title: Hypolipidemic effect of the edible mushroom Agaricus blazei in rats subjected to a hypercholesterolemic diet.
abstract: The effects of Agaricus blazei intake on the lipid profile of animals fed a hypercholesterolemic diet were evaluated. Thirty-two female Fisher rats were divided into four groups and given the standard AIN-93 M diet (C), this diet + 1 % A. blazei (CAb), a hypercholesterolemic diet with 25 % soybean oil and 1 % cholesterol (H) or this diet + 1 % A. blazei (HAb) for 6 weeks. Food intake, weight gain, liver and serum lipid profiles, activity of aminotransferases [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], and creatinine and urea levels as well as abdominal fat weight were measured. Histological analysis of kidney and liver tissue was also performed. The HAb group had a higher food intake, but a lower weight gain as compared to group H. This resulted in a significant decrease in abdominal fat weight, to values close to those of groups C and CAb. Supplementing the hypercholesterolemic diet with A. blazei promoted a significant reduction in total and non-HDL cholesterol, as well as in the atherogenic index, as compared to group H, and this effect was more pronounced in the serum. There was no hepatotoxic effect caused by the supplementation of the diets with the mushroom. We conclude that in our experimental model and in the concentration used, A. blazei was effective in improving the lipid profile of the animals.
authors.affiliation: Research in Biological Sciences/NUPEB, Ouro Preto University, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, mayrinkaline@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Aline M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Miranda
authors.forename: Gustavo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Aureliano C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Lorena S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Rinaldo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
authors.forename: Marcelo E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000364:Agaricus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D002149:Energy Intake; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol