Medicinal Mushroom, Grifola Gargal (Agaricomycetes), Lowers Triglyceride In Animal Models Of Obesity And Diabetes And In Adults With Prediabetes

Grifola gargal is a medicinal mushroom with biological effects, such as antiatherogenic activity, and is used as a treatment for various chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the antidiabetic and antiobesity effects of a low-molecular weight hot water extract from G. gargal (GGL) against diabetes type 2. In a human clinical trial, 10 subjects with prediabetes consumed 9.2 g of GGL daily for 4 weeks. The significant beneficial health effects observed were decreases in triglyceride levels. This is the first report of these results in humans. Moreover, in animal experiments, we investigated the influence of administered feed with 2% (w/w) GGL for 42 days by using KK-A(y) and ob/ob mice as animal models of obesity and diabetes. Results showed that GGL reduces blood glucose and triglyceride levels and adipose tissue. GGL (2.0 mg/mL) significantly suppressed the expression of the cytokine interleukin-6 in 3T3-L1 cells compared with control cells. Thus, the results indicate that G. gargal may be used as a safe and healthy medicinal food to prevent and improve diabetes- and obesity-related metabolic syndrome.