Rat medium-term multi-organ carcinogenesis bioassay of Agaricus blazei Murrill fruit-body extract

Arachidonate-enriched triglyceride oil does not promote tumor development in a rat medium-term multi-organ carcinogenesis model

The modifying potential on tumor development of arachidonate-enriched triglyceride oil (ARA-oil) containing approximately 40% arachidonic acid was investigated in a medium-term multi-organ carcinogenesis bioassay using male and female F344 rats. The animals were sequentially given five carcinogens with different target sites in the first 4 weeks, and then administered ARA-oil for 24 weeks at dietary levels of 0% (control), 1.25%, 2.5% or 5.0%. No statistically significant differences in incidences and multiplicities of hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions were showed in the large intestine in either sex. In the liver, kidney, and lung in both sexes, and the mammary gland and uterus in females, tumor promoting potential was not evident with ARA-oil treatment. ARA-oil did not affect the quantitative data for glutathione S-transferase placental form positive foci of the liver. Increased induction of hyperplastic or neoplastic lesions in the urinary bladder and thyroid in ARA-oil-treated groups was without dose dependence. In addition, a second experiment with ARA-oil only administration for 8-week revealed no effects on cellular proliferation in the urinary bladder or thyroid in either sex. These results indicate that ARA-oil has no tumor promoting potential in any organs or tissues initiated with the five carcinogens applied in the present study.

Agaricus subrufescens: A review

Medicinal mushrooms have currently become a hot issue due to their various therapeutic properties. Of these, Agaricus subrufescens, also known as the "almond mushroom", has long been valued by many societies (i.e., Brazil, China, France, and USA). Since its discovery in 1893, this mushroom has been cultivated throughout the world, especially in Brazil where several strains of A. subrufescens have been developed and used as health food and alternative medicine. This article presents up-to-date information on this mushroom including its taxonomy and health promoting benefits. Medicinal properties of A. subrufescens are emphasized in several studies which are reviewed here. In addition, safety issues concerning the use of this fungus will be discussed.