Potentiation of cytotoxic activity in naïve and tumor-bearing mice by oral administration of hot-water extracts from Agaricus brazei fruiting bodies.

When hot-water extracts of mushroom Agaricus brazei MURRILL fruiting bodies (Agaricus extracts) were administered orally into Meth A-bearing mice, tumor growth was significantly inhibited compared with controls given water orally. Treatment with Agaricus extracts for five successive days significantly increased natural killer activity of spleen cells in naïve BALB/c mice. In Meth A-bearing BALB/c mice, Agaricus extracts enhanced the induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and interferon gamma production, indicating that Agaricus extracts potentiate cytotoxic activity in innate and adaptive immunity.