Breeding the button mushroom requires genetic information about its strains. This study was undertaken to genetically characterize four domestically bred button mushroom strains (Saea, Saejung, Saedo, Saeyeon cultivars) and to assess the possibility of using the intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) region of rDNA as a genetically variable region in the genetic characterization. For the experiment, 34 strains of Agaricus bisporus, two strains of A. bitorquis, and one strain of A. silvaticus, from 17 countries were used. Nucleotide sequence analysis of IGS1 rDNA in these 37 Agaricus strains confirmed that genetic variations exist, not only among the four domestic strains, but also between the four domestic strains and foreign strains. Crossing two different haploid strains of A. bisporus seems to generate genetic variation in the IGS1 region in their off-spring haploid strains. Phylogenetic analysis based on the IGS1 sequence revealed all A. bisporus strains could be differentiated from A. silvaticus and A. bitorquis strains. Five genetic groups were resolved among A. bisporus strains. Saejung and Saeyeon cultivars formed a separate genetic group. Our results suggest that IGS1 could be complementarily applied in the polymorphism analysis of button mushroom.
Agaricales* ; Agaricus ; Base Sequence ; Breeding ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Genetic Variation ; Haploidy

This study is aimed to investigate about the fungal flora of some agaric fungi in Assiut, Egypt wild mushroom were collected during cold weather from November to February in the years 1995 and 1996 respectively. Twenty three species and one variety belong to 12 genera in 7 families of the order Agaricales from Assuit were identifled. The common genera were Agaricus, Macrolepiota and Corprinus. From the preceeding genera, four species from each genus were collected. Agaricus bitorquis, A. campestris, A. hortensis, A. perraus, Macrolepioya, M. rhacodes, M. rhacodes var. Hortensis, Marcrolepiota sp., Coprinus afamentarus, C. comatus, C. picaceus and C. nosoustii.
Agar* ; Agaricales ; Agaricus ; Coprinus ; Egypt ; Fungi ; Humans ; Weather

Cytoprotective ability of polysaccharides isolated from different edible mushrooms was investigated on the 7-ketocholesterol-induced damaged cell line. Polysaccharide extracts from six different edible mushrooms-Flammulina velutipes, Peurotus ostreatus, Lentinus edodes, Agrocybe aegerita, Agaricus blazei, and Cordyceps militaris- were prepared by hot water extraction and alcohol precipitation. Cytoprotective ability was evaluated by measuring the viable cells of the normal embryonic liver cell line (BNL CL. 2) in the presence of 7-ketocholesterol. At 80 microgram/mL of 7-ketocholesterol, cytotoxicity was very high with a loss of 98% of viable cells after 20 h of incubation. With the addition of 200 microgram/mL of each polysaccharide isolate to the cell line containing 80 microgram/mL of 7-ketocholesterol, polysaccharide isolates from both Flammulina velutipes and Peurotus ostreatus could significantly inhibit the 7-ketochoelsterol-induced cytotoxicity in the cells. But other polysaccharide isolates were not effective in inhibiting cell damage caused by the oxLDL-induced cytotoxicity.
Agaricales* ; Agaricus ; Agrocybe ; Animals ; Cell Line* ; Cordyceps ; Flammulina ; Liver* ; Mice* ; Polysaccharides ; Shiitake Mushrooms ; Water

Four Cladobotryum isolates were collected from four different commercially grown mushroom types infected with cobweb disease in Cheongdo-gun and Chilgok-gun of Gyeongbuk Province, Korea in 2010. The isolates were identified as C. mycophilum from Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus eryngii, C. varium from Flammulina velutipes and Hypsizygus marmoreus. The cultural characteristics of the four isolates were investigated using potato dextrose agar (PDA) media under nine different temperatures ranging from 5~32degrees C. Rapid growth of the isolates to colony diameters of 47~82 mm was observed at conditions of 18~22degrees C. No growth was observed at 32degrees C. C. mycophilum produced a yellowish red pigment while C. varium produced a cream colored pigment after cultivation for 25 days on PDA. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region and partial 28S rDNA from the four isolates confirmed they were C. mycophilum and C. varium. Cross pathogenicity tests revealed that the two isolates of C. mycophilum were highly pathogenic toward three mushroom types, but not toward H. marmoreus. The two isolates of C. varium were less pathogenic than those of C. mycophilum, but were pathogenic toward all mushroom types evaluated.
Agar ; Agaricales ; Agaricus ; Cultural Characteristics ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Flammulina ; Glucose ; Korea ; Pleurotus ; Solanum tuberosum

OBJECTIVE: To investigated the anti-tumor in vivo effect and mechanism of the acid RNA protein complex (FA-2-b-β) of Agaricus blazei Murrill extract. METHODS: CCK-8 method was used to detected the inhibitory effect of FA-2-b-β on proliferation of primary CML cells from newly diagnosed CML patients, the CML mouse model was established by trail-venous injection of primary CML cells, and the survival time, blood cell count and body weight were observed, the immunoflouresence and immunehistochemistry analysis, RT-qPCR, Western bolt were used to detemine the expression of caspase-3 signal pathway-related apoptosis genes and proteins. RESULTS: The experiments in vitro showed that the proliferative inhibitory rate in drug-treated group increased with concentration- and time-dependent manner (r CONCLUSION The FA-2-b-β can induce apoptosis of primary CML cells and prolong the survival time of CML model mouse, which may be related with the caspase-3 signal pathway related genes and proteins.
Agaricus ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Mice

Amylases and cellulases are important enzymes that can be utilized for various biological activities. Ten different wild Nigerian mushrooms (Agaricus blazei, Agaricus sp., Corilopsis occidentalis, Coriolus versicolor, Termitomyces clypeatus, Termitomyces globulus, Pleurotus tuber-regium, Podoscypha bolleana, Pogonomyces hydnoides, and Nothopanus hygrophanus) were assayed for production of these secondary metabolites. The results revealed that most of the tested wild fungi demonstrated very good amylase and cellulase activities. With the incorporation of carboxymethyl-cellulose (a carbon source) into the culture medium, Agaricus blazei had the highest amylolytic activity of 0.60 unit/mL (at 25degrees C, pH 6.8). This was followed in order by P. tuber-regium and Agaricus sp. with 0.42 and 0.39 unit/mL, respectively (p < or = 0.05). Maltose and sucrose supplementation into the submerged liquid medium made N. hygrophanus and P. hydnoides to exhibit very low amylase activities of 0.09 and 0.11 unit/mL, respectively. Introducing peptone (an organic nitrogen source) into the basal medium enhanced the ability of C. versicolor to produce a cellulase value of 0.74 unit/mL. Other organic nitrogen sources that supported good cellulase activities were yeast extract and urea. Sodium nitrate (inorganic nitrogen source) generally inhibited cellulase production in all mushrooms. The best carbon source was carboxymethyl-cellulose, which promoted very high cellulase activity of 0.67 unit/mL in C. versicolor, which was followed in order by P. tuber-regium, T. chypeatus, and C. occidentalis (p < or = 0.05). Sucrose was the poorest carbon compound, supporting the lowest values of 0.01, 0.01, and 0.14 unit/mL in P. hydnoides, A. blazei, and Agaricus sp., respectively.
Agaricales ; Agaricus ; Amylases ; Carbon ; Cellulase ; Cellulases ; Fungi ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Maltose ; Nigeria ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen ; Peptones ; Pleurotus ; Sodium ; Sucrose ; Termitomyces ; Urea ; Yeasts

The effects of cheonggukjang (traditional fermented soybean food, CK) and cheonggukjang added Agaricus blazei (CKA) on lipid metabolism were investigated in female Sprague-Dawley rats (20 weeks old). The rats were fed a purified hyperlipidemic diet (control diet: 0.1% cholesterol, 10% fat, 18% casein) for 4 weeks. The rats were randomly assigned to each treatment group: control, two kinds of CK or CKA (powders of CK or CKA as dietary protein sources). After 8 weeks of experimental diets consumption, the body weights, and the uterine fat pad weights of CK and CKA diets groups were more significantly decreased than those of the control diet group. The liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in both the CK and CKA diets groups than those in the control group. The concentrations in serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and atherogenic index ratios were significantly decreased in the CK and CKA diets groups compared with those in the control group. The HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol ratios were significantly increased in the CK and CKA diets groups compared with those in the control group. The fecal cholesterol and triglyceride excretion in the CK and CKA diets groups were more increased than those in the control group. These results showed that both the feeding the rats with cheonggukjang and cheonggukjang added Agaricus blazei decreased the triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in serum as well as the triglyceride and cholesterol in liver, and increased the HDL-cholesterol/ total-cholesterol ratio in serum.
Adipose Tissue ; Agaricus ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Dietary Proteins ; Female* ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Liver ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soybeans ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures

Glycoproteins isolated from fruit bodies and mycelial cultures of mushrooms exhibit anti-carcinogenic actions in human cancer cells and animal tumor cells by induction of apoptosis. Here, we report that isoflavone-conjugated glycoproteins (designate Gluvone), exhibit strong anti-carcinogenic effects on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells by induction of apoptosis. Gluvone with 9.4 kDa of molecular weight was isolated from submerged-liquid culture of Agaricus blazei mycelia (ABM) in soy flake-containing liquid medium. MCF-7 cells were incubated with various amounts of Gluvone (0~250 microM) for a period of 6 days. Gluvone exhibited anti-proliferative actions in a dose-dependent manner and 62% growth inhibition at 200 microM for 4 days relative to control. Hoechst 33258 staining analysis revealed that Gluvone induced formation of apoptotic bodies. Gluvone was associated with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression as well as up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression. Gluvone treatment induced proteolytic activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 through cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol as well as concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, Gluvone induced activation of caspase-8. Taken all together, these results indicate that the anti-proliferative effect of Gluvone is associated with induction of apoptotic cell death through the mitochondrial dysfunction pathway mediated by enhancement of Bax protein expression and suppression of Bcl-2 protein expression.
Agaricales ; Agaricus* ; Animals ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; Apoptosis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein* ; Bisbenzimidazole ; Breast Neoplasms ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase 8 ; Caspase 9 ; Cell Death ; Cytochromes c ; Cytosol ; Down-Regulation ; Fruit ; Glycoproteins* ; Humans ; Isoflavones* ; MCF-7 Cells ; Mitochondria ; Molecular Weight ; Up-Regulation

This study examined the chemical composition of A. blasiliensis and the chemical structural properties of an immuno-stimulating polysaccharide. The amino acids, free sugars, and organic acids by HPLC and fatty acids by GC were analyzed. The immuno-stimulating substance from A. blasiliensis was extracted with hot water and purified by ethanol precipitation. It underwent ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Toyopearl HW 65F. Through GP-HPLC, the substance was found to be homogeneous. Its chemical structure was determined by 13C-NMR. Fatty acids, organic acids, and sugar alcohol composition consisted exclusively of linoleic acid, fumaric acid and mannitol, respectively. The amino acids were mainly glutamic acid, glycine, and arginine. By 13C-NMR analysis, the immuno-stimulating substance was identified as beta-(1-->3) (1-->6)-glucan, composed of a backbone with (1-->3)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues branching a (1-->6)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residue. The beta-glucan from A. blasiliensis showed pronounced immuno-stimulating activity on the antibody-production ability of B-lymphocytes by the hemolytic suspension assay. In these results, A. blasiliensis was estimated to have potent pharmacological properties and potential nutritional values.
Agaricus ; Amino Acids ; Arginine ; B-Lymphocytes ; Carbohydrates ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; DEAE-Cellulose ; Ethanol ; Fatty Acids ; Fumarates ; Glutamic Acid ; Glycine ; Linoleic Acid ; Mannitol ; Nutritive Value ; Water

This study was performed to investigate the effects of liquid culture of Agaricus blazei on the lipid metabolism and enzyme activities in growing male rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were given four different types of diets for a succeeding period of 5 weeks, respectively: a normal diet group (7% corn oil), a high fat diet group (7% com oil + 15% lard), a 20 or 30% Agaricus diet groups (high fat diet + 20 or 30% Agaricus in water) according to the levels of Agaricus supplementation. The body weight gains, food intake, food efficiency ratios, and hepatic, kidney, spleen and pancreas weights of the rats fed 20 or 30% Agaricus diets were similar to those of the rats fed high fat diet. The epididymal fat pad weight of the rats fed high fat diet and 20 or 30% Agaricus diets were significantly higher than that of the rats fed normal diet. The concentrations of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, and the activity of glutamic pyruvic transaminase in the rats fed 30% Agaricus diet were significantly lower than those in the rats 114 high fat diet. But the concentrations of hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride of rats fed the 20 or 30% Agaricus diets were similar to those of rats fed the high fat diet. The HDL-oholesterol/total-cholesterol ratio of the rat fed 30% Agaricus diet was significantly higher than that of the rats fed high fat diet, The activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in the rats fed 20 or 30% Agaricus diets were similar to those in the rats fed high fat diet. There were no differences in the concentrations of total protein, hemoglobin and glucose, and the activities of alkaline phosphatase, and the atherogenic index in the serum among the experimental groups. These results showed that the 30% Agaricus diet feeding decreased the total cholesterol, the triglyceride and the LDL-cholesterol, and increased the HDL-oholesterol/total cholesterol ratio in serum of rats.
Adipose Tissue ; Agaricus* ; Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat* ; Eating ; Glucose ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lipid Metabolism* ; Male ; Pancreas ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures ; Zea mays