Antimicrobial properties of the mushroom Agaricus blazei – integrative review

Abstract

Infectious diseases associated with antimicrobial resistance are considered to represent an importantpublic health problem. In this regard, the mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill contains several bioactivesubstances that promote significant functional properties, among them, antimicrobial activity, which hasattracted the interest of the scientific community. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whetherevidence of the antimicrobial action of A. blazei has been reported in the literature. In this integrativereview, manuscripts held in research databases available online were examined with a view to answeringthe question “Does the mushroom A. blazei exert antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and/orGram-positive bacteria?” Only eight scientific articles that have addressed the antimicrobial propertiesof A. blazei, in vitro and in vivo, were found, all characterized as pre-clinical, i.e., with level VII evidence.Most authors have found that the A. blazei extract promotes an antimicrobial effect against peritonitis, aswell as deadly oral infections, especially those caused by Gram-positive bacteria. However, the scientificdata currently available are not sufficient to verify the antimicrobial aspect of the mushroom A. blazeiand thus further investigation is required.