Agaricus subrufescens

Taxobox
name = "Agaricus subrufescens"

---

image_width = 280px
image_caption = "Agaricus subrufescens"
regnum = Fungi
subregnum = Dikarya
phylum = Basidiomycota
subphylum = Agaricomycotina
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Agaricaceae
genus = "Agaricus"
species = "A. subrufescens"
binomial = "Agaricus subrufescens"
binomial_authority = Peck
synonyms = "Agaricus blazei" Heinemannmycomorphbox
name = Agaricus subrufescens
whichGills = free
capShape = convex
hymeniumType=gills
stipeCharacter=ring
ecologicalType=saprotrophic
sporePrintColor=brown
howEdible=edible

"Agaricus subrufescens" (formerly known as "Agaricus blazei") is a species of mushroom, sometimes known as himematsutake and by a number of other names. This Agaricus is a choice edible, with a somewhat sweet taste and fragrance of almonds. The almond flavor is due to the presence of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzonitrile, and methyl benzoate.citation
last1 = Chen
first1 = Chu-Chin
last2 = Wu
first2 = Chung-May
title = Volatile Components of Mushroom (Agaricus subrufecens)
journal = Journal of Food Science
volume = 49
issue = 4
pages = 1208–1209
publisher =
location =
date = 1984
url =
doi = 10.1111/j.1365-2621.1984.tb10433.x
id =
accessdate = ] This mushroom is also well known for its purported medicinal properties.

History

"Agaricus subrufescens" was first described by the American botanist Charles Horton Peck in 1893. [ [http://www.ilmyco.gen.chicago.il.us/Taxa/Agarisubru583.html Agaricus subrufescens] , by the Illinois Mycological Association. Retrieved March 13, 2008.] During the late 19th and early 20th century, it was cultivated for the table in the eastern United States (Kerrigan 2005).citation
last1 = Kerrigan
first1 = Richard W.
title = Agaricus subrufescens, a cultivated edible and medicinal mushroom, and its synonyms
journal = Mycologia
volume = 97
issue = 1
pages = 12-24
publisher =
location =
date = 2005
url = http://www.mycologia.org/cgi/content/full/97/1/12
doi =
id =
accessdate = ] It was discovered again in Brazil during the 1970s, and thought to be a new species, "Agaricus blazei". It was soon marketed for its purported medicinal properties under various names, including:
*ABM (for Agaricus blazei mushroom)
*Cogumelo do Sol (mushroom of the sun)
*Cogumelo de Deus (mushroom of God)
*Cogumelo de Vida (mushroom of life)
*Himematsutake
*Royal Sun Agaricus
*Mandelpilz
*Almond Mushroom

In 2002, Didukh and Wasser rejected the name "A. blazei" and called the Brazilian fungi "Agaricus brasiliensis";citation
last1 = Didukh
first1 = Marina
last2 = Wasser
first2 = Solomon
title = Is a Widely Cultivated Culinary-Medicinal Royal Sun Agaricus (the Himematsutake Mushroom) Indeed Agaricus blazei Murrill?
journal = International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms
volume = 4
issue = 4
pages = 267-290
publisher =
location =
date = 2002
url =
doi =
id =
accessdate = ] this was rejected by Kerrigan through genetic and interfertility testing on several fungal strains. Samples of the Brazilian strains called "A. blazei" and "A. braziliensis" proved to be genetically similar to, and interfertile with, the North American population of "Agaricus subrufescens". These tests also found European samples called "A. rufotegulis" to be of the same species. Because "Agaricus subrufescens"is the oldest name, it is traditionally considered the scientifically, historically correct name.

Commercial use

Because of its high beta glucan content – higher than both Reishi and Shiitake mushrooms – "Agaricus subrufescens" is used in oncological therapy, mainly in Japan and California. It has been commercially cultivated in Asia and South America since 1993. Because of this valuable polysaccharide, and lack of supply, "Agaricus blazei" used to be relatively expensive, until it was successfully artificially cultivated in mushroom farms. China (Maucua) and Brazil are major exporters.

"Agaricus blazei" mushroom specifically assists in the production of interferon and interleukin, which are potent in fighting off cancer cell metastasis, especially cancer of the uterus. It also reduces blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and the effects of arteriosclerosis.

ABM is known to contain three different beta-glucans – β-(1-3)-D-glucan, β-(1-4)-α-D-glucan, and β-(1-6)-D-glucan.

Recently, Watanabe et al published a report in the Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin on a novel hybrid of the agaricus blazei called Basidiomycetes-X (BDM-X)Citation
last1 = Watanabe
first1 = Tetsuo
last2 = Nakajima
first2 = Y.
last3 = Konishi
first3 = T.
author-link =
publication-date =
date =
year = 2008
title =
periodical = Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin
series =
publication-place =
place =
publisher =
volume = 31
issue = 1
pages = 111-117
url =
issn =
doi = 10.1248/bpb.31.111
oclc =
accessdate =] and a US patentCitation
inventor-last = Ito
inventor-first = Hitoshi
inventorlink =
inventor2-last = Sumiya
inventor2-first = Toshimitsu
inventorlink2 =
date = 2000
issue-date =
title = Oral drugs for treating AIDS patients
country-code = US
description =
patent-number = 6120772] was issued on a novel hybrid of the "Agaricus Blazei" edible mushroom which was cross-bred (hybridized) with another medicinal mushroom resulting in a new hybrid claimed to possess 10 to 3000 times the potency of similar but unpatented mushrooms. An extract from it has been be released as an oral nutritional supplement (organic and vegan) called H1X1 or Agarigold by Waiora, a multi-level marketing company. [ [http://www.nutritionadvisor.com/agarigold.php Agarigold. Accessed 03152008] ]

References

* Heinrich Serwas: Heilen mit dem Mandelpilz, Agaricus blazei, BoD-Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-8334-9532-8

External links

* [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/agaricus_subrufescens.html "Agaricus subrufescens"] by Ron Meyers, "MushroomExpert.com", September 2005.
* [http://www.nutritionadvisor.com/product_spotlight.php?product_ID=114&category=8 Agaragus Blazei hybrid mushroom] S. Petrosino, Ph.D., Nutritionadvisor.com (2008)