What is ABM

Agaricus blazei Murrill ( Agaricus Brasiliensis)

Medicinal Use of Mushrooms Throughout History

For thousands of years, mushrooms have been used as food and medicine. The Greek physician Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC) considered to be the “Father of Medicine”, mentions in his writings the use of fungi to treat chronic illness of the kidney. Although the ancient Greeks used only a few mushrooms their influence was felt in Europe throughout the ages.

Pliny Gaius Plinius Secundus , (23–79 A.D.) , a Roman author and Natural philosopher mentions in his body of work Naturalis Historia a number of fungi used to heal serious chronic illness of the kidney. A physician in Nero's army, Dioscorides (55 A.D.) writes about medicinal properties of Agaric in his herbal De Materia Medica. Based on his studies, “ the only fungus that seemed to have any kind of reputation as a healing medicine was the "Agaric”, and it was used at that time for injuries, bruises and fractured limbs, as an astringent, for kidney diseases, menstrual insufficiency, liver complaints and jaundice, cardiovascular deficiencies, asthma, tuberculosis, dysentery, poisoning, and for snake and animal bites. Continue

Discovery of AbM

The Agaricus blazei Murrill (AbM) mushroom, a Basidiomycete fungus, is native to the Atlantic Rainforest region in southeastern Brazil , where it has been part of the regular diet of the residents of the area for many generations. Researchers in the late sixties discovered a very low incidence of chronic illness, among the local people, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and heart disease. This discovery led them to believe the AbM mushroom was a contributing factor. AbM mushroom samples were sent to the Pharmacological Department at Tokyo University and the National Cancer Center in Japan , for further evaluation and to establish its effect on cancer. The research primarily focused on the anti-tumor properties of the beta-glucans found in the AbM mushroom and its pharmacological effects. The positive results of the research were presented at the Japan Pharmacological Association and the Japan Cancer Association in 1970 . *1

AbM Nutritional Composition

AbM mushroom food supplements are a nutritionally well balanced valuable health food. The mushroom contains valuable ingredients, such as essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, vegetable proteins, anti-oxidants, enzymes, dietary crude fibers, natural sterols, Triterpenes, Saponins and polysaccharides which stimulate the immune system. The AbM mushroom consists of a total of 192 nutrients. AbM mushroom have no known side effects and toxicity studies have confirmed its safety. *2 Hence, for many years, AbM is used in hospitals as adjunct nutritional therapy for cancer patients in Brazil , Europe , Japan and other Asian countries. It is the most widely used medicinal mushroom for health maintenance, prevention and for adjunct treatments for a wide range of health concerns.

Health Benefits

Over 40 years of research worldwide suggest that the Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom may have the following health benefits:*3

Boost immune system*

Modulate blood sugar levels*

Helps boost and modulate immune system*

Modulate blood pressure*

Modulate blood sugar levels*

Cholesterol Modulator*

Cardio Vascular support*

Digestive Support*

Adjunct to chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments*

Liver and kidney tonic*

Anti-viral*

Anti-inflammatory*

Anti-bacterial*

Anti-tumor*

May be helpful for auto-immune disorders*

May improve the efficacy of DNA vaccines*

The Immune System

Living organisms have an immune system whose function is to eliminate pathogens, chemical toxic substances and mutation-induced cell proliferation. It is thanks to this function, which we know as immunity, that the body stays healthy. It combats dangerous organisms by preventing them from penetrating the tissue, and therefore the body as a whole. *3 Continue

Compared to the other commonly used Oriental mushrooms - including Maitake, Reishi, and Shiitake – the ABM mushroom demonstrated far superior Immune Enhancing Effects. Various studies attribute this effect to the much higher levels of key polysaccharides, mainly beta glucans, ergosterol and other components which are unique to ABM mushroom. At present ABM is considered the most potent mushroom in supporting the immune system. So successful are the studies and the popularity of the ABM mushroom in Japan that they are now buying over 90% of the available Agaricus from Brazil . *3

Beta-D-Glucan

The Beta-D-glucan is found in the cell walls of the Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM) mushroom.*7 Subject of extensive scientific research for several decades, beta-D-glucan is a non-digestible polysaccharide (long chain carbohydrate) that is one of the most important substances responsible in the body for creating a defense system against viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic or neoplastic invaders.*3,6 It not only bolsters immunity but also reduces excessive immunological reactions to maintain a healthy immune system balance.

New evidence reveals an even higher level of B-glucans activity in the Agaricus blazei mushrooms, suggesting that this mushroom may soon surpass the traditional mushrooms used for this purpose to date. In Brazil , Japan and other Asian countries, ABM is used in hospitals as adjunct nutritional therapy for cancer patients.

Ergosterol

Another important component in AbM is Ergosterol, a natural anti-angiogenesis substance shown to inhibit the production of substances that originate in the tumor . *4 These properties stimulate neogenesis of the capillaries. By inhibiting the growth of the tumor through the circulatory system, it becomes smaller in size and consequently more responsive to chemotherapy and surgery. Ergosterol combined with Beta-D-Glucan account for innumerable successful therapies, such as, immunotherapy . AbM also has the highest levels of Ergosterol compared to other mushrooms . *5 Other tumor fighting components found in the AbM mushroom are: xyloglucan, acid heteroglucan, ribonucleic acid protein compounds and lectin, which augment macrophage activity.

References:

*1 Mizuno T. Medicinal Properties and Clinical Effects of Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill (Agaricomycedtideae) Review . International J of Medicinal Mushrooms. 2002(4).

*2 Kuroiwa Y, Nishikawa A, Imazawa T, Kanki K, Kitamura Y, Umemura T, Hirose M. Lack of subchronic toxicity of an aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei Murrill in F344 rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2005 Jul;43(7):1047-53. PMID: 15833380 [PubMed - in process]

*3 Ley B. Medicinal Mushrooms for Immune Enhancement: Agaricus blazei Murrill. 2001. ISBN: 1-890766-15-1

*4 Kimura Y, Kido T, Takaku T, Sumiyoshi M, Baba K. Isolation of an anti-angiogenic substance from Agaricus blazei Murill: its antitumor and antimetastatic actions. Cancer Sci. 2004 Sep;95(9):758-64. P MID: 15471563 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

*5 Ebina T. [Antitumor effects of intratumoral injection of Basidiomycetes preparations] [Article in Japanese] Division of Immunology, Miyagi Cancer Center Research Institute. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2005 Oct;32(11):1654-6.PMID: 16315899 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

*6 Ohno N, Furakawa M, Miura N et al. Antitumor beta glucan from the cultured fruit body of Agaricus blazei. Biol Pharm Bull . 2001:24(7): 820-8.

*7 Wasser SP. Medicinal mushrooms as a source of antitumor and immunomodulating polysaccharides. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol . 2002;60:258-274.