Agaricus Blazei

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are a novel supplement with low toxicity but high instability. Polysaccharides are commonly used to stabilize selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to enhance their bioactivity. However, the physicochemical properties of polysaccharide-stabilized SeNPs can be influenced by the molecular weight of polysaccharides, which is a lack of in-depth study. In this study, Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharides (AbMP) were degraded via cold plasma treatment to obtain AbMP with a lower molecular weight, which were then used to prepare AbMP-SeNPs. Further, their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro simulated digestion were investigated. The plasma degradation mechanism of polysaccharides was revealed to be the breakage of glycosidic bonds, accompanied by the formation of C=O groups. After degradation, AbMP with a lower molecular weight decreased the particle size of AbMP-SeNPs and improved their storage stability. As the molecular weight of AbMP decreased, the Se release mechanism of AbMP-SeNPs transformed from Fickian release to non-Fickian diffusion during the simulated intestinal digestion. This study offers valuable insights for optimizing polysaccharide-stabilized SeNPs through adjusting the molecular weight of polysaccharides.

Estudio 2025 que examina la eficacia anticancerígena dependiente de la edad de los polisacáridos del hongo Agaricus blazei en cáncer de colon, mediada principalmente por modulación del sistema inmune.

Background/Objectives: Surgical resection of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often results in temporary suppression of natural killer cell activity (NKA), potentially increasing the risk of recurrence. This study aimed to evaluate whether multivitamin and mineral complexes containing Agaricus blazei could support postoperative immune recovery. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter pilot trial, 66 patients with stage I–III NSCLC received either a supplement or a placebo for 28 days post-surgery. NKA was assessed using an interferon-γ release assay preoperatively, on postoperative days (POD) 1–4, and on POD 30. Immune cell subsets, cytokine levels, clinical parameters, and quality of life were evaluated. Results: Both groups showed a postoperative decline in NKA, with recovery observed by POD 30. Although the increase in NKA was not statistically significant, the treatment group showed a greater relative recovery (17.8% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.104). Immune profiling demonstrated significantly better preservation of T cells (p = 0.026) and B cells (p = 0.001) as well as a greater reduction in monocytes (p = 0.031) in the treatment group. No significant differences were observed in cytokine levels, body mass index, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, or patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions: Supplementation with a multivitamin and mineral complex containing Agaricus blazei may contribute to favorable immune modulation in patients undergoing curative surgery for NSCLC. Larger long-term trials are warranted to confirm these findings and facilitate clinical application.

INTRODUCTION Ferroptosis is a recently identified iron-dependent programmed cell death closely linked to the progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). While studies have shown that FA-2-b-β extracted from Agaricus blazei Murill affects various malignancies, its specific role in modulating ferroptosis in DLBCL and the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. OBJECTIVES This study aims to elucidate the anticancer properties and mechanisms of FA-2-b-β in inducing ferroptosis in DLBCL cells. METHODS The cell counting kit 8 assay was carried out to evaluate the inhibition of cellular proliferation. Ferroptosis was evaluated using the ferrous colorimetric method, together with kits for measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), western blotting, JC-1 assays, and transmission electron microscopy. Reverse transcriptionquantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were conducted to determine whether FA- 2-b-β affected nuclear factor erythroid 2- related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). RESULTS FA-2-b-β induced ferroptosis in DLBCL cells by elevating the ROS and MDA levels, facilitating the accretion of Fe²⁺, diminishing GSH, upregulating the expression of PTGS2, and downregulating the expression of FTH1, SLC7A11, and GPX4. Furthermore, FA-2-b-β caused structural damage to mitochondria and diminished the mitochondrial membrane potential. The ferroptosis triggered by FA-2-b-β also led to the downregulation of Nrf2 and HO-1, thereby regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. CONCLUSION FA-2-b-β suppressed DLBCL cell growth by inducing ferroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, making it an attractive potential therapeutic option.

This study characterizes periodate-oxidized polysaccharides through FTIR, NMR, and thermogravimetric analysis, confirming successful oxidation with degrees ranging from 5.4 % to 36.3 % (theoretical degrees: 10 to 50 %). The materials exhibited reduced molecular weights (2.74 × 106 to 5.78 × 105 Da), negative zeta potentials (most pronounced in P50), decreased particle sizes, and pseudoplastic behavior. Zebrafish toxicity assessments revealed low acute toxicity (no significant mortality at 96 h, preventing IC₅₀ determination), though adverse effects including pigmentation changes, photophobia, and hyperactivity were observed. Open-field tests demonstrated CNS activity, with P0/P10 groups showing anxiolytic effects and P30/P50 exhibiting sedation. While the results confirm the materials' biocompatibility, the observed neurological effects warrant further investigation into their CNS interactions. The combination of low toxicity, and tunable rheological behavior suggests promising applications in food technology (particularly as safer alternatives to conventional crosslinkers) and biomaterial development. Future studies should focus on: elucidating structure-activity relationships governing CNS effects, optimizing oxidation protocols for specific applications, and evaluating performance in functional food and biomedical formulations. This work establishes oxidized polysaccharides as versatile biomaterials with dual potential as emulsifiers and bioactive carriers, while highlighting the need for targeted neuroactivity studies.

This study aims to isolate and characterize the physicochemical properties and evaluate the cytoprotective and gastroprotective potential of polysaccharides from the Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom (PAbM). The PAbM were isolated and characterized chemically. The cytoprotective potential of PAbM was studied using LLC-MK2 cells through the acetic acid-induced cell injury model. The gastroprotective activity was studied using the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. The PAbM showed a molecular mass of 3.35 × 106 g mol-1 and polydisperse character, being composed by glucose, mannose and galactose monomers. In vitro study showed the low cytotoxicity of PAbM against LLC-MK2 cells and their ability to attenuate cellular injury (3.12 and 6.25 μmol/L) caused by exposure to acetic acid, being able to reduce the parameters related to oxidative stress and prevent the occurrence of cellular alterations. The in vivo assay demonstrated the ability of PAbM to alleviate the morphological changes in the gastric mucosa induced by the administration of ethanol (50 and 150 mg/kg, p.o.). PAbM were able to reduce tissue mastocytosis and these results were more promising than those obtained for reference drug. The administration of PAbM was able to reduce TBARS levels and increase GSH levels, evidencing their antioxidant activity. Thus, this study reports the gastroprotective potential of PAbM and encourages future studies in the preclinical context to better understand the mechanisms linked to this activity and their use in clinical trials aimed at a new treatment for gastric ulcer.

Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharide (ABMP) has been found to exhibit significant immune regulatory effects, making them a promising candidate for complementary to the pharmacological treatment of colorectal cancer immune-related diseases. As the prevalence of colorectal cancer among younger individuals increases, the possible age-dependent anticancer modulatory effect of ABMP has not been clarified. This study evaluated the age-dependent immunoregulatory efficacy of polysaccharides extraction from A. blazei in colon tumor. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, and vibrational spectroscopic image analysis of subcutaneous tumor tissues after ABMP preventive intervention for 14 weeks were analyzed in depth. In vivo data demonstrated that ABMP could more effectively inhibit the growth of tumor in mice at 8 compared with 12 months old without toxic side effect. Concurrently, Raman imaging spectroscopy analysis showed that ABMP preventive intervention could significantly reduce the lipid content in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of 8-month-old subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice, suggesting that the changes in lipid content in TME are closely related to anticancer activity. These results stress the importance of considering age as a factor in polysaccharide adjuvant anticancer therapy. This work highlights for the first time that age is a key determinant in the ABMP preventive effectiveness by affecting lipid levels in the TME of tumor-bearing mice, thereby exerting anticancer activity.

A obesidade está fortemente associada à Doença Hepática Esteatótica Associada à Disfunção Metabólica e a busca por novas abordagens terapêuticas é necessária. O cogumelo Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) possui compostos bioativos com potencial efeito metabólico, embora as evidências experimentais ainda sejam limitadas. Este estudo investigou os efeitos da suplementação com ABM sobre parâmetros metabólicos e hepáticos em camundongos obesos. Camundongos machos da linhagem C57BL/6 foram alimentados com dieta hiperlipídica (DH) durante oito semanas para indução da obesidade e, em seguida, alocados em três grupos: OB-CTL (controle, água), OB-ABM1 (ABM 10%) e OB-ABM2 (ABM 5%), tratados por gavagem diária durante 12 semanas, com manutenção da DH. Foram avaliados peso corporal, ingestão alimentar, adiposidade, glicemia, perfil lipídico plasmático e hepático, além da esteatose hepática. A suplementação com ABM não alterou o peso corporal, o consumo alimentar nem a deposição de gordura. Contudo, o grupo OB-ABM1 apresentou melhora na tolerância à glicose, evidenciada pela redução da área sob a curva no teste de tolerância à glicose. Não foram observadas alterações nos níveis plasmáticos de triglicerídeos e colesterol. No entanto, ambas as concentrações de ABM promoveram redução significativa do conteúdo de colesterol hepático, sem impacto sobre a esteatose macro ou microvesicular. Em conclusão, o ABM não preveniu a obesidade nem a esteatose hepática, mas exerceu efeitos benéficos modestos sobre a homeostase glicêmica e o metabolismo hepático de colesterol. Estudos adicionais são necessários para elucidar os mecanismos de ação e o potencial terapêutico do ABM em modelos de obesidade estabelecida.  

This study aimed to screen and identify a novel immune-enhancing peptide and explore the molecular mechanism. Five novel peptides were identified from Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM), and their secondary structure components consisted of random coil (50.5%), α-helix (28.9%), β-turn (15.6%), and β-sheet (5.0%). A novel peptide (LNEDELRDA) with a molecular weight of 1074.0989 Da could bind with PI3K, AKT, mTOR, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α through hydrogen bonding interactions, and the binding energies were −8.1, −8.3, −7.2, −6.0, −7.4, and −5.8 kcal/mol, respectively. This peptide was synthesized and validated for immune-enhancing ability, showing the strongest immune-enhancing capacity by increasing the cell viability and phagocytic activity of RAW 264.7 macrophages, significantly promoting the production of NO, cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in cells, and up-regulating the mRNA and protein expression levels of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Our results are the first to reveal that ABM-derived peptide LNEDELRDA could be considered as a promising food-borne immunomodulator that could contribute to enhancing immune function.

Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) primarily reduce cadmium content in plants. However, the mechanism by which Se NPs affect the Cd content in edible mushrooms is unknown. This study addressed this by exogenously adding Se NPs and Cd(NO3)2 to the cultivated substrates of Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM). The results indicated that Cd was easily enriched in the AbM fruiting body, while adding Se NPs significantly decreased the Cd content of AbM by 48.7–69.4%. The percentages of Cd in cell wall fraction (Fw), soluble fraction (Fs), and organelle fraction (Fo) reached 82.9–95.8%, 3.6–15.7%, and 0.6–3.2%, respectively. Se NPs reduced Cd toxicity to AbM by alleviating oxidative stress. Se existed in the fruiting body as selenocysteine (SeCys) and selenomethionine (SeMet). Se NPs could significantly affect the type and content of metabolites in the AbM fruiting body. In conclusion, applying Se NPs to cultivated substrates may mitigate Cd toxicity by reducing Cd uptake into the fruiting body, altering the subcellular distribution of Cd, alleviating oxidative stress, and altering the type, content, and biometabolic pathways of metabolites.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a serious disease in medical settings, and gut dysbiosis is a major contributor to its development. Polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) showed a range of pharmacological activities, yet no studies assessed the potential of ABM polysaccharides for alleviating intestinal I/R injury. Here, we purified a major polysaccharide (ABP1) from an ABM fruit body and subsequently tested its potential to mitigate intestinal I/R injury in a mouse model of temporary superior mesenteric artery occlusion. The results reveal that ABP1 pretreatment enhances gut barrier function via upregulation of the expression of tight junction proteins such as ZO-1 and occludin. Additionally, ABP1 intervention reduces the recruitment of neutrophils and the polarization of M1 macrophages and limits inflammation by blocking the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, the role of ABP1 in regulating the gut microbiota was confirmed via antibiotic treatment. The omics data reveals that ABP1 reprograms gut microbiota compositions, characterized by a decrease of Proteobacteria and an increase of Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillaceae, especially the SCFA-producing genera such as Ligilactobacillus and Blautia. Overall, this work highlights the therapeutic potential of ABP1 against intestinal I/R injury, which mainly exhibits its effects via regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the overactivated inflammation response.

Introduction The use of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) in patients with cancer is increasing. CAM is associated with potential toxicity and drug interactions, particularly with chemotherapy. Here, we report a case of cytolysis and hepatic cholestasis in a patient who was self-medicated with a mushroom powder-based alternative therapy containing Agaricus blazei Murril (ABM) during cancer treatment. Case Report A 43-year-old woman with metastatic colorectal cancer and hepatic metastases was admitted to our hospital for intravenous chemotherapy. Markers of hepatic grade 3 cytolysis and cholestasis were identified during the pretreatment consultation. The baseline results were within normal limits. Management and Outcome The chemotherapy was immediately canceled, and further tests were performed. After the investigation, the patient reported taking three mushroom powder-based capsules per day since November 2023. The dietary supplement contained ABM and Hericium erinaceus (HE) powder. After Pharmaceutical analysis, treatment with the supplement was discontinued, and the patient has not resumed. The changes in liver function were also favorable. Discussion In our case, given the improvement in liver function after CAM discontinuation, hepatic cytolysis appeared to be linked to ABM consumption despite the patient's liver metastases. Pharmaceutical analysis of CAM is essential to ensure the safety and optimization of cancer treatments. Patients should also communicate their CAMs to healthcare professionals and be aware of the consequences of consuming these dietary supplements. Finally, collaboration between pharmaceutical teams and oncologists is essential for optimal management of cancer patients.

Investigación 2024 sobre la intervención preventiva con polisacáridos de Agaricus blazei que demuestra efectos inmunomoduladores antitumorales en metástasis intraperitoneal de cáncer colorrectal.

UVB radiation is known to induce photodamage to the skin, disrupt the skin barrier, elicit cutaneous inflammation, and accelerate the aging process. Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) is an edible medicinal and nutritional fungus. One of its constituents, Agaricus blazei Murill polysaccharide (ABP), has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory effects, which suggests potential effects that protect against photodamage. In this study, a UVB-induced photodamage HaCaT model was established to investigate the potential reparative effects of ABP and its two constituents (A1 and A2). Firstly, two purified polysaccharides, A1 and A2, were obtained by DEAE-52 cellulose column chromatography, and their physical properties and chemical structures were studied. A1 and A2 exhibited a network-like microstructure, with molecular weights of 1.5 × 104 Da and 6.5 × 104 Da, respectively. The effects of A1 and A2 on cell proliferation, the mitochondrial membrane potential, and inflammatory factors were also explored. The results show that A1 and A2 significantly promoted cell proliferation, enhanced the mitochondrial membrane potential, suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and increased the relative content of filaggrin (FLG) and aquaporin-3 (AQP3). The down-regulated JAK-STAT signaling pathway was found to play a role in the response to photodamage. These findings underscore the potential of ABP to ameliorate UVB-induced skin damage.