Agaricus blazei extract contains more beta
glucans than any other mushroom species investigated. In addition to the research on Agaricus
blazei itself, it may be worthwhile to look into the abundant research that has been
done on beta glucans. 25
While Agaricus blazei extract appears to
have little to no effect on cancer cell cultures grown in labs (in vitro), the
tests conducted on live patients (in vivo) have been all the more promising. The
conclusion from this would be that it works by stimulating the natural cancer-fighting
mechanisms of the human immune system. 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140
A Japanese study from 2002 reported that Agaricus blazei
extract appeared to stimulate macrophages (white blood cells) to perform a
two-phased assault on cancer cells. The first phase began eight hours after the intake of Agaricus
blazei extract, when the patient's macrophages began excreting a cancer killing agent
known as "alpha tumor necrosis factor." The second phase started another four
hours later, when the same macrophages began excreting a different agent designed to
finish off the cancer cells weakened by the first assault. 141
Another study found that Agaricus blazei extract
may help prevent breast cancer by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, which is linked to that
type of cancer. 142
Both alcohol and water extracts of Agaricus blazei
have been shown to contain important medicinal compounds, 143 particularly
extracts of the mycelium ("roots"). 25
Some non-cancer related research has also been conducted on Agaricus
blazei extract. One study reported significant results against salmonella. 144
Before ending this article, some words of caution: A test conducted
in 2003 showed that Agaricus blazei from China had much higher
concentrations of cadmium (a heavy metal) than U.S. cultivated Agaricus. 145
Secondly, although Agaricus blazei extract
has demonstrated some powerful anti-cancer properties, it also contains a family of
cancer-inducing compounds known as agaritines. (These are also found in button mushrooms,
crimini mushrooms and portobellos.)
A paper by Stijve et al. published in 2003 reported that Paul
Stamets' Agaricus blazei extract, produced in Washington state,
contained drastically less of the carcinogenic agaritines compared with samples from China
or California by a factor of 8000% and 2000% respectively. 145
"Years ago, Paul Stamets ... developed methods that precluded
agaritines, and Stijve et al. (2003) published a comparison of commercial products from
the US, China, and Japan. All but [Paul Stamets] products contained significant amounts of
agaritine." 145
A few additional areas of promising research on Agaricus
blazei extract are listed by Paul Stamets in his book Mycelium
Running: Colorectal cancer; sarcoma; viruses; blood sugar; cholesterol. 134
Note: The statements on this page have not been evaluated by
the Food and Drug Administration. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or
prevent any disease. Never use any herb (or mushroom) except as advised by a licensed
medical practitioner.
Read why our Agaricus blazei Extract is better!!!
Click the following link to see chart for additional therapeutic
properties of Agaricus blazei
Extract. (Note: In chart referred to by old
name Agaricus brasiliensis!)
Known active compounds:
Alpha Glucans
Beta Glucans
Double-stranded RNA
Ergosterol (provitamin D2) derivatives
Glucomannan
Mannogalactoglucan
Proteoglucans
Riboglucans
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* We refer to the medicinal Agaricus as Agaricus
blazei because that is how it is still known to the vast majority. However,
Paul Stamets still labels the bottles, which we sell, as Agaricus brasiliensis.
Regarding the confusing Latin nomenclature, see this quote from wikipedia:
"In 2002, Didukh and Wasser rejected the name A.
blazei and called the Brazilian fungi Agaricus brasiliensis; this was
rejected by Kerrigan through genetic and interfertility testing on several fungal strains.
Samples of the Brazilian strains called A. blazei and A. braziliensis
proved to be genetically similar to, and interfertile with, the North American population
of Agaricus subrufescens. These tests also found European samples called A.
rufotegulis to be of the same species. Because Agaricus subrufescensis the
oldest name, it is traditionally considered the scientifically, historically correct
name."
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