mushroom dispensary
Agaricus subrufescens | Sun Agaric
Agaricus subrufescens | Sun Agaric
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Immune Support | Liver Health | Antioxidant
Shop Sun Agaric wholesale with the Mushroom Dispensary.
Note: Can be purchased as powders or made up in blends to personal specifications, and supplied in capsules or powders upon request.
All of our mushroom specimens and extracts are lab-tested, quality-controlled, and supplied by trusted growers on farms we have personally visited.
Summary
Summary
Sun Agaric, also known as Agaricus blazei or Agaricus subrufescens, is one of the newer medicinal mushrooms, and increasingly one of the most popular.
Reportedly taken by 31% of urological cancer patients in Japan ⁴, with the fastest growing US sales of any medicinal mushroom ⁵, and one of the three most popular medicinal mushrooms in Taiwan — this relative of the common button mushroom exhibits broad clinical activity ⁶.
Recommended Medicinal Uses
Recommended Medicinal Uses
• Treating cancers inc. lung and ovarian cancer
• Reducing chemotherapy side effects ²⁵
• Decreasing cholesterol & glucose levels in diabetic patients ²⁴
• Reducing allergic reactions ³⁶,³⁷
• Hepatoprotective properties ⁴¹
Dose
Dose
3g/day polysaccharide extract has been used in clinical trials but the high activity of the culture broth also supports the use of mycelial biomass or mycelial biomass/polysaccharide extract combinations.
Contraindications
Contraindications
Although A. subrufescens (like the common button mushroom A. bisporus) contains agaritine, a hydrazine-derived mycotoxin and group 3 carcinogen, this rapidly oxidises on exposure to air and during cooking with multiple studies confirming the safety of A. subrufescens as a functional food ⁴²⁻⁴⁵. One animal study showed A. subrufescens to enhance local and systemic inflammation with possible implications for the development of atherosclerosis. However, a randomised clinical trial in elderly women showed no changes in cytokine levels ⁴⁶,⁴⁷. Another report suggested a potential connection between the consumption of an A. subrufescens extract and three cases of hepatic dysfunction in cancer patients, although the authors state that several other causative factors cannot be completely ruled out ⁴⁸. Cheilitis due to an A. subrufescens extract has also been reported ⁴⁹. Agaricus mushroom can also lower blood sugar levels. Therefore, caution must be taken when prescribing A. subrufescens alongside conventional diabetes medications to ensure blood sugar levels don’t drop too low. We recommend that medical professionals prescribing Sun Agaric closely monitor blood sugar levels, and check contraindications with patients’ medical history and active prescriptions.
Research
Research
1. Is a widely cultivated culinary-medicinal Royal Sun Agaricus (the Himematsutake Mushroom) indeed Agaricus blazei Murrill? Wasser SP, Didukh MY, de A Amazonas MAL, Nevo E, Stamets P, da Eira AF. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2002;4(4):267–290.
2. Agaricus subrufescens, a cultivated edible and medicinal mushroom, and its synonyms. Kerrigan RW. Mycologia. 2005;97(1):12–24.
3. Agaricus subrufescens: A review. Wisitrassameewong K, Karunarathna SC, Thongklang N, Zhao RL, Callac P, Moukha S, Férandon C, Chukeatirote E, Hyde KD. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2012;19(2):131–146.
4. Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients with urologic cancer: a prospective study at a single Japanese institution. Yoshinura W, Ueda N, Ichioka K, Matsui Y, Terai A, Arai Y. Support Care Cancer. 2005;13(9):685–690.
5. Uncloaking the mysteries of medicinal mushrooms: the U.S. medicinal mushroom market continues to grow and evolve rapidly but its size still pales in comparison to the rest of the world. Adams C. Nutraceuticals World. October 01, 2008.
6. The medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill: Review of literature and Pharmaco-toxicological problems. Firenzuoli F, Gori L, Lombardo G. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008;5(1):3–15.
7. Characterization of chemical composition of Agaricus brasiliensis polysaccharides and its effect on myocardial SOD activity, MDA and caspase-3 level in ischemia-reperfusion rats. Zhang S, He B, Ge J, Zhai C, Liu X, Liu P. Int J Biol Macromol. 2010;46(3):363–366.
8. Structural characterization of a water-soluble β-d-glucan from fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei Murrill. Dong Q, Yao J, Yang XT, Fang JN. Carbohydr Res. 2007;337(15):1417–1421.
9. Antitumour beta-glucan from the cultured fruit body of Agaricus blazei. Ohno N, Furukawa M, Miura NN, Adachi Y, Motoi M, Yadomae T. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004;24(7):820–828.
10. Tumor-specific cytocidal and immunopotentiating effects of relatively low molecular weight products derived from the basidiomycete Agaricus blazei Murrill. Fujimiya Y, Suzuki Y, Katakura R, and Ebina T. Anticancer Res. 1999;19(1A):113–118.
11. Immunostimulatory activities of a low molecular weight antitumoral polysaccharide isolated from Agaricus blazei Murill (LMPAB) in Sarcoma 180 ascitic tumor-bearing mice. Niu YC, Liu JC, Zhao XM, Su FQ, Cui HX. Pharmazie. 2009;64(7):472–476.
12. Isolation and characterization of polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei Murrill. Gonzaga MLC, Ricardo NMPS, Heatley F, Soares SA. Carbohydr Polym. 2005;60(1):43–49.
13. Antitumor effect of a peptide-glucan preparation extracted from Agaricus blazei in a double-grafted tumor system in mice. Ebina T, and Fujimiya Y. Biotherapy. 1998;11(4):259–265.
14. Fractionation and antitumor activity of the water-insoluble residue of Agaricus blazei fruiting bodies. Kawagishi H, Inagaki R, Kanao T, Mizuno T, Shimura K, Ito H, Hagiwar T, Nakamura T. Carbohydr Res. 1989;186(2):267–273.
15. Oral administration of Agaricus brasiliensis. S. Wasser et al. (Agaricomycetideae) extract downregulates serum immunoglobulin E levels by enhancing Th1 response. Morimoto T, Takagi M, Mizuno M. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2008;10(1):15–24.
16. An extract based on the medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill stimulates monocyte-derived dendritic cells to cytokine and chemokine production in vitro. Førland DT, Johnson E, Tryggestad AM, Lyberg T, Hetland G. Cytokine. 2010;49(3):245–250.
17. Effect of an extract based on the medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill on release of cytokines, chemokines and leukocyte growth factors in human blood ex-vivo and in vivo. Johnson E, Førland DT, Saetre L, Bernardshaw SV, Lyberg T, Hetland G. Scand J Immunol. 2009;69(3):242–250.
18. Peroral effect on tumor progression of soluble β-(1-6)-glucans prepared by acid treatment from Agaricus blazei Murill. Fujiyama Y, Yamomoto H, Noji M, Suzuki I. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2000;2(1):43-49.
19. Structural characterization of beta-glucans of Agaricus brasiliensis in different stages of fruiting body maturity and their use in nutraceutical products. Camelini CM, Maraschin M, de Mendonça MM, Zucco C, Ferreira AG, Tavares LA. Biotechnol Lett. 2005;27(17):1295–1299.
20. Isolation of an antitumor compound (Ergosterol) from Agaricus blazei Murill and its mechanism of action. Takaku T, Kimura Y, Okuda H. J Nutr. 2001;131(5):1409–1413.
21. Suppressing effects of daily oral supplementation of beta-glucan extracted from Agaricus blazei Murill on spontaneous and peritoneal disseminated metastasis in mouse model. Kobayashi H, Yoshida R, Kanada Y, Fukuda Y, Yagyu T, Inagaki K, Kondo T, Kurita N, Suzuki M, Kanayama N, Terao T. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2005;131(8):527–538.
22. Effects of Agaricus brasiliensis mushroom in Walker-256 tumour-bearing rats. Jumes FM, Lugarini D, Pereira AL, de Oliveira A, Christoff Ade O, Linde GA, do Valle JS, Colauto NB, Acco A. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2010;88(1):21–27.
23. Inhibitory mechanisms of Agaricus blazei Murill on the growth of prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo. Yu CH, Kan SF, Shu CH, Lu TJ, Sun-Hwang L, Wang PS. J Nutr Biochem. 2009;20(10):753–764.
24. Immunomodulating activity of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 in mice and in human volunteers. Liu Y, Fukuwatari Y, Okumura K, Takeda K, Ishibashi K, Furukawa M, Ohno N, Mori K, Gao M, Motoi M. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008;5(2):205–219.
25. Natural killer cell activity and quality of life were improved by consumption of a mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa, in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Ahn WS, Kim DJ, Chae GT, Lee JM, Bae SM, Sin JI, Kim YW, Namkoong SE, Lee IP. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2004;14(4):589–594.
26. Clinical observation on treatment of acute non lymphocytic leukaemia with Agaricus blazei. Tian XH, Liu ZG, Wang J, Ito H, Shimura K, Wang JZ. J Lanzhou Med Coll. 1994;20(3):169–171.
27. Observation on treatment effect of Agaricus blazei against alimentary tract tumour. Wang J, Mao XM, Cheng RZ, Wang JZ, Ito H, Shimura K. Gansu Med J. 1994;13(1):5–6.
28. White button mushroom phytochemicals inhibit aromatase activity and breast cancer cell proliferation. Grube BJ, Eng ET, Kao YC, Kwon A, Chen S. J Nutr. 2001;131(12):3288–3293.
29. Anti-aromatase activity of phytochemicals in white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). Chen S, Oh SR, Phung S, Hur G, Ye JJ, Kwok SL, Shrode GE, Belury M, Adams LS, Williams D. Cancer Res. 2006;66(24):12026–12034.
30. Medicinal properties and clinical effects of culinary-medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murrill (Agaricomycetideae) (Review). Mizuno T. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2002;4(4):299–312.
31. Agaricus blazei (Himematsutake) does not alter the development of rat diethylnitrosamine-initiated hepatic preneoplastic foci. Barbisan LF, Spinardi-Barbisan AL, Moreira EL, Salvadori DM, Ribeiro LR, da Eira AF, de Camargo JL. Cancer Sci. 2003;94(2):188–192.
32. Screening for in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities of the mushroom Agaricus blazei. Ziliotto L, Pinheiro F, Barbisan LF, Rodrigues MA. Nutr Cancer. 2009;61(2):245–250.
33. Aqueous extract of culinary-medicinal Royal Sun mushroom, Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. (Agaricomycetideae) effects on immunodepression in mice. Fantuzzi E, Anastacio LR, Nicoli JR, de Paula SO, Esteves Arantes RM, da Matta SLP, Vanetti MCD. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2010;12(3):227–234.
34. Variation of the antimutagenicity effects of water extracts of Agaricus blazei Murrill in vitro. Guterrez ZR, Mantovani MS, EiraAF, Ribeiro LR, Jordão BQ. Toxicol In Vitro. 2004;18(3):301–309.
35. Effects of the medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill on immunity, infection and cancer. Hetland G, Johnson E, Lyberg T, Bernardshaw S, Tryggestad AM, Grinde B. Scand J Immunol. 2008;68(4):363–370.
36. Oral treatment with extract of Agaricus blazei Murill enhanced Th1 response through intestinal epithelial cells and suppressed OVA-sensitized allergy in mice. Bouike G, Nishitani Y, Shiomi H, Yoshida M, Azuma T, Hashimoto T, Kanazawa K, Mizuno M. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011. pii: 532180.
37. An extract of the medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill can protect against allergy. Ellertsen LK, Hetland G. Clin Mol Allergy. 2009;7:6.
38. The mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill extract normalizes liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Hsu CH, Hwang KC, Chiang YH, Chou P. J Altern Complement Med. 2008;14(3):299–301.
39. Clinical utility of ABCL (Agalicus Mushroom Extract) treatment for C-type hepatitis. Jpn Pharmacol Ther. 2002;30(2):103–107.
40. Observation on the treatment effect of Agaricus blazei to the liver function of chronic hepatitis patients. Wang LR, Feng QR, Xu XY, Ma HL, Wang JZ, Ito H, Shimura K. J Lanzhou Med Coll. 1994;20(1):24–26.
41. Effects of polysaccharide from fruiting bodies of Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus brasiliensis, and Phellinus linteus on alcoholic liver injury. Uyanoglu M, Canbek M, van Griensven LJ, Yamac M, Senturk H, Kartkaya K, Oglakcı A, Turgak O, Kanbak G. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2014;65(4):482–488.
42. Medical mushrooms used for biochemical failure after radical treatment for prostate cancer: an open-label study. Yoshimura K, Kamoto T, Ogawa O, Matsui S, Tsuchiya N, Tada H, Murata K, Yoshimura K, Habuchi T, Fukushima M. Int J Urol. 2010;17(6):548–554.
43. Phase I clinical study of the dietary supplement, Agaricus blazei Murill, in cancer patients in remission. Ohno S, Sumiyoshi Y, Hashine K, Shirato A, Kyo S, Inoue M. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:192381.
44. Safety study of culinary-medicinal Royal Sun Agaricus, Agaricus brasiliensis S. Wasser et al. KA21 (higher Basidiomycetes) assessed by prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic systems. Motoi M, Ohno N. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2012;14(2):135–148.
45. Royal sun medicinal mushroom, Agaricus brasiliensis Ka21 (higher Basidiomycetes), as a functional food in humans. Yamanaka D, Liu Y, Motoi M, Ohno N. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(4):335–343.
46. Pro-inflammatory effects of the mushroom Agaricus blazei and its consequences on atherosclerosis development. Gonçalves JL, Roma EH, Gomes-Santos AC, Aguilar EC, Cisalpino D, Fernandes LR, Vieira AT, Oliveira DR, Cardoso VN, Teixeira MM, Alvarez-Leite JI. Eur J Nutr. 2012;51(8):927–937.
47. Agaricus blazei Murrill and inflammatory mediators in elderly women: a randomized clinical trial. Lima CU, Souza VC, Morita MC, Chiarello MD, Karnikowski MG. Scand J Immunol. 2012;75(3):336–341.
48. An alternative medicine, Agaricus blazei, may have induced severe hepatic dysfunction in cancer patients. Mukai H, Watanabe T, Ando M, Katsumata N. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2006;36(12):808–810.
49. Cheilitis due to Agaricus blazei Murill mushroom extract. Suehiro M, Katoh N, Kishimoto S. Contact Dermatitis. 2007;56(5):293–294.
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