Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 Improves Circulatory Functions in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

The present study aimed to clarify the effects of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (i.e., Agaricus blazei) mushroom on circulatory function. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were fed 10% A. blazei-containing pellets (agaricus group) or normal pellets (control group) for 5 weeks from 6 to 11 weeks of age. For Experiment 1, tail blood pressure and heart rate were measured in the conscious SHRs. For Experiment 2, echocardiographic and blood biochemical measurements were performed in the anesthetized SHRs. In Experiment 1, blood pressure and heart rate were significantly lower in the agaricus group compared with the control group throughout the observation period. In Experiment 2, the agaricus group also showed a significant decrease in cardiac output accompanied by a decrease in heart rate and an increase in early and late ventricular filling velocity (E/A ratio). Moreover, levels of escape enzymes such as creatine kinase (CK), CK-BB, CK-MB, asparate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and aldolase were significantly lower than in the control group. We concluded that the ingestion of feed containing A. brasiliensis KA21 can improve hypertensive cardiovascular hemodynamics by decreasing the working load of the heart, presumably by lowering the sympathetic nervous tone in SHRs.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Medicinal and Edible Mushrooms

“…The incidence of hypertension and atherosclerosis are substantially higher in individuals with obesity (>60%) which affects different proportions of men (78%) and women (64%) [ 27 ]. The occurrence of hypertension enhances BMI dependence in both genders with increasing age [ 28 ].…”

“…Obesity can cause an upsurge in the risk of endometrial cancer through endocrine pathways. Obesity is related with augmented insulin levels, which may lead to elevated insulin-like growth factor 1 and synthesis of androgens that ultimately cause progesterone deficiency [ 27 ]. Lack of progesterone progresses to cause anovulation and consequently appears to be the most significant physiological risk factor for endometrial cancer in premenopausal women.…”

“…Based on the reduction of NO and more leucocyte infiltration in the vessels this causes endothelial and microvascular dysfunction, which are influenced by oxidative stress (ROS), eventually causing atherosclerosis and hypertension [ 30 , 32 ]. In addition, obesity elevates excess glucose and fatty acid oxidation levels that lead to lipid peroxidation and ROS generation, which facilitate lipoprotein toxicity and enhances the rate of hypertension and formation of plaque in blood vessels [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“…Dietary and medicinal mushrooms are widely recognized for their immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antiviral, antinociceptive, antitumor, anticancer, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial properties [ 66 , 67 ]. Mushrooms constitute 22,000 well-known species, extensively present on Earth and about 10% of them have been investigated [ 27 ]. The dietary mushrooms that have unique functional and medicinal features include Lentinus , Auricularia , Hericium , Grifola , Flammulina , Pleurotus , and Tremella species.…”

<i>In vitro</i> Anti-Influenza Virus Activity of <i>Agaricus brasiliensis</i> KA21

“…Agaricus brasiliensis has immunity enhancing and blood pressure-lowering effects Liu et al, 2008;Tsubone et al, 2014 . Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 contains various proteins, cell wall component -glucan, and large amounts of minerals e.g., magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and selenium and vitamin B Liu et al, 2008 .…”