Mushrooms Protect Heart, Inhibit Cellular Processes

Dietary mushrooms can inhibit cellular processes such as adhesion molecule expression and ultimate binding of monocytes to the endothelium under pro-inflammatory conditions, which are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Nutr J. 2010; 9:29). Human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were incubated overnight with control media with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) vehicle or containing DMSO extracts of whole dehydrated mushrooms (0.1 mg/mL), which included Agaricus bisporus (white button and crimini), Lentinula edodes (shiitake), Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster) and Grifola frondosa (maitake). Monolayers were subsequently washed and incubated with medium alone or containing the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 Beta (5 ng/mL) for six hours to upregulate pro-atherosclerotic adhesion molecules (AM).

White button mushrooms consistently reduced (P<0.05) VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin-1 expression, whereas other test mushrooms significantly modulated AM expression singly, collectively or specific combinations. All mushrooms, however, significantly reduced binding of monocytes to both quiescent and cytokine-stimulated monolayers. As a result, these findings support the notion that dietary mushrooms can be protective against CVD.