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Agaricus Blazei Murill in treatment of cancer.

ABM Mushroom

Although the first reports of this mushroom date from the forties, only after its discovery in Brazil, in 1965, l – for Mr. Furumoto, a Japanese farmer from Piedade/SP -, a larger interest of the scientific community was aroused, mainly in Japan (country that received the first samples), United States and China. Since then, several researches have been accomplished, demonstrating the qualities and benefits of Agaricus.

In Brazil, the production of Agaricus blazei in commercial scalei just begun in 1989, when the Iwade Laboratory of Japan, signed a cultivation contract with SB Cristal (Kazumasa Abe). Finally, more than 20 years after, the mushroom was back to its homeland.

Considering the nutricional and physiologic importance of the Agaricus mushrooms, Kazumasa Abe requested in 1998, through National Biosciences and Human Technology Institute from the Industrial Technology Agency of the Ministry of International and Industrial Trade of Japan, the patenting of Agaricus blazei BM8, in the Budapeste Agreement about the International Recognition of Micrrorganism Deposit, with the number FERM BP-6480.

Agaricus in natura contains 85 to 87% of water. After the dehydration, it is rich in proteins and carbohydrates and it contains considerable amounts of vitamins – B1, B2, B3 and ergosterol, that it is transformed in D2 vitamin after exhibition to light and cooking -, lipeds (represented mainly by poli-insaturated greasy acids), minerals – potassium (about 2%), phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, sodium, copper, zinc, iron and molibdenium.

In chemical composition, besides the mentioned nutrients, we can found glycoproteins, steroids and polysaccharides complexes with proteins that, when analyzed in laboratory cavies, present properties that potentialize the immune system, the homeostasys and improve the physical conditions of the organism, besides producing pronounced antitumor activity.

Agaricus originates from Piedade, which is located in the suburbs of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The climatic conditions in Piedade include temperatures that soar to 35º during the day and dip to between 20º and 25º at night, with a humidity that averages 80 %. The place also experiences regular squall toward evening. Agaricus thrives only under these conditions, suggesting that its survival is significantly affected by these external conditions.

Some 30 years ago, a US researcher noted that the rate of occurrence of adult diseases in the Piedade region is extremely low, and found that it was because of the Agaricus that was a part of the regular diet of the inhabitants of this area.

Around the same time, Agaricus was introduced to Japan. Dr. Shoji Shibata, who at the time was a professor in the Pharmacological Department of Tokyo niversity, and Dr. Tetuo Ikegawa of the National Cancer Center, jointly researched the pharmacological effects of Agaricus. The research results were released at the general convention of the Japan Pharmacological Association and the Japan Cancer Association. The experience with mice verified that the polysaccharide Beta-glucan contained in Agaricus significantly activated the immune system.

As Agaricus grows only in certain conditions, its production in Brazil remained unstable. Moreover, Agaricus was mostly consumed locally, and importing it into Japan was extremely difficult. Despite efforts in Japan over many years to cultivate Agaricus under artificial conditions, it proved extremely difficult, and failed to guarantee a stable production output. However, in 1992, kyowa Engineering achieved a world first when it successfully mass-produced Agaricus by taking advantage of the company’s biotechnological expertise. Consequently, the company was able to provide a stable supply of Agaricus to the health food market.

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Shiitake Mushroom Nutrition

Shiitake Mushroom Nutrition
By Nicole Wolverton

Shiitake mushrooms, a variety of Japanese mushroom, are available throughout the United States in grocery stores and specialty shops. The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter reports that shiitake mushrooms are the second most produced mushroom worldwide, enjoying a growing popularity. This mushroom finds use in a variety of recipes, known for their rich, smoky flavor.

Calories

A 1-cup serving of shiitake mushrooms contains 81.2 calories. This represents 4 percent of the calories you may include in your meal plan each day, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. While you can eat these mushrooms on their own, it’s more common for them to be a part of a dish.

Macronutrients

The majority of calories in shiitake mushrooms come from carbohydrates — a 1-cup serving contains 20.9g. The carbohydrates in your diet primarily serve as energy, after your body converts them to glucose. This portion of shiitake mushrooms also provides you with 2.3g of protein and 0.3g of fat.
Vitamins

Shiitake mushrooms serve as a rich source of B vitamins. One cup contains 52.1 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin B-5, also known as pantothenic acid. This vitamin may play a role in treating acne, alcoholism, asthma, autism, heart failure, depression and convulsions, among other conditions. A 1-cup serving of shiitake mushrooms also provides 24.5 percent of the vitamin B-2 you need each day, 10.9 percent of vitamin B-3 and 11.5 percent of vitamin B-6.
Minerals

Selenium, an essential mineral for your body’s function, is found in abundance in shiitake mushrooms. A 1-cup serving has 51.4 percent of the selenium you need daily. This mineral helps your body manufacture proteins that prevent cell damage, and it may decrease your risk of developing some types of cancer. One cup of shiitake mushrooms also contains 3.5 percent of the daily recommended value of iron, a mineral your body uses to make blood cells.

Benefits

Research published in the November 2010 issue of “The Journal of Nutrition” notes that shiitake mushrooms reduced arthritis pain in mice; human studies are needed to determine if shiitake mushrooms will benefit humans in the same way. The American Cancer Society also notes that shiitake mushrooms may influence the immune system, which may prevent cancer and AIDS from developing or getting worse. These mushrooms may also lower your cholesterol. Research is needed to confirm these claims.

References

CalorieLab: Mushrooms, Shiitake, Cooked, Without Salt
The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter: A Small-Scale Agriculture Alternative: Shiitake Mushrooms
MedlinePlus: Carbohydrates
MedlinePlus: Pantothenic Acid
MedlinePlus: Selenium in Diet
MedlinePlus: Iron in Diet

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Facts about Agaricus Blazei Murill

The mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill was discovered in Piedade, state of São Paulo, Brazil, and sent to Japan to be studied for its medicinal properties. Studies in guinea pigs revealed antitumor properties, triggering Japanese importation of Agaricus blazei Murill from Brazil. Because of its high price on the international market, many companies and rural growers produce Agaricus blazei Murill as alternative crop to increase income, but because interest in this mushroom occurred suddenly there has not been enough time for the scientific community to investigate it and, technology used for its cultivation is still based on empirical rules. There are also some contradicting data regarding the classification of this mushroom, and its antitumor properties still need to be confirmed in humans.

From the early days of civilization, man has used fungi for the production of fermented foods and beverages, or directly as food. In Ancient Egypt, fermentation was considered a gift from the god Osiris, while ancient Romans attributed the emergence of mushrooms and truffles to lightening bolts cast to the earth by Jupiter (Alexopoulos et al., 1996).

For centuries, Asians have attributed curative properties to some mushrooms. Reports from China since about 500 BC, on the medicinal properties of Ganoderma lucidum (known in China as reishi) extracts, especially its anti-cancer properties, have been passed on generation to generation (Mizuno et al., 1995a; 1995c), and since the Ming dynasty (1620 AD), there have been reports on the medicinal properties of Lentinula edodes (shiitake) mushrooms, considered an elixir of life and possessing the ability to enhance `vital energy’ and cure colds (Mizuno, 1995a).

In the late Twentieth Century, researchers in Japan demonstrated the antitumor effects of a Brazilian mushroom, identified as Agaricus blazei Murill, which became subject of studies by several research groups (Kawagishi et al., 1988; 1989; Osaki et al., 1