Agaricus subrufescens: substratum nitrogen concentration and mycelial extraction method on antitumor activity

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Pharmacology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Agaricus subrufescens exhibits antitumor activity in both mycelium and basidiocarp forms.
• Limited research exists on optimizing A. subrufescens cultivation and extraction for enhanced antineoplastic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of nitrogen concentration in cultivation media on A. subrufescens mycelial biomass and antitumor activity.
• To compare different extraction methods for isolating antineoplastic compounds from A. subrufescens mycelium.
• To evaluate the efficacy of these extracts against sarcoma 180 tumors in a murine model.

Main Methods:

• Cultivation of A. subrufescens using isolated soybean protein or NaNO3 at varying nitrogen concentrations (0.25–8.0 g/L).
• Extraction of mycelial compounds using hot water infusion (90 °C) or ambient temperature aqueous mixture.
• Administration of extracts via oral gavage to mice bearing sarcoma 180 tumors.
• Assessment of tumor reduction, splenic index, blood parameters, and overall animal wellness.

Main Results:

• Isolated soy protein yielded higher mycelial biomass compared to NaNO3.
• Increased nitrogen concentration in the cultivation medium correlated with greater mycelial biomass, splenic index, and antitumor activity.
• Hot water extract demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing tumor size compared to moistened mycelial powder.
• The hot water mycelial extract showed antitumor activity comparable to basidiocarps, with beneficial effects on spleen and blood parameters.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing nitrogen levels in A. subrufescens cultivation media significantly boosts antitumor potential.
• Hot water extraction is a highly effective method for obtaining potent antineoplastic agents from mycelium.
• A. subrufescens mycelial extracts offer a promising, well-tolerated alternative for cancer therapy.