Inhibitory Effects of Edible Higher Basidiomycetes Mushroom Extracts on Mouse Type IV Allergy

The inhibitory effects of edible higher Basidiomycetes mushroom extracts from Hypsizygus marmoreus (Peck) Bigel.., Flammulina velutipes (Curt.: Fr.)P. Karst., Pholiota nameko (T. Ito) S. Ito et Imai, and Pleurotus eryngii (DC.: Fr.) Quel. on oxazolone-induced type IV allergy in male ICR mice were investigated. Oral administration of the ethanol extracts of these mushroom species for 3 days before the challenge showed significant antiallergic effects at a dose of 250 mg/kg bw/day. However, oral administration of the extracts for 3 days before the sensitization had no antiallergic effect at the same dose. A single percutaneous administration of the mushroom extracts together with the challenge also resulted in significant antiallergic effects at a dose of 0.1 mg/ear. The, results suggest that ethanol extracts of these mushroom species suppress the hypersensitive immune response such as the inflammation in delayed allergy.