Agaricus subrufescens (Agaricus blazei)
Agaricus subrufescens, sold as Agaricus blazei, almond mushroom or himematsutake: how the names relate, what small trials found, and liver injury reports in people with cancer.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
One mushroom, many names
The accepted species name in the GBIF taxonomy database is Agaricus subrufescens Peck (family Agaricaceae). Agaricus brasiliensis is listed there as its synonym, while Agaricus blazei Murrill is listed separately as its own accepted name.[3] A mycology paper explains why: a Brazilian mushroom brought into cultivation was called A. blazei Murrill (in a particular sense) and later A. brasiliensis, and DNA and mating studies make a strong case that it is the same species as A. subrufescens.[4] Common names include almond mushroom[5] and himematsutake, the name used in a Japanese report.[1]
For readers this means a label saying "Agaricus blazei", "ABM" or "Agaricus brasiliensis" may or may not be the same thing as a product named for A. subrufescens, and a trial result belongs to the product that was tested. The part used is the fruiting body or an extract of it; check the label for which. See mushroom names and fruiting body versus mycelium.
Traditional use
A review says the mushroom has long been valued in Brazil, China, France and the USA and is used as a health food and alternative medicine.[5] A Japanese report calls the extract one of the most popular complementary medicines among Japanese cancer patients.[1] That describes popularity, not proof of benefit.
What research shows
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Form and population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes | In 72 adults with type 2 diabetes who were already taking gliclazide and metformin, a 1,500 mg daily extract versus placebo for 12 weeks gave a lower insulin-resistance score (HOMA-IR) in the extract group.[6] The authors called for longer follow-up.[6] | Promising but limited; one small trial, a lab index | Extract; 12 weeks |
| Ulcerative colitis symptoms | In 50 people with symptomatic ulcerative colitis, a 21-day randomized, single-blinded study of an A. blazei-based extract reported symptom scores improving.[7] Two authors report patents and financial interests in the product.[7] | Preliminary; short; funder-linked | A. blazei-based extract sold as a commercial product (not named here) |
| Chronic hepatitis B liver tests | A one-year open-label pilot, where everyone received the extract, reported liver enzymes falling; the authors asked for controlled studies with larger samples.[8] | Insufficient evidence | Extract; hepatitis B |
| Cancer | A review of eight trials of mushroom preparations in cancer care included two of A. blazei; it found adverse events poorly reported, trial quality generally unsatisfying, and an urgent need to study safety and interactions.[9] | Insufficient evidence | Various |
Notice the tension: a small pilot reports better liver tests in hepatitis B, while case reports describe liver injury in people with cancer. Neither settles the question.
For cancer claims, see mushrooms and cancer: claims checked.
Frequently asked questions
Is Agaricus blazei the same as Agaricus subrufescens?
Mycology research makes a strong case that the Brazilian mushroom called A. blazei or A. brasiliensis is the same species as A. subrufescens.[4] GBIF, however, lists A. blazei Murrill as a separate accepted name.[3] Labels may use either.
Can Agaricus damage the liver?
Case reports describe severe liver injury, including two deaths, in cancer patients taking Agaricus blazei extracts.[1] How often it happens is not known from these reports.
Does it treat cancer or diabetes?
No. Cancer trials are few and generally of unsatisfying quality,[9] and the diabetes finding is one small trial of a lab measure.[6] Supplements are not treatments.
Is almond mushroom the same thing?
Almond mushroom is a common name for Agaricus subrufescens.[5]
Who should avoid it?
The sources we read do not give a complete list. Anyone with liver disease or cancer, or taking diabetes medicines, should ask a clinician first; see mushroom supplement safety.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety first: liver injury reports, especially in people with cancer
A Japanese report described three patients with advanced cancer who developed severe liver damage while taking an Agaricus blazei extract; two died of fulminant hepatitis (sudden, severe liver failure). In one patient liver function recovered after stopping and worsened again when the extract was restarted.[1] The authors said other factors could not be completely ruled out, but that the findings suggested a strong causal relationship.[1] A 2025 French report describes a patient with colorectal cancer who was found to have grade 3 liver cell injury (cytolysis) while taking a capsule that contained Agaricus blazei and lion's mane powder; liver function improved after stopping, although the patient also had liver metastases.[2] These are case reports, which cannot show how common the problem is.
Tell a clinician about any mushroom product before cancer treatment or surgery. Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, severe tiredness or belly pain need prompt medical care. See mushrooms, the kidneys, oxalates and the liver.
Safety: who should ask first
- Liver disease, or anyone on cancer treatment: see the safety box above. Ask the oncology team and a pharmacist before any use. See what to tell your care team.
- Diabetes medicines: the only diabetes trial changed an insulin-resistance measure in people taking gliclazide and metformin.[6] Our reading is that this is a reason to tell the diabetes care team. The sources we read did not report an interaction analysis. See how interactions are classed.
- Surgery, pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, kidney disease, allergy: Proper evidence not found in the sources we read (PubMed searches on Agaricus blazei and Agaricus subrufescens, safety and adverse effects). Lack of evidence is not proof of safety.
- Quality and mislabeling: see supplement quality testing.
A clinician or pharmacist decides what is right for a person. This page gives no amounts to take; amounts above are what a trial used.
References
- Mukai H et al., An alternative medicine, Agaricus blazei, may have induced severe hepatic dysfunction in cancer patients. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2006. Read 2026-10-23.
- Strobbe G et al., Grade 3 cytolysis in a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer consuming a mushroom powder-based alternative therapy. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat, GBIF Backbone Taxonomy records for Agaricus subrufescens Peck (accepted, with synonyms) and Agaricus blazei Murrill (listed separately as accepted). Read 2026-10-23.
- Kerrigan RW, Agaricus subrufescens, a cultivated edible and medicinal mushroom, and its synonyms. Mycologia 2005. Read 2026-10-23.
- Wisitrassameewong K et al., Agaricus subrufescens: a review. Saudi J Biol Sci 2012. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hsu CH et al., The mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill in combination with metformin and gliclazide improves insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Altern Complement Med 2007. Read 2026-10-23.
- Therkelsen SP et al., Randomized single-blinded placebo-controlled study of an Agaricus blazei Murill-based mushroom extract in patients with ulcerative colitis. PLoS One 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hsu CH et al., The mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill extract normalizes liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis B. J Altern Complement Med 2008. Read 2026-10-23.
- Jeitler M et al., Significance of medicinal mushrooms in integrative oncology: a narrative review. Front Pharmacol 2020. Read 2026-10-23.