The Bioactive Properties of Mushrooms

Abstract

Mushrooms are a new and emerging source of potent pharmaceutical products. Medicinal mushrooms have long been used in countries such as China, Japan, Korea, India, and Russia, and now Western countries have also realized the curative properties of mushrooms. Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinus edodes, Trametes versicolor, Schizophyllum commune, Flammulina velutipes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Agaricus bisporus, Aspergillus brasiliensis, Tricholoma matsutake, Auricularia auricula, and Grifola frondosa possess a wide range of bioactivities, e.g. anticancerous, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antidiabetic, and antiinflammatory. These are also used in cardiovascular disorders. Usually, mushrooms are administered orally or intraperitoneally. Mushrooms are also used for the production of dyes. These include Agaricus spp., Coriolopsis spp., Daedalea sterioides, Ganoderma applanatum, G. curtissi, G. spruci, G. resupinacium, Hexagonia hirta, H. tenicis, Laetiporus sulphureus, Lenzites betulina, Lycoperdon imbricatum, Oxiporus corticola, Phaeolus schwenitzi, Polyporus alveolus, P. brumalis, and Schizopora spp. There is a need to screen these mushrooms for their bioactivity and also for dye production. This chapter discusses the therapeutic activity and dye-producing properties of mushrooms.