This medicinal mushroom shows promise in reducing symptoms of atherosclerosis

(Natural News) Gargal mushrooms (Grifola gargal) could one day be used as an alternative to prescription drugs for heart disease, according to a study in the Journal of Medicinal Food. The research, led by a team from Mie University in Japan, found that the mushrooms can improve symptoms of atherosclerosis, a condition that often leads to cardiovascular disease. This finding, the team added, is the first of its kind to directly associate gargal mushrooms with improved heart health

In the study, the team investigated the ability of the mushrooms to reduce plaque buildup in the arteries using an atherosclerosis animal model. To mimic the symptoms of atherosclerosis, researchers injected mice with angiotensin and observed its effects, especially after they were treated with an extract from the gargal mushrooms.

After the experiment, the mice that were treated with the gargal extract had lower biomarkers for atherosclerosis than those in the control group. In particular, mice treated with gargal extract had reduced levels of plaque buildup in their main blood vessels. They also found an increased number of T cells in the bloodstream, which indicated that the extract helped in boosting the immune system of mice in the treatment group. Further analysis also revealed increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that stimulates the production of blood vessels.

Overall, the researchers noted that gargal mushrooms can be used to boost immunity and improve symptoms of atherosclerosis.