Abstract: It is intended to provide a low-molecular weight component (or fraction) originating in Agaricus Blazei Muril which is excellent in digestion and absorption properties in vivo and exerts a physiological activity via the immune mechanism in vivo, and a food material or a drug material. Namely, a composition exerting a physiological activity via the immune mechanism in vivo and containing a hot water extract of Agaricus Blazei Muril. This immune mechanism is mediated by immunocompetent cells which can be selected from a group consisting of macrophages, T cells and killer cells. In a typical case, the physiological activity is a tumor-suppressive effect and the tumor is sarcoma.

Abstract: A novel composition and health food having a good pharmacological activity and which can be readily absorbed through an alimentary canal are provided. The composition induced apoptosis of cells and includes an agaricus extract. The composition may further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Typically, the cells are cancer cells. The composition may further include a differentiation inductionagent. Preferably, the differentiation induction agent is a vitamin A derivative. The vitamin A derivative may be tretinoin. The agaricus extract may include a main fraction eluted chromatographically of a molecular weight of 100 to 2000, which is obtained by the steps of extraction with hot water from a fruiting body of agaricus, dialyzing the extract and performing a,chromatography process on the dialyzate.

Abstract: A composition that makes it possible to take DHA efficiently. The composition contains linoleic fatty acid (n-6, 18:2) and &agr;-linolenic fatty acid (n-6, 18:2) so that the weight ratio of the linoleic fatty acid to the &agr;-linolenic fatty acid is 0.05 to 7.5.