Mushrooms have long held a special place in traditional medicine. Among them, Agaricus blazei Murill (Scientific name: Agaricus subrufescens, also known as God’s mushroom, Almond Mushroom, Royal Sun Mushroom, Himematsutake) is gaining scientific recognition for its potential health-promoting properties — but what you get out of it depends heavily on how the product is made.
Fruiting Body vs Mycelium: Two Different Sources
When companies talk about Agaricus blazei extract, it may come from:
- Fruiting Body: The familiar cap and stem mushrooms. Research suggests these often yield higher amounts of antioxidants and certain polysaccharides (Jung et al., 2011).
- Mycelium: The fine, threadlike network below ground or in substrate. This part of the fungus is easier and faster to cultivate under controlled conditions.
What science shows:
- Fruiting body extracts tend to demonstrate stronger antioxidant activity (DPPH radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation inhibition) in direct comparisons (Jung et al., 2011).
- Mycelium can still provide powerful support for immune function, especially when the extraction method is optimized. For example, research on A. blazei mycelial extract prepared under subcritical water suggests it can influence immune checkpoint molecules in lung cancer cells and promote maturation of dendritic cells (Yasuma et al., 2021).
Extraction Methods: What They Pull Out & Why It Matters
Let’s look at different extraction styles and how they influence the final product’s composition:
Hot Water Extraction
- This safe method effectively captures water-soluble polysaccharides like β-glucans, and research has widely explored its effects on antioxidant activity and DNA integrity (Angeli et al., 2009).There is a risk of compound degradation if overheated or processed for too long; it may also miss some bound or more hydrophobic compounds.
Subcritical Water Extraction
- This method uses water under pressure at elevated temperatures (120–200°C), but below the critical point. It appears to provide a middle path—achieving higher extraction efficiency without organic solvents. Recent studies show both fruiting body and mycelium extracts made this way may influence cellular expression of PD-L1 / PD-L2 / Axl in certain cancer cell lines (Yasuma et al., 2021).
Alkaline Extraction / Sequential Solvent Methods
- These methods can draw out compounds not accessible by water alone, including some structural polysaccharides. However, careful management of purification and safety is required.
Repeated Extractions / Fractionation by Molecular Weight
- These methods allow for the isolation of specific fractions (high vs. low molecular weight), which may have different effects on immune system support and metabolic processes. For example, research suggests A. blazei β-glucans of ~30–50 kDa may support healthy metabolic function (Hetland et al., 2008).
Exploring the Effects of Different Extracts
Here is a curated list of what has been observed in scientific studies, with notes on the extract type used:
|
Area of Research |
Extract Type(s) Used |
Key Findings |
|
Antioxidant & Cellular Health |
Hot water extract of fruiting body; β-glucan fractions |
Research showed it helped protect HepG2 cells from DNA damage induced by a carcinogen (Angeli et al., 2009). |
|
Supporting Cellular Integrity |
Water extract |
A study on mice consuming the extract observed a reduction in intestinal tumor load (Gao et al., 2017). |
|
Immune Checkpoint Modulation |
Subcritical water extracts (fruiting body or mycelium) |
Research suggests these extracts may influence the expression of Axl, PD-L1, and PD-L2, and support dendritic cell maturation (Yasuma et al., 2021). |
|
Metabolic and Blood Sugar Support |
Hot water β-glucans (30–50 kDa) |
Studies suggest they may improve insulin sensitivity in animal models (Hetland et al., 2008); validated by a human trial (Hsu et al., 2007) and a mouse model (Vincent et al., 2013). |
Exploring Metabolic Support from Hot-Water Extracted Fruiting Bodies
Recent research explores how hot-water extracts of Agaricus blazei fruiting bodies may provide metabolic support:
- Human Study (Hsu et al., 2007): A 12-week trial involving 1500 mg/day of Agaricus blazei extract showed a reduction in insulin resistance and serum insulin levels, and an increase in adiponectin levels in participants with type 2 diabetes.
- Animal Study (Vincent et al., 2013): Mice fed a diet containing 2.5% of a hot-water extract of organic A. blazei fruiting bodies showed trends toward reduced body weight gain, liver triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose.
These findings highlight how properly prepared hot-water extracts may support healthy metabolic function and insulin support.
Product Comparison: Top Agaricus blazei products (Retail Pricing)
|
Product |
Extract Type |
Price (USD) |
Key Attributes |
|
Andosan® (Norway) |
Liquid, hot water, fruiting body + others |
~$225 per bottle |
Used 4 bottles ($900 value) for 33-day supply in clinical studies (Gao et al., 2017) |
|
Liquid, hot water, organic fruiting body grown in the USA |
$28.97 per bottle |
Pre-clinical studies verified metabolic, cellular, and immune health benefits. Certified organic, Fast-absorbing liquid extract, |
|
|
Senseiro Standard (Japan) |
Granules, 30 sachets |
~$58 |
Entry-level daily support, fruiting body extract |
|
Senseiro Extract Royal (Japan) |
Liquid, 50 mL × 60 sachets |
~$375 |
High-dose antioxidant and immune support |
|
Senseiro Extract Gold N (Japan) |
Liquid, 100 mL × 30 sachets |
~$199 |
Concentrated gold variant, easy absorption |
|
Senseiro Granule Gold (Japan) |
1800 mg × 30 sachets |
~$245 |
High-dose granule format for systemic benefits |
- Exchange rate used: ¥1 = ~$0.0067 USD
- Andosan® is the registered trademark of Norwegian Medicinal Fungi A.S.
- Senseiro® is the registered trademark of SSI, Co., Ltd.
Safety, Potency, and What to Look For
Because not all extracts are equivalent, here are the key criteria when choosing a quality product:
- Extraction method disclosed: Transparency about hot water, subcritical water, or alkaline methods is essential.
- Fungus part used: Fruiting body or validated mycelium strains? Details matter.
- β-glucan fraction size: ~30–50 kDa has been linked to metabolic benefits.
- Purity and testing: Look for reports on heavy metals and residual solvents. Mycelium often contains fewer heavy metals than fruiting bodies (Carvajal et al., 2012).
- Efficacy Evidence: Prefer products with supporting clinical, pre-clinical, or in vitro data.
Conclusions
Agaricus blazei is more than just a single 'super-mushroom'—it's a world of potential waiting to be unlocked. By choosing a product made with the right extraction method and source, you can access the powerful compounds that help you achieve your health goals. To get the most from this remarkable mushroom, look for supplements crafted from the fruiting body (or a scientifically validated mycelium) using hot or subcritical water extraction, with potency and purity standards
If you consider Agaricus blazei extract, consult your healthcare provider, particularly if you are immunocompromised or undergoing cancer treatment.
Our Agaricus blazei mushroom extracts use organic fruit bodies grown in the USA under controlled conditions, using hot water & pressurized extraction. The mushroom extracts contain polysaccharides, including β-glucans, which have been validated for their efficacy by independent university laboratories in the USA, Japan, France, and Belgium.
References
- Angeli, J. P. F., Ribeiro, L. R., Bellini, M. F., & Mantovani, M. S. (2009). β-Glucan extracted from the medicinal mushroom Agaricus blazei prevents genotoxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene. Archives of Toxicology, 83(1), 81–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-008-0319-5
- Carvajal, A. E. S., et al. (2012). Bioactives of fruiting bodies and submerged culture mycelia of Agaricus blazei Murill. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 46(2), 493-499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2011.11.018
- Gao, Y., Tvede, M., & Hetland, G. (2017). Mushrooms and health: Agaricus blazei Murill and its extracts. PLOS ONE, 12(12), e0167754. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0167754
- Hetland, G., Tangen, J. M., Mahmood, F., & Lovik, M. (2008). β-Glucan from Agaricus blazei in the treatment of patients with diabetes. Journal of Medicinal Food, 11(4), 713–718.
- Jung, M. J., Park, S. Y., & Song, K. S. (2011). Evaluation of antioxidant activity of Agaricus blazei Murill. Food Chemistry, 127(4), 1579–1584.
- Yasuma, T., Toda, M., Kobori, H., Tada, N., D’Alessandro-Gabazza, C. N., & Gabazza, E. C. (2021). Subcritical water extracts from Agaricus blazei mycelium inhibit the expression of immune checkpoint molecules. Journal of Fungi, 7(8), 590. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7080590