Agaricus bisporus (white button mushroom; WBM) contains high levels of dietary fibers and
antioxidants including vitamin C, D, and B12; folates; and polyphenols that may provide beneficial
effects on cardiovascular and diabetic diseases. The objective of this study was to examine the
hypothesis that intake of the fruiting bodies of WBM regulates anticholesterolemic and antiglycemic
responses in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (0.5% cholesterol; 14% fat) and rats with type 2
diabetes induced by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg body weight), respectively. The
STZ-induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats fed the Agaricus bisporus powder (ABP; 200
mg/kg of body weight) for 3 weeks had significantly reduced plasma glucose and triglyceride (TG)
concentrations (24.7% and 39.1%, respectively), liver enzyme activities, alanine aminotransferase
and aspartate aminotransferase (11.7% and 15.7%, respectively), and liver weight gain (P b .05). In
hypercholesterolemic rats, oral feeding of ABP for 4 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in
plasma total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (22.8% and 33.1%, respectively)
(P b .05). A similar significant decrease in hepatic cholesterol and TG concentrations was observed
(36.2% and 20.8%, respectively) (P b .05). Decrease in TC, LDL, and TG concentrations was
accompanied by a significant increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein concentrations. It was
concluded that A bisporus mushroom had both hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity in rats.