Effects of administration of Grifola frondosa on blood pressure and body weight in spontaneously hypertensive rats. (Bioactive substances in Grifola frondosa part 1)

Abstract

We examined the effects of Maitake (Grifola frondosa) on body weight, blood pressure and biochemical components of blood in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) for 37 days. Rats fed control diets containing powdered Maitake 10% level (M 10) and 20% level (M 20) showed suppressed body weight and blood pressure. No difference in organ weights was found among the three groups except for the liver, the weight of which in the Maitake groups was lower than that of the control. The Maitake groups showed lower total cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood and increased total cholesterol in the feces. The weight-reducing effect did not appear in rats administered heat-treated Maitake, a residue of Maitake extracted with water, and the ethanol-soluble fraction of Maitake. Only Maitake extract with cold water provided an evident weight-reducing effect. From these results, we concluded that Maitake contains a water-soluble, heat-labile substance that can suppress body weight and blood pressure.