Continuous AHCC® ingestion suppresses spontaneous carcinogenesis in a murine model
Description
AHCC®, a standardized extract of cultured Lentinula edodes mycelia, suppresses the proliferation of both cancer cell line-derived and patient-derived xenografts transplanted into mice. However, the mechanism of action underlying the suppressive effect of AHCC® on spontaneous carcinogenesis remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of long-term AHCC® ingestion on the health of mice and spontaneous carcinogenesis. The mice were divided into three groups: A (2% AHCC® ingestion continuously two days a week), B (2% AHCC® ingestion daily), and C (water ingestion). Mice began to ingest AHCC® or water at five weeks of age and were observed until 24 months of age. The onsets of the first death were delayed in the AHCC® ingestion groups and the survival rates were significantly higher than those in the control group. The proportion of “healthy mice” with no morphological abnormalities in their organs was also significantly higher in the AHCC® ingestion groups than that in the control group. Furthermore, the incidence of cancer-bearing mice, particularly breast cancer and liver cancer, was significantly reduced in the AHCC® ingestion groups. These results suggest that continuous AHCC® ingestion maintains health and prevents spontaneous carcinogenesis.