Aqueous Extract of Culinary-Medicinal Royal Sun Mushroom, Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. (Agaricomycetideae) Effects on lmmunodepression in Mice

摘要

Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. (=Agaricus blazei Murrill sensu Heinem.) has received attention in folk medicine due to its possible medicinal values. This study evaluated the effects of an A. brasiliensis aqueous extract on weight gain; bacterial translocation; intestinal levels of total sIgA; serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-10 (IL-10); splenic index; and histology of the ileum, spleen, and liver of mice experimentally immunodepressed with cyclophosphamide. A. brasiliensis aqueous extract was administrated ad libitum and by intragastric gavage in mice aged 6 to 7 weeks, 2 weeks before the first dose of cyclophosphamide and until the 23rd day of the experiment. Experimental immunodepression was confirmed by body-weight loss during the last week of the experiment, reduction of the splenic index, and altered splenic histology. However, Gram-negative bacteria translocation was not observed in the immunodepressed animal groups during the experimental period. Alterations due to immunodepression treatment and cited above were not influenced by oral treatment with A. brasiliensis extract. Similarly, treatment with A. brasiliensis extract did not influence intestinal IgA levels or TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 levels in serum. Under the conditions used in the present study, alterations obtained by experimental immunodepression in mice were not reduced by oral treatment with A. brasiliensis extract.