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.