Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading global cause of mortality indicating the need to identify all possible factors reducing primary and secondary risk. This study screened the in vitro antiplatelet and anticoagulant activities of hot water extracts of eight edible mushroom species (Agaricus bisporus, Auricularia auricularia-judae, Coprinus comatus, Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus eryngii, and Pleurotus ostreatus) increasingly cultivated for human consumption, and compared them to those evoked by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). The antioxidant capacity and concentration of polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, organic acids, ergosterol, macro elements, and trace elements were also characterized. The most promising antiplatelet effect was exhibited by A. auricularia-judae and P. eryngii extracts as demonstrated by the highest rate of inhibition of adenosine-5′-diphosphate (ADP)-induced and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced aggregation. The response to both extracts exceeded the one evoked by 140 µmol/L of ASA in the ADP test and was comparable to it in the case of the AA test. Such a dual effect was also observed for G. lucidum extract, even though it was proven to be cytotoxic in platelets and leukocytes. The extract of P. ostreatus revealed an additive effect on AA-induced platelet aggregation. None of the mushroom extracts altered the monitored coagulation parameters (prothrombin time, prothrombin ratio, and International Normalized Ratio). The effect of mushroom extracts on platelet function was positively related to their antioxidative properties and concentration of polysaccharides and ergosterol, and inversely related to zinc concentration. The study suggests that selected mushrooms may exert favorable antiplatelet effects, highlighting the need for further experimental and clinical research in this regard.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender
Extract of P. ostreatus revealed an additive effect in the arachidonic acid (AA) assay and increased platelet aggregation by 26.8% (Figure 1)
No correlations were found between inhibition of adenosine-5 -diphosphate (ADP)-induced and AA-induced platelet aggregation, except for the P. eryngii extract for which an inverse relationship was identified (Rs = −0.90, p < 0.05)
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. In Europe, CVD is responsible for approximately 3.9 million deaths annually and generates enormous medical costs [1,2]. It is of particular and pressing interest to implement effective primary and secondary prevention strategies that include smoking cessation, increase in physical activity, and weight and diet optimization [3,4,5]. It has been demonstrated that time of administration strongly affects the outcome of ASA on platelet function [10]. This creates a necessity to seek alternative and safe dietary antiplatelet agents
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