Introduction

Agaricus mushroom is being popularly used all over the world. Researchers have isolated a number of immunity enhancing and anti-cancer, anti-tumor fractions from agaricus mushrooms, and have shown agaricus to be the most effective mushroom in a study comparing effects with Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi, Phellinus and other fungi. Fractions identified with immunity effects include: Polysaccharides, Beta-Glucan and RNA-Protein complexes.

 Researchers have since isolated large amounts of a very important polysaccharide called "Beta Glucan" in agaricus which appears to help activate the immune system. Although other mushroom also contain beta glucan, the agaricus mushroom contains the highest level of all the mushrooms tested for this important polysaccharide! For your reference, polysaccharides are composed of individual sugar molecules chained together to form larger sugars. The polysaccharides appear to activate a type of white blood cell known as a macrophage. The function of macrophages is to filter the blood by destroying viruses, bacteria, and perhaps even cancer cells.