Fungal Mushrooms: A Natural Compound With Therapeutic Applications

Fungi are extremely diverse in terms of morphology, ecology, metabolism, and phylogeny. Approximately, 130 medicinal activities like antitumor, immunomodulator, antioxidant, radical scavenging, cardio protective and antiviral actions are assumed to be produced by the various varieties of medicinal mushrooms.

The polysaccharides, present in mushrooms like β-glucans, micronutrients, antioxidants like glycoproteins, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and ergosterols can help establish natural resistance against infections and toxins.

Clinical trials have been performed on mushrooms like Agaricus blazei Murrill Kyowa for their anticancer effect, A. blazei Murrill for its antihypertensive and cardio protective effects, and some other mushrooms had also been evaluated for their neurological effects.

The human evaluation dose studies had been also performed and the toxicity dose was evaluated from the literature for number of mushrooms.

All the mushrooms were found to be safe at a dose of 2000 mg/kg but some with mild side effects. The safety and therapeutic effectiveness of the fungal mushrooms had shifted the interest of biotechnologists toward fungal nanobiotechnology as the drug delivery system due to the vast advantages of nanotechnology systems.

In complement to the vital nutritional significance of medicinal mushrooms, numerous species have been identified as sources of bioactive chemicals. 

Mushrooms are ancient remedies

In ancient times, the Mycophagy i.e., the mushrooms are being eaten.

Edible species of mushrooms were found in Chile near the archaeological sites, 13,000 years old back (Khatua et al., 2017). The edible mushrooms are being consumed for their gastronomic and nutritional, as well as gastronomic effects.

Many fungal species are edible mushrooms, which are either picked wild or produced. The fleshy and eatable fruit bodies of several species of macrofungi (fungi with fruiting structures large enough to be seen with the naked eye) are edible mushrooms.

They can grow above ground (epigeous) or, below ground (hypogeous) both of which can be harvested by hand. Markets frequently stock easily farmed and common wild mushrooms, while those that are more difficult to come by can be picked on a smaller scale by individual collectors. Many wild mushrooms are eaten throughout the world.

Agaricus arvensis, Amanita caesarea, Handkea utriformis, Cortinarius variicolor, Agaricus silvaticus, Ustilago maydis, Marasmius oreades, Leccinum versipelle, Suillus luteus, etc. are some of the examples of edible mushrooms.

Mushrooms are priced in China for both their medicinal benefits and culinary. Medicinal mushrooms (MM) are used to prevent/heal or treat the no. diseases and also they maintain a healthy diet, MM as well as Fungus, are responsible for around 130 therapeutic activities.

MM is rich in protein percentage content (20–30% dry matter) and is able to fulfil the need of all the amino acids.

The mushrooms have no cholesterol and are low in total fat, with a high amount of unsaturated fatty acids. They’ve been employed not only as a source of delectable meals and flavourings but also as a source of therapeutic ingredients. After the deep research on mushrooms, the therapeutic effects of the mushrooms were well understood. (Ganeshpurkar et al., 2010; Rahman et al., 2016).

Medicinal mushrooms offer a variety of health benefits. They’ve long been used to improve health in civilisations all around the world, and new scientific research is beginning to keep these claims preserved (Mustafa et al., 2022).

Numerous verities of mushrooms have been included in the data base of traditional medicines but, among them, the mushrooms which are highly beneficial includes: Agaricus brasiliensis, Ganoderma lucidum, Trametes versicolor, Lentinus edodes, Flammulina velutipes, Agaricus bisporus, Tricholoma matsutake, Auricularia auricula, Pleurotus ostreatus, Grifola frondosa, Cordyceps sinensis, Coprinus comatus. (Abdel-Azeem et al., 2019). 

Secondary metabolites, particularly low molecular weight chemicals like lactones, alkaloids, terpenoids, antibiotics with various chemical groups, and metal chelating agents, are other substances of therapeutic importance from the mushroom.

These useful mushrooms have grown in popularity in the west over the last few years, are more widely available, and provide numerous benefits for our fast-paced modern lives. Mushrooms include adaptogens that help the body adapt to both internal and external stimuli, restoring equilibrium and regulating a variety of biological processes.

The agriculture of mushrooms started long years back and now about twenty species are being cultivated. More than 60 countries are growing the mushrooms. Now, days, a small percentage of fungi is being cultivated and sold in the market as very few species are being consumed by humans.