Wild Mushrooms
May 31, 2022 Sanju Bala Dhull, Aarti Bains, Prince Chawla et al. 2 citations
Mushroom-forming fungi produce a wide array of unique metabolites—polysaccharides, terpenoids, polyketides, and amino compounds—with diverse biological effects. Their most studied application is cancer treatment: certain compounds have direct antitumor activity, while immunomodulating polysaccharides like β-glucans stimulate the host immune system against cancer cells. Clinically proven glucan-based products include lentinan from Lentinula edodes and PSK from Trametes versicolor. Mushrooms also yield potent cytotoxic compounds (e.g., illudins, clitocine, ganoderic acids) and antimicrobials such as pleuromutilin, which led to newly approved human drugs. Psilocybin from psychedelic mushrooms is studied as a breakthrough therapy for depression. Mushroom consumption may improve sugar and lipid metabolism, and production can be manipulated to enhance yields of compounds like vitamin D.