The mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill extract normalizes liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B is a global health problem. Use of complementary and alternative medicine has been popular among patients with hepatitis B. This 1-year open-label pilot study aims to observe whether Agaricus blazei Murill extract improves liver function in patients with hepatitis B.


METHODS
This study involved 12 months of clinical observation. Four (4) patients with hepatitis B who met the criteria (1) aged between 20 and 65 years; (2) being Chinese; (3) having been a hepatic B carrier (HBAg(+)) for more than 3 years; (4) alanine aminotransferase > 100 IU/L; and (5) not taking lamivudine, alpha-interferon, or other drugs for hepatitis participated in the study with informed consent. The enrolled patients were given Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) extract of 1500 mg daily for 12 months. The level of alanine aminotransferase was taken as the major outcome measurement.


RESULTS
At the end of the study, the mean level of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase decreased from 246.0 (+/- standard deviation [SD] 138.9) to 61.3 (+/- SD 32.6) IU/L and 151.0 (+/- SD 86.9) to 46.1 (+/- SD 22.5) IU/L, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our initial observation seems to indicate the potential benefit of ABM extract in normalizing liver function of patients with hepatitis B. Controlled studies with larger samples should be conducted in the future.
Hsu
Chung-Hua
CH
Department of Chinese Medicine, Department of Health, Taipei Hospital, Hsin Chuang City, Taiepei County 242, Taiwan. owlherbs@yahoo.com.tw
Hwang
Kung-Chang
KC
Chiang
Yi-Hsiung
YH
Chou
Pesus
P
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000364:Agaricus; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase