Skip to main content
Log in

Antihypertensive and metabolic effects of whole Maitake mushroom powder and its fractions in two rat strains

  • Published:
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Maitake mushroom has been reported to favorably influence hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of whole Maitake mushroom powder and two extracts designated as ether soluble (ES) and water soluble (WS) on Zucker fatty rats (ZFR), a model of insulin resistance, and on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a model of genetic hypertension. In the initial study, we followed four groups of eight ZFR and SHR receiving special diets: a baseline diet (BD), BD + whole Maitake mushroom powder (20% w/w), BD + fraction ES (0.10% w/w), and BD + WS (0.22% w/w). Different effects of these dietary regimens on the 2 rat strains were found. At 35 days, only consumption of the ES diet significantly decreased systolic BP (SBP) in SHR (average 197 vs. 176 mm Hg, p < 0.001), while in ZFR only the groups consuming the whole Maitake and WS diets showed significantly decreased SBP (138 vs. 120–125 mm Hg, p < 0.001). A challenge test with losartan (an angiotensin II receptor blocker) indicates that angiotensin II does not play a major role in SBP regulation of ZFR, but does in SHR where consumption of ES relative to other groups significantly lowered activity of this system. In SHR, glucose, cholesterol, circulating insulin and HbA1C were virtually similar among all dietary groups; but whole Maitake (−22%), ES (−120%) and WS (−80%) diets were associated with decreased triglycerides, and the ES diet with lowered serum creatinine (−29%). In ZFR, circulating insulin and HbA1C were significantly decreased in the whole Maitake powder and ES groups, and tended to be lower in the WS group compared to control. In the ensuing studies, we gavaged ZFR once daily with water (control), 44 mg fraction WS, or 44 mg fraction WS plus 100 μg niacin-bound chromium (NBC). Oral gavage of WS clearly lowered SBP and circulating glucose concentrations, more so with the addition of chromium. We conclude that the examined forms of Maitake mushroom have antihypertensive and antidiabetic potential which differ among rat strains. The ES fraction may decrease SBP in SHR via alteration in the renin-angiotensin system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Breslow L: Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. World Health Forum 3: 429–431, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  2. Zimmet PZ: Primary prevention of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 11: 258–262, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  3. Yudkin J: Sucrose, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and obesity: Do hormones provide a link? Am Heart J 115: 493–498, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  4. Preuss HG, Gondal JA, Lieberman S: Association of macronutrients and energy intake with hypertension. J Am Coll Nutr 15: 21–35, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  5. DeFronzo RA, Ferrannini E: Insulin resistance: A multifaceted syndrome responsible for NIDDM, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Diabetes Care 14: 173–194, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  6. Preuss HG, Jarrell ST, Scheckenbach R, Lieberman S, Anderson RA: Comparative effects of chromium, vanadium, and Gymnema sylvestre on sugar-induced blood pressure elevations in SHR. J Am Coll Nutr 17: 116–123, 1998

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mohamadi A, Jarrell ST, Shi SJ, Andrawis NS, Myers A, Clouatre D, Preuss HG: Effects of wild vs. cultivated garlic on blood pressure and other parameters in hypertensive rats: Comparison with cultivated garlics. Heart Dis 2: 3–9, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  8. Preuss HG, Wallerstedt D, Talpur N, Tutuncuoglu SO, Echard B, Myers A, Bui M, Bagchi D: Effects of chromium and grape seed extract on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects: a pilot study. J Med 31: 227–246, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mizuno T, Zhuang C: Maitake, Grifola frondosa: Pharmacologic effects. Food Rev Int 11: 135–149, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  10. Clark JB, Palmer CJ, Shaw WN: The diabetic Zucker Fatty Rat. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 173: 68–75, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  11. Okamoto K, Aoki K: Development of a strain of spontaneously hypertensive rat. Jap Circ J 27: 282–293, 1963

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kubo K, Aoki H, Nanba H: Anti-diabetic activity in the fruit body of Grifola frondosa (Maitake) I. Biol Pharm Bull 17: 1106–1110, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  13. Echard BW, Talpur NA, Funk KA, Bagchi D, Preuss HG: Effects of oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate alone and in combination on metabolism of SHR and SD rats. Mol Cell Biochem 225: 85–91, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gondal JA, MacArthy P, Myers AK, Preuss HG: Effects of dietary sucrose and fibers on blood pressure in hypertensive rats. Clin Nephrol 45: 163–168, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bunag RD: Validation in awake rats of a tail-cuff method measuring systolic pressure. J Appl Physiol 34: 279–282, 1973

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wong PC, Price WA Jr, Chiu AT, Duncia JV, Carini DJ, Wexler RR, Johnson AL, Timmermans P: In vivo pharmacology of DuP 753. Am J Hypertens 4: 288S–298S, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  17. Buege JA, Aust SD: Microsomal lipid peroxidation. Meth Enzymol 52: 302–310, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gallaher DD, Csallany AS, Shoeman DW, Olson JM: Diabetes increases excretion of urinary malonaldehyde conjugates in rats. Lipids 28: 663–666, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  19. Dunnett C: A multiple comparison procedure for comparing several treatments with control. J Am Stat Assoc 50: 1096–1121, 1955

    Google Scholar 

  20. Knight JA: The process and theories of aging. Ann Clin Lab Sci 25: 1–12, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  21. DeFronzo R: Glucose intolerance and aging. Diabetes Care 4: 493–501, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  22. Broughton DL, Taylor RL: Review: Deterioration of glucose tolerance with age: The role of insulin resistance. Age Aging 20: 221–225, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  23. Shimokata H, Muller DC, Fleg JL, Sorkin J, Ziemba AW, Andres R: Age as independent determinant of glucose tolerance. Diabetes 40: 44–51, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  24. Preuss HG, Bagchi D, Clouatre D: Insulin resistance; a factor in aging. In: M.J. Ghen, N. Corso, H. Joiner-Bey, R. Klatz, A. Dratz (eds). The Advanced Guide to Longevity Medicine. Ghen, Landrum, SC, 2000, pp 239–250

    Google Scholar 

  25. Burkitt DP, Walker AR, Painter NS: Dietary fiber and disease. JAMA 229: 1068–1074, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  26. Trowell HC, Burkitt DP, Heaton KL: In: Dietary Fibre, Fibre-Depleted Foods and Disease. Academic Press, London, 1985, p 433

    Google Scholar 

  27. Trowell HC, Burkitt DP: In: Western Diseases: Their Emergence and Prevention. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  28. Masoro EJ, McCarter RJM, Katz MS, McMahan CA: Dietary restriction alters characteristics of glucose fuel use. J Gerontol 47: B202–B208, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  29. Ernst E: Cardiovascular effects of garlic (Allium sativum): A review. Pharmatherapeutica 5: 83–89, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  30. Preuss HG, Montamarry S, Echard B, Scheckenbach R, Bagchi D: Long-term effects of chromium, grape seed extract, and zinc on various metabolic parameters of rats. Mol Cell Biochem 223: 95–102, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  31. Adachi K, Nanba H, Otsuka M, Kuroda H: Blood pressure-lowering activity present in the fruit body of Grifola frondosa (Maitake). Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 36: 1000–1006, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  32. Fujiwara T, Yoshioka S, Yoshioka T, Ushiyama I, Horikoshi H: Characterization of new oral antidiabetic agent CS-045. Studies in KK and ob/ob mice and Zucker rats. Diabetes 37: 1549–1558, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  33. Manohar V, Talpur N, Echard BW, Lieberman S, Preuss HG: Effects of a water soluble extract of Maitake mushroom on circulating glucose/insulin concentrations in KK mice. Diabetes Obes Metab 4: 43–48, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  34. Nanba H: Anti-hypertensive effect by the king of mushrooms. Explore! For the Professionals 4: 17–19, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kabir Y, Yamaguchi M, Kimura S: Effect of shitake (Lentinus edodes) and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms on blood pressure and plasma lipids of spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 33: 341–346, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  36. Lau B: In: Garlic for Health. Lotus Light Publications, Wilmot, WI, 1988, pp 14–15

    Google Scholar 

  37. Olin KL, Stearns DM, Armstrong WH, Keen CL: Comparative retention/absorption of 51chromium (51Cr) from 51Cr chloride, 51Cr nicotinate and 51Cr picolinate in a rat model. Tr Elem Electr 11: 182–186, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  38. Lefavi RG, Wilson GD, Keith RE, Anderson RA, Blessing DL, Hames CG, McMillan JL: Lipid-lowering effect of a dietary chromium (III) nicotinic acid complex in male athletes. Nutr Res 13: 239–249, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  39. Preuss HG, Gondal JA, Bustos E, Bushehri N, Lieberman S, Bryden NA, Polansky MM, Anderson RA: Effects of chromium and guar on sugar-induced hypertension in rats. Clin Nephrol 44: 170–177, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  40. Preuss HG, Grojec PL, Lieberman S, Anderson RA: Effects of different chromium compounds on blood pressure and lipid peroxidation in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Nephrol 47: 325–330, 1997

    Google Scholar 

  41. Grant KE, Chandler RM, Castle AL, Ivy JL: Chromium and exercise training: Effect on obese women. Med Sci Sports Exer 29: 992–998, 1997

    Google Scholar 

  42. Crawford V, Scheckenbach R, Preuss HG: Effects of niacin-bound chromium supplementation on body composition in overweight African-American women. Diabetes Obes Metab 1: 331–337, 1999

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Talpur, N.A., Echard, B.W., Fan, A.Y. et al. Antihypertensive and metabolic effects of whole Maitake mushroom powder and its fractions in two rat strains. Mol Cell Biochem 237, 129–136 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016503804742

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016503804742

Navigation