ABM inhibits systemic S. pneumonide 6B infection in mice [4], however, the exact mechanism of inhibition remains unclear. Currently, there is no literature describing studies of chemotactic activity of ABM extract for neutrophils.…”

“…Agaricus Blazei Murill (ABM) is reported to stimulate anti-tumor, anti-infection, and immune activity [2][3][4]. The hot water extract of ABM is used particularly in Japan and Brazil as preventive medicine for cancer, hepatitis, atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, dermatitis and allergy [1,5,6].…”

An Extract of the Medicinal Mushroom Agaricus Blazei Murill can Protect Against Allergy

“…Because of its alleged health effects, the mushroom was brought to Japan in the mid-60-ies and subjected to biomedical research. AbM was found to be rich in immuno-modulating substances such as β-glucans [3,4] and proteoglycans [5], and it had antiinfection [6,7] and anti-tumor [4,5] effects in mice.…”