The Agaricus bisporus mushroom or white button mushroom commonly found in grocery stores may contain vitamins, minerals as well as potential medicinal value.
White button mushrooms and ovarian cancer:
Chen et al. looked at the ability of chemicals derived from button mushrooms to inhibit aromatase (an enzyme that promotes estrogen). Fatty acids contained within the mushroom inhibited aromatase activity in cancer cells isolated from hamster ovaries. Conjugated linoleic acid was the most potent inhibitor evaluated. Cancerous mice given this substance had fewer tumors in tests with live animals. This study showed that the extract decreased proliferation of cancer cells and tumor growth without affecting cell death or apoptosis. (1)
White button mushrooms and breast cancer:
Mushrooms are thought to protect against breast cancer cell (MFC-7) proliferation particularly because they contain chemicals that inhibit an enzyme called aromatase, which produces estrogen. “In cell” or in situ aromatase activity and cell proliferation were measured in a study using MCF-7aro, an aromatase-transfected breast cancer cell line. Researchers showed that the white button mushroom (species Agaricus bisporus) suppresses the activity of aromatase, resulting in a reduction of estrogen production at the cell level, which is a major contributor to postmenopausal breast cancer in women. Therefore, a diet high in mushrooms may be beneficial in reducing in cell production of estrogen that may lead to breast cancer. (2)
Summary and Conclusion: White Button Mushrooms
- Fatty acids within white button mushrooms inhibited aromatase activity in ovarian cancer cells of mice which were noted to develop fewer tumors (1).
- White button mushrooms may suppresses the activity of aromatase, resulting in a reduction of estrogen production at the cell level, which is a major contributor to postmenopausal breast cancer in women (2).
- Further research is needed to clarify how intake of mushrooms may affect the risk of ovarian or breast cancer.
References :
1.Chen S, Oh SR, Phung S, Hur G, Ye JJ, Kwok SL, Shrode GE, Belury M, Adams LS, Williams D. Anti-aromatase activity of phytochemicals in white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). Cancer Res. 2006 Dec 15;66(24):12026-34. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17178902
2.Grube BJ, Eng ET, Kao YC, et al: White button mushroom phytochemicals inhibit aromatase activity and breast cancer cell proliferation. The Journal of nutrition 2001 Dec;131 (12):3288-3293. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11739882