White button mushrooms, botanically classified as Agaricus bisporus, are one of the most cultivated varieties in the world and are a widely used member of the Agaricaceae family.
What does a white button mushroom look like?
White button mushrooms are small to medium in size with caps averaging 2-7 centimeters in diameter and are attached to short, truncated stems. The smooth white caps are rounded, firm, and spongy. When bruised, the white flesh will turn light pink and will then transform into brown.
Agaricus bisporus goes by many names: the button mushroom, white mushroom, table mushroom and my favorite in French, champignon de Paris (Paris mushroom). The brown strain is called crimini, cremini, baby bella, or Italian mushroom. When the brown strain grows larger and reaches maturity it’s called the portobello.
Button and portobello mushrooms — and their other counterpart cremini mushrooms — are all scientifically known as Agaricus bisporus and, in reality, each of the three is just in a different part of their lifespan . The pristine, white skin of a button mushroom is not unlike soft baby skin, which makes sense since they are the baby of the bunch.
Are white button mushrooms good for You?
White button mushroom consumption has increased due to their nutritional value, delicious taste , and ranked fourth of most cultivated mushrooms (1). Three varieties (white, brown, and portobello) of Agaricus bisporus are available in the market and mainly grown in China, North America, Europe, and Australia.
“We found that white button mushrooms contain chemicals that can block the activity of the androgen receptor in mouse models, indicating this fungus can reduce PSA levels ,” Wang said. “While more research is needed, it’s possible that white button mushrooms could one day contribute to the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.”.
White button mushrooms prostate cancer?
“While more research is needed, it’s possible that white button mushrooms could one day contribute to the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.” Although the U. S. Department of Agriculture classifies them as vegetables, mushrooms actually provide nutrients common in both plants and animals. Previous studies find mushrooms are rich in antioxidants which may stop harmful inflammation that damages the cells. This oxidative stress can lead to chronic diseases, including cancer.
Is white button mushroom (WBM) a potential prostate cancer chemotherapy?
White button mushroom (WBM) (Agaricus bisporus) is a potential prostate cancer (PCa) chemo-preventative and therapeutic agent. Our clinical phase І trial of WBM powder in patients with biochemically recurrent PCa indicated that WBM intake reduced the circulating levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
Adams LS, Phung S, Wu X, Ki L, Chen S. White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) exhibits antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties and inhibits prostate tumor growth in athymic mice., and doi: 101080/01635580802192866.
“Therapy with white button mushrooms appears to both impact PSA levels and modulate the biology of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer by decreasing immunosuppressive factors .” Getting to a phase I clinical trial doesn’t happen in a vacuum. For decades, researchers have found that Agaricus mushrooms stimulate the immune system.