title: Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous and alkaline extracts from mushrooms (Agaricus blazei Murill).
abstract: The effects of aqueous and alkaline extracts from Agaricus blazei Murill, an edible mushroom used as folk medicine in Brazil, Japan, and China to treat several illnesses, were investigated on the basis of the inflammatory process induced by different agents. Oral administration of A. blazei extracts marginally inhibited the edema induced by nystatin. In contrast, when complete Freund's adjuvant was used as the inflammatory stimulus, both extracts were able to inhibit this process significantly (P < .05, analysis of variance followed by Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison post hoc test), although it inhibited the granulomatous tissue induction moderately. These extracts were able to decrease the ulcer wounds induced by stress. Also, administration of extracts inhibited neutrophil migration to the exudates present in the peritoneal cavity after carrageenin injection. Therefore, it is possible that A. blazei extracts can be useful in inflammatory diseases because of activation of the immune system and its cells induced by the presence of polysaccharides such as beta-glucans.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fitofármacos, Universidade de Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marina M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Padilha
authors.forename: Ana A L
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Pergentino J C
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Luis Gustavo V
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Fábio F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Perazzo
authors.forename: José Carlos T
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000364:Agaricus / Q000737:chemistry; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D006099:Granuloma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D009761:Nystatin; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009761:Nystatin; D002351:Carrageenan; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant