Cytokine Levels After Consumption of a Medicinal Agaricus blazei Murill‐Based Mushroom Extract, AndoSan^™, in Patients with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in a Randomized Single‐Blinded Placebo‐Controlled Study

Abstract

Ingestion of the Agaricus blazei Murill-based mushroom extract AndoSan has been shown in randomized placebo-controlled studies to improve symptoms in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and also fatigue and quality of life in the latter patients. The aim was to examine whether this clinical impact of AndoSan intake could be explained by influence on foremost pro-inflammatory cytokines in the patients. Fifty patients with symptomatic UC and CD were randomized and blinded for oral daily intake of AndoSan or placebo. Blood samples taken before (visit 1) and after 21 days' (visit 3) consumption were analysed for cytokines IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4-8, IL-10, IL-12-13, IL-17, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-1ß and TNF-α. Baseline cytokine levels were similar in CD and UC. In CD, cytokine levels at visit 1 versus visit 3 were unaltered within the AndoSan and the placebo groups. Only IL-2 was significantly reduced at visit 3 in the Andosan compared with the placebo group. However, when combining IL-1ß, IL-6 and G-CSF in the patients with CD, the cytokine levels were significantly lower in the AndoSan - versus the placebo group, visit 3. In UC, levels of IL-2, IL-5 and MIP-1ß were reduced within the AndoSan group. IL-5 was also reduced at visit 3 compared with placebo. Generally, the effect on reduction in systemic cytokine levels by consumption of AndoSan was limited and supported only marginally anti-inflammatory effects in these patients. Therefore, other explanations behind the clinical anti-inflammatory effects than the contribution of cytokines seem more pertinent, including anti-allergic and antioxidant activities.

The Effect of Dietary Mushroom Agaricus bisporus on Intestinal Microbiota Composition and Host Immunological Function

“…A decrease in plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines has been observed in IBD patients after oral intake of a mushroom extract isolated from a mixture of basidiomycetes mushrooms Agaricus blazei Murill, Hericium erinaceum , and Grifola frondosa. However, these anti-inflammatory effects have been marginal and not reproducible for all patients [ 17 , 19 ].…”

“…Thus, processing of the mushroom may determine the effect produced on immune cells, possibly due to different solubility and potency of specific compounds [ 10 , 11 ]. Edible mushrooms have been studied extensively for their immune modulating properties in animal models including β-glucan-induced anti-inflammatory effects [ 3 , 12 ], enhanced NK cell activity [ 11 , 13 ], improved dendritic cell (DC) maturation and function [ 14 ], increased cytokine production [ 15 ], increased protective immunity from Salmonella vaccination [ 16 ], and anti-inflammatory effects in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Mushroom Polysaccharides: Chemistry and Antiobesity, Antidiabetes, Anticancer, and Antibiotic Properties in Cells, Rodents, and Humans

“…Treatments include the use of immunomodulators. Norwegian scientists reported that ingestion of an Agaricus blazei mushroom extract AndoSan™ improved symptoms in patients suffering from Crohn’s disease and the related malady ulcerative colitis [ 217 , 218 ]. The authors suggest that because the treatment did not seem to cause any adverse effects, the mushroom preparation has the potential to be used as a safe supplement to conventional medication.…”

Effects of Non-Starch Polysaccharides on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…Another study suggested that Chaga mushroom extract can protect DNA against the oxidative damage in the lymphocytes of IBD patients [ 27 ]. AndoSan™ has also been applied in another randomized placebo-controlled study; however, these 50 patients exhibited active UC and CD, and only limited anti-inflammatory effects were observed in these patients [ 28 ].…”