Agaricus blazei Murill - immunomodulatory properties and health benefits

Abstract

The Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM), also known as Agaricus brasiliensis L. due to its origin in Brazilian rain forest, is an edible mushroom of the Basidiomycetes family, which also comprises medicinal mushrooms such as Hericium erinaceus and Grifola frondosa. AbM has been used in traditional medicine locally and also recently as a health food worldwide. Since it has been found to possess immunomodulatory properties, its biological and health-related effects, as well as its isolated active ingredients e.g. beta-glucans, have been examined by scientists. Other investigations have been performed with mixed mushroom products, such as AndoSanTM, which contains mostly AbM, but also the two other mushrooms above. AbM-related benefits reviewed here include effects against cancer, infections, inflammation, allergy/ asthma and diabetes. Effects of AndoSanTM and other AbM-based extracts have been compared in a bacterial sepsis model.Keywords: Agaricus blazei, AndoSanTM, allergy, asthma, cancer, infection, inflammation, immunomodulation.