6.2.5 Antihypertensive and Hypocholesterolemic Effects
Due to the fact that currently cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality,
wild edible mushrooms are currently investigated for their therapeutic properties.
In in vitro and in vivo research, mushrooms have shown to reduce risk factors of
cardiovascular disease, such as high total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol, and high blood pressure (Guillamón et al. 2010). Several
in vivo experiments have demonstrated the hypotensive effect of c-aminobutyric
acid or GABA. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, GABA has showed to have an
antihypertensive effect (Hayakawa et al. 2005; Hayakawa et al. 2005). Additionally, the hypotensive effect of some food products containing GABA, without side
effects, has been demonstrated in hypertensive patients (Tanaka et al., 2009;
Shimada et al. 2009). GABA is an amino acid which has been reported in high
amounts in some edible EEMs such as B. edulis (Chen et al. 2012). It also has been
demonstrated that grifolin and neogrifolin, two bioactive compounds found in
‘‘Ningyotake’’ EEM (A. confluens) had a plasma cholesterol-lowering effect
(Sugiyama et al. 1992, 1994). These authors showed that the hypocholesterolemic
action of grifolin might be elicited by the augmented excretion of cholesterol into
the feces, and as consequence there was a reduction in the cholesterol and the
triglyceride plasma levels. Hypocholesteromic action, accompanied with fecal
excretion of bile acids, has also been reported in mice feed with L. decastes
(Ukawa et al. 2001). The bioactive compound neogrifolin has also been found in
other edible EEMs such as Tricholoma imbricatum (Zhang et al. 2009).
Ergothioneine, a novel antioxidant, is present in edible mushrooms and is not
synthesized, but is accumulated, by humans through diet. Martin (2010) found that
the bioactive agent ergothioneine inhibits monocyte binding to endothelial cells
characteristic of early cardiovascular disease. This amino acid has been found in
different edible EEMs including Leucopaxillus giganteus (Harada et al. 2008),
Rozites caperata (Tokuyama and Yamamoto 2008), Tricholoma sp. (Ito et al.
2011), and L. decastes (Nguyen et al. 2012). The regular consumption of mushrooms containing ergothioneine therefore should be a factor or reduction of risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Lovastatin, a member of the statin family of compounds, inhibit the rate-limiting
enzyme in the production of cholesterol, lowering total, and LDL cholesterol levels
and therefore reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. This compound has shown
to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro-fibrinolytic properties and to prevent acute coronary syndromes and atherosclerotic disease (Aarons et al. 2007).
Chen et al. (2012) and Lo et al. (2012) demonstrated that sporomes of B. edulis and
broth culture of M. esculenta, respectively, have high contents of lovastatin, and
therefore their regular consumption should be a factor of hypocholesterolemic
activity, along with the other potential benefits associated with cardiovascular
health.
In addition, it is important to mention that some edible EEMs, including
A. caesarea, Amanita ponderosa, B. edulis, C. cibarius and C. cornucopioides, and
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
183
Due to the fact that currently cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality,
wild edible mushrooms are currently investigated for their therapeutic properties.
In in vitro and in vivo research, mushrooms have shown to reduce risk factors of
cardiovascular disease, such as high total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol, and high blood pressure (Guillamón et al. 2010). Several
in vivo experiments have demonstrated the hypotensive effect of c-aminobutyric
acid or GABA. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, GABA has showed to have an
antihypertensive effect (Hayakawa et al. 2005; Hayakawa et al. 2005). Additionally, the hypotensive effect of some food products containing GABA, without side
effects, has been demonstrated in hypertensive patients (Tanaka et al., 2009;
Shimada et al. 2009). GABA is an amino acid which has been reported in high
amounts in some edible EEMs such as B. edulis (Chen et al. 2012). It also has been
demonstrated that grifolin and neogrifolin, two bioactive compounds found in
‘‘Ningyotake’’ EEM (A. confluens) had a plasma cholesterol-lowering effect
(Sugiyama et al. 1992, 1994). These authors showed that the hypocholesterolemic
action of grifolin might be elicited by the augmented excretion of cholesterol into
the feces, and as consequence there was a reduction in the cholesterol and the
triglyceride plasma levels. Hypocholesteromic action, accompanied with fecal
excretion of bile acids, has also been reported in mice feed with L. decastes
(Ukawa et al. 2001). The bioactive compound neogrifolin has also been found in
other edible EEMs such as Tricholoma imbricatum (Zhang et al. 2009).
Ergothioneine, a novel antioxidant, is present in edible mushrooms and is not
synthesized, but is accumulated, by humans through diet. Martin (2010) found that
the bioactive agent ergothioneine inhibits monocyte binding to endothelial cells
characteristic of early cardiovascular disease. This amino acid has been found in
different edible EEMs including Leucopaxillus giganteus (Harada et al. 2008),
Rozites caperata (Tokuyama and Yamamoto 2008), Tricholoma sp. (Ito et al.
2011), and L. decastes (Nguyen et al. 2012). The regular consumption of mushrooms containing ergothioneine therefore should be a factor or reduction of risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Lovastatin, a member of the statin family of compounds, inhibit the rate-limiting
enzyme in the production of cholesterol, lowering total, and LDL cholesterol levels
and therefore reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. This compound has shown
to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro-fibrinolytic properties and to prevent acute coronary syndromes and atherosclerotic disease (Aarons et al. 2007).
Chen et al. (2012) and Lo et al. (2012) demonstrated that sporomes of B. edulis and
broth culture of M. esculenta, respectively, have high contents of lovastatin, and
therefore their regular consumption should be a factor of hypocholesterolemic
activity, along with the other potential benefits associated with cardiovascular
health.
In addition, it is important to mention that some edible EEMs, including
A. caesarea, Amanita ponderosa, B. edulis, C. cibarius and C. cornucopioides, and
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
183