Preventive effects of edible mushroom (Hypsizigus marmoreus) on mouse type IV allergy: fluctuations of cytokine levels and antioxidant activities in mouse sera.

We investigated the mechanisms for the antiallergic effects of Hypsizigus marmoreus mushrooms on an oxazolone-induced type IV allergy in male ICR mice. Serum levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) were significantly increased in mice, which showed a severe ear edema induced by the type IV allergy in comparison with those of normal mice. The oral administration of an ethanol extract of H. marmoreus for 3 d at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight prevented the increase of serum IL-12 levels but not gamma-IFN levels. Lowering of serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), spleen natural killer (NK) cell activity, and serum antioxidant activity in mice with allergic symptoms were also prevented by oral administration of the ethanol extract. These results suggested that one of the antiallergic mechanisms of H. marmoreus would be due to maintenance of antioxidant status and inhibition of the fluctuations of cytokines in allergic mice.