%0 Journal Article
%T An extract of the medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill can protect against allergy
%A Linda K Ellertsen
%A Geir Hetland
%J Clinical and Molecular Allergy
%D 2009
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1476-7961-7-6
%X Since according to the Th1/Th2 paradigm an increased Th1 response may promote a reduced Th2 response, the aim was to examine whether AbM had anti-allergy effects.A mouse model for allergy was employed, in which the mice were immunized s.c. with the model allergen ovalbumin (OVA). Additionally, the animals were given a mushroom extract, AndoSan£¿, mainly (82%) containing AbM, but also Hericium erinaceum (15%) and Grifola frondosa (3%), or PBS p.o. either a day before or 19 days after the immunization. The mice were sacrificed on day 26, and anti-OVA IgE (Th2 response) and IgG2a (Th1 response) antibodies were examined in serum and Th1, Th2 and Treg cytokines in spleen cells cultures.It was found that the AndoSan£¿ extract both when given either before or after OVA immunization reduced the levels of anti-OVA IgE, but not IgG2a, in the mice. There was a tendency to reduced Th2 relative to Th1 cytokine levels in the AndoSan£¿ groups.This particular AbM extract may both prevent allergy development and be used as a therapeutical substance against established allergy.Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM) of the family Basidiomycetes is a popular edible medicinal mushroom, originally native to a small village, Piedade, in the highland areas of Atlantic forest near S£¿o Paulo, Brazil. It has traditionally been used for the prevention of a range of diseases, including cancer, hepatitis, atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and dermatitis [1,2]. Because of its alleged health effects, the mushroom was brought to Japan in the mid-60-ies and subjected to biomedical research. AbM was found to be rich in immuno-modulating substances such as ¦Â-glucans [3,4] and proteoglycans [5], and it had anti-infection [6,7] and anti-tumor [4,5] effects in mice.Anti-tumor and anti-infection immunity are both due to Th1 responses, which also do promote autoimmune disease when overshooting. On the other hand, anti-helminth and anti-rejection immunity are due to Th2 responses, which may also induce IgE
%U http://www.clinicalmolecularallergy.com/content/7/1/6