Aqueous Extract ofAgaricus blazeiMurrill Prevents Age-Related Changes in the Myenteric Plexus of the Jejunum in Rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of the supplementation with aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) on biometric and blood parameters and quantitative morphology of the myenteric plexus and jejunal wall in aging Wistar rats. The animals were euthanized at 7 (C7), 12 (C12 and CA12), and 23 months of age (C23 and CA23). The CA12 and CA23 groups received a daily dose of ABM extract (26 mg/animal) via gavage, beginning at 7 months of age. A reduction in food intake was observed with aging, with increases in the Lee index, retroperitoneal fat, intestinal length, and levels of total cholesterol and total proteins. Aging led to a reduction of the total wall thickness, mucosa tunic, villus height, crypt depth, and number of goblet cells. In the myenteric plexus, aging quantitatively decreased the population of HuC/D+ neuronal and S100+ glial cells, with maintenance of the nNOS+ nitrergic subpopulation and increase in the cell body area of these populations. Supplementation with the ABM extract preserved the myenteric plexus in old animals, in which no differences were detected in the density and cell body profile of neurons and glial cells in the CA12 and CA23 groups, compared with C7 group. The supplementation with the aqueous extract of ABM efficiently maintained myenteric plexus homeostasis, which positively influenced the physiology and prevented the death of the neurons and glial cells.

Comparison of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of different extracts of Agaricus blazei Murril

“…The antioxidant activity of the mushrooms in general is related to their content in phenolic compounds and this is valid also for the sun mushroom (Carvajal et al, 2012;Soares et al, 2009). In addition to the verification of antioxidant activity in vitro, in vivo antioxidant activity of A. blazei extracts has been reported in brain, hepatic and enteric neuronal tissues in rats (Oliveira et al, 2010;Sá-Nakanishi et al, 2014;Santi-Rampazzo et al, 2015;Soares et al, 2013a).…”

Nutraceuticals and Enteric Glial Cells

“…Likewise, the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from some plants such as Trichilia catigua [ 92 ] or fungi such as Agaricus blazei Murril [ 93 ] were shown to alleviate the effects of oxidative stress on EGCs in preclinical models of diabetes and aging.…”

Therapeutic Value of Medicinal Mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill

“…Aging mutates morpho-functional, biometric, blood factors in the jejunum, and induce morphoquantitative variations in enteric NS. Long-term administration of aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei Murill greatly sustained myenteric plexus homeostasis that helps to maintain physiology also stops the death of neuron cells 21 .…”