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Abstract:The particular characteristics of growth and development of mushrooms in nature result in the accumulation of a variety of secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds, terpenes and steroids and essential cell wall components such as polysaccharides, β-glucans and proteins, several of them with biological activities. The present article outlines and discusses the available information about the protective effects of mushroom extracts against liver damage induced by exogenous compounds. Among mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum is indubitably the most widely studied species. In this review, however, emphasis was given to studies using other mushrooms, especially those presenting efforts of attributing hepatoprotective activities to specific chemical components usually present in the mushroom extracts.

The cultivation of Pleurotus pulmonarius was carried out on different substrate: cotton waste (A) leaves of Cymbopogon citratus (B) and leaves of Panicum maximum Jacq. (C). The mushroom had a varied chemical composition; nevertheless they contained a good composition for to be used as a good source of protein for human kind. The results showed the higher protein content (29.19%) and fibre (9.0%) for the mushroom that were cultivated on cotton peel. The substrate composition and the residue composition after the mushroom harvest were: Protein for the substrate "A" (10.63% and 9.35%), "B" (7.87% and 4.24%) and "C" (7.55% and 5.90 %); Lipids "A" (4.17% and 2.03%), "B"(2.77% and 3.20%) and "C" (0.91% and 2.05%); Fibres "A" (49.02% and 37.02%), "B" (28.40% and 23.26%) and "C" (37.50% and 26.66%) respectively. The substrate "A" showed 0.048% of iron and "C" 0.14% of magnesium, 0.31% of potassium and 0.26% of calcium. In the substrate "B" the quantity of the minerals were very low in comparison to the other substrates. The residues after the harvest of mushroom could be used as fertiliser or as complement in the composition for animal feed.
O cultivo de Pleurotus pulmonarius foi realizado em diferentes substratos: resíduo da cultura de algodão (A), folhas do capim Cymbopogon citratus (B), folhas do capim Panicum maximum Jacq. (C). Os cogumelos cultivados usando estes substratos apresentaram uma composição química variada, mas no entanto eles continuam tendo condições de serem usados com fonte de proteína pelos seres humanos. Os resultados mostraram um alto teor de proteína (29,19%) e (9,0%) de fibras para os cogumelos cultivados em resíduo de algodão. As composições dos substratos e dos resíduos após o cultivo foram: Proteína para o substrato A (10,63% e 9,35%), B (7,87% e 4,24%) e C (7,55% e 5,90 %); Lipídios A (4,17% e 2,03%), B (2,77% e 3,20%) e C (0,91% e 2,05%); Fibras A (49,02% e 37,02%), B (28,40% e 23,26%) e C (37,50% e 26.66%) respectivamente. Entre os minerais analisados , no substrato A os resultados mostraram 0,048% de ferro e no substrato C 0.14% de Magnésio, 0,31% de Potássio e 0,26% de Cálcio, no substrato B somente pequenas quantidades foram detectadas quando comparado os outros substratos. Estes resíduos de cultivo de cogumelos comestíveis podem ainda ser utilizados como adubo ou como alimento para animais

The species of the genus Pleurotus produce large amounts of biomass and exopolysaccharide (EPS) in submerged cultures, which may be used for biotechnological purposes. In the present work two Brazilian autochthonous strains of edible Pleurotus (P. ostratoroseus Sing. and P. ostreatus "florida") were used. The fungi grown in liquid Potato Dextrose medium (PD) were used as inocula to cultivate those microorganisms in the POL culture medium. After a 9-day incubation, the optimal growth time for biomass production, P. ostreatus "florida" presented higher biomass production (22.8 g d.w./l) than P. ostreatoroseus (16.8 g d.w./l). After a 7-day incubation, the optimal growth time for EPS production, P. ostreatoroseus produced higher amounts of crude EPS (5.8 g d.w./l) than P. ostreatus "florida" (1.4 g d.w./l). Relative carbohydrate composition for P. ostreatoroseus and P. ostreatus "florida" EPS were: glucose (95.5-87.7), galactose (traces - 4.9), mannose (traces - 3.1), xylose (1.3-2.5), and arabinose (3.2-1.8). Lower ammonium sulfate concentration in the POL culture medium increased the exopolysaccharides production by P. ostreatoroseus.

The action of an Agaricus blazei aqueous extract pretreatment on paracetamol injury in rats was examined not only in terms of the classical indicators (e.g., levels of hepatic enzymes in the plasma) but also in terms of functional and metabolic parameters (e.g., gluconeogenesis). Considering solely the classical indicators for tissue damage, the results can be regarded as an indication that the A. blazei extract is able to provide a reasonable degree of protection against the paracetamol injury in both the hepatic and brain tissues. The A. blazei pretreatment largely prevented the increased levels of hepatic enzymes in the plasma (ASP, ALT, LDH, and ALP) and practically normalized the TBARS levels in both liver and brain tissues. With respect to the functional and metabolic parameters of the liver, however, the extract provided little or no protection. This includes morphological signs of inflammation and the especially important functional parameter gluconeogenesis, which was impaired by paracetamol. Considering these results and the long list of extracts and substances that are said to have hepatoprotective effects, it would be useful to incorporate evaluations of functional parameters into the experimental protocols of studies aiming to attribute or refute effective hepatoprotective actions to natural products.