Agaricus blazei Murill on tissue damage caused by Ehrlich tumor

Abstract

Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) is commercialized worldwide as a medicinal food with anticancer potential. The study investigated the effects of different ABM extracts on a mouse model of transplatable Ehrlich tumor. Different extracts were produced using a solution with pH 4 and 7, water bath or ultrasonic bath, with polysaccharide solution or supernatant. 192 mice were randomly separated into 4 groups for assessment of the 4 extraction methods. Each extraction group consisted of 2 groups with or without a tumor, further separated into 4 treatment groups. Evaluations included organ weight and histology of the spleen, kidney, lymph nodes, liver, and tumor. Ehrlich’s tumor leads to an increase in the relative weight of the spleen, but the use of ABM supernatant at 60ºC at pH 7 decreases the weight of the spleen. Liver weight was reduced with extract ABM at 60ºC in pH 4. Histology findings for the spleen showed an increase in the number of macrophages and, in some cases, mild white pulp hypoplasia. In animals treated with ABM supernatant solution (60ºC and ultrasonic bath), when compared to animals treated with ABM polysaccharide solution (60ºC and ultrasonic bath), less tumor cellularity, smaller distance between the epidermis and the musculature, can be observed. Free areas of tumor cells in the epidermis of the foot padsand smaller areas of necrosis and cellular infiltration were observed, demonstrating less tumor growth in these animals. The findings indicate that ABM extract at 60ºC at pH 7 produced through an ultrasonic bath has the most therapeutic potential that should be further explored.

Keywords:
mouse; polysaccharides; cancer; mushroom