Myo- and hepatotoxic effects of cultivated mushrooms in mice

Mushrooms are currently examined for their potential as functional foods. At the same time, novel types of mushroom intoxications, such as rhabdomyolysis after prolonged consumption, have been described in edible species. The aim of the present study was to perform an acute toxicity test to establish if the most commonly cultivated species would have myo- or hepatotoxic effects. Mice (n = 6/group) were exposed to 3, 6 or 9 g Agaricus bisporus, Lentinus edodes or Pleurotus ostreatus kg body mass−1 d−1 for 5 d with 6 controls. Food and water intakes, plasma clinical chemistry and liver and muscle histology were evaluated. While A. bisporus caused significantly increased plasma bilirubin concentrations, L. edodes elicited also increased plasma creatine kinase activities at 9 g kg−1 d−1. P. ostreatus decreased dramatically the food intake but increased the water intake and caused significantly increased plasma alanine aminotransferase activities at 9 g kg−1 d−1. While there were no pathological findings in the histological samples, it seems that the doses and time periods required for the potential benefits of mushroom consumption to appear are similar to those causing undesirable effects. This should be taken into consideration if mushrooms are to be used as functional foods.