Immunomodulatory effects of Agaricus blazei Murill in Balb/cByJ mice.
OBJECTIVE
Agaricus blazei Murill has been reported to possess biological effects that include immunomodulatory and tumoricidal activities, but its potential effects have not been systematically analyzed in vivo. We evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of A. blazei in Balb/cByJ mice.


METHODS
160 male Balb/cByJ mice were divided into four groups and treated with various quantities of intragastric A. blazei extract or distilled water for 8 to 10 weeks. Nine parameters, relating to general immune function or adaptive immunity against immunogen chicken oval albumin, were determined.


RESULTS
The results revealed that mice receiving A. blazei extract exhibited significantly greater serum immunoglobulin G levels, increased T-cell numbers in spleen, and elevated phagocytic capability compared with controls. Consumption of A. blazei was also associated with significant increases in oval albumin-specific serum immunoglobulin G level, delayed-type hypersensitivity, splenocyte proliferation rate, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion by splenocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of A. blazei extract was associated with significant enhancement of seven out of nine immune functions tested. We conclude that A. blazei Murill possesses a wide range of immunomodulatory effects in vivo.
Chan
You
Y
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chang
Tim
T
Chan
Chi Ho
CH
Yeh
Yi Chun
YC
Chen
Chien Wei
CW
Shieh
Biehuoy
B
Li
Ching
C
D000364:Agaricus / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D010047:Ovalbumin