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Himematsutake

Also known as: Agaricus blazei Murrill, ABM, Cogumelo do Sol, Sun Mushroom, Royal Sun Mushroom

Evidence under review. — Not yet rated

Medicinal mushroom with weak lab evidence for immune support; serious liver damage cases reported.

  • What it does

    Himematsutake is an edible mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill) native to Brazil and widely used in Japan as a functional food. Its beta-glucan and polysaccharide compounds have shown...

  • Evidence quality

    Evidence base hasn't been formally rated yet. See research below.

  • Clinical dose

    No established dose (insufficient research data)

See full breakdown ↓ Methodology →

What the Science Says

Himematsutake is an edible mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill) native to Brazil and widely used in Japan as a functional food. Its beta-glucan and polysaccharide compounds have shown immune-modulating and antitumor activity in animal and cell studies, including slowing tumor growth in mice. However, all meaningful evidence comes from lab and animal research — no well-designed human clinical trials have established effective doses or confirmed these effects in people.

What It Doesn't Do

Not proven to treat or prevent cancer in humans. No clinical evidence it boosts immunity in healthy people. Won't cure diabetes, hepatitis, or atherosclerosis despite traditional claims. Animal tumor results don't translate directly to human benefit. Don't assume 'natural mushroom' means safe — serious liver damage has been reported.

Evidence-Based Benefits

May slow tumor growth in mice when given orally, but does not prevent tumors from forming.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: 4.5–45 mg extract daily (mice)

Beta-glucan compounds from this mushroom activate immune cells in animal studies.

Weak Evidence

Effective at: No established human dose

Absorption & Bioavailability

Unknown — no human pharmacokinetic data in the provided studies. Animal studies used both oral and injected routes with varying results.

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Three cancer patients developed severe liver damage, including two deaths from fulminant hepatitis, linked to Agaricus blazei extract use
  • Contains agaritine, a compound with known carcinogenic and toxic effects in animals — human risk not fully evaluated
  • High-dose rat studies (2000 mg/kg/day) showed kidney toxicity markers (elevated creatinine and urea) and reduced red blood cell counts
  • One lab test (mouse lymphoma assay) showed a weak positive signal for possible chromosomal damage, though direct DNA damage was not confirmed
  • Widely sold (1000+ registered products) despite a near-total absence of human clinical trial data

Research Sources

  • PubMed
  • NIH DSLD

This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-05-25