Medicinal Mushroom, Grifola gargal (Agaricomycetes), Lowers Triglyceride in Animal Models of Obesity and Diabetes and in Adults with Prediabetes

Authors: Etsuko Harada, Toshihiro Morizono, Tomono Kanno, Masayoshi Saito, and Hirokazu Kawagishi

Journal: International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

Study Design: The study included both human and animal experiments

• Human clinical trial: 10 subjects with prediabetes consumed 9.2 g of G. gargal low-molecular weight hot water extract (GGL) daily for 4 weeks
• Animal experiments: KK-Ay and ob/ob mice, as animal models of obesity and diabetes, were administered feed containing 2% (w/w) GGL for 42 days. The influence of GGL (2.0 mg/mL) on the expression of the cytokine interleukin-6 was also investigated in 3T3-L1 cells.

Participants:

• Human: 10 subjects with prediabetes
• Animal: KK-Ay and ob/ob mice
• Cell culture: 3T3-L1 cells

Intervention:

• Human: Consumption of 9.2 g GGL daily for 4 weeks
• Animal: Administration of feed containing 2% GGL for 42 days
• Cell culture: Treatment with 2.0 mg/mL GGL

Outcome Measures:

• Human: Triglyceride levels
• Animal: Blood glucose and triglyceride levels, adipose tissue weight
• Cell culture: Interleukin-6 expression

Summary: The study investigated the antidiabetic and antiobesity effects of GGL, a low-molecular weight hot water extract from G. gargal. In the human clinical trial, GGL consumption significantly decreased triglyceride levels in individuals with prediabetes. In animal experiments, GGL reduced blood glucose and triglyceride levels and adipose tissue weight in obese and diabetic mice models. Furthermore, GGL suppressed the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 in 3T3-L1 cells. The study concluded that G. gargal may be a safe and healthy medicinal food for preventing and improving metabolic syndrome associated with diabetes and obesity.