Medicinal Properties and Clinical Effects of Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill (Agaricomycetideae) (Review)

Abstract

Agaricus blazei Murrill ("Kawariharatake" in Japan, "Cogmelo de Deus" in Brazil) was first discovered in Florida, USA, in 1944. Its main natural habitat is the mountainous district of Piedade in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was found that the rate of occurrence of adult diseases in the Piedade region is extremely low since people took A. blazei as a part of their regular diet. The miracle mushroom was brought to Japan in 1965, an artificial cultivation process was established in 1978, and it has been well evaluated in terms of biochemical and medicinal properties since the 1980s. Many animal studies and clinical experience have demonstrated that A. blazei shows antitumor activity, immunological enhancement, and also the fungus is effective for treatment of AIDS, diabetes, hypotension, and hepatitis.