Are chemical compounds in medical mushrooms potent against colorectal cancer carcinogenesis and antimicrobial growth?

Abstract

After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the second main cause of death globally. Mushrooms have been demonstrated to contain amalgamation with properties capable of inhibiting carcinogenesis and microbial growth, principally secondary metabolites such as quinolones, steroids, terpenes, anthraquinones, and benzoic acid derivatives among others. This study aimed to substantiate their potency concerning colon cancer carcinogenesis and antimicrobial growth. A systematic search of important literature was performed considering all the articles published until April 2022. Screening was performed by searching the BMC Springer, Elsevier, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, and MEDLINE databases. In addition, Google Scholar was used to supplement information. Titles and abstracts that matched the established criteria were selected for full-text article scrutiny and subsequently used in the updated present review. Bioactive compounds present in medicinal mushrooms such as ascorbic acid, organic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, glycosides, phenols, linoleic acid, grifolin, and tocopherols among other compounds play a key role in suppressing the proliferation of cancerous cells and selectively act as antibacterial and antifungal agents. These metabolites actively scavenge oxygen free radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and nitrite radicals that would otherwise increase the risks of the growth and development of cancerous cells. Mushrooms' bioactive compounds and metabolites actively inhibit nuclear factor-kappa activation, protein kinase B processes, and ultimately the expression of Cyclooxygenases 2 in cancerous cells. Medicinal mushrooms should be considered as alternative natural chemo-preventive agents in the global fight against colon cancer and the evolution of drug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, as they exhibit robust potency. They have not been reported to exhibit adverse harmful effects compared to synthetic chemotherapies, yet they have been reported to demonstrate significant beneficial effects.

The Impact of Palliative Care on Mitigating Pain and Its Associated Effects in Determining Quality of Life among Colon Cancer Outpatients

“…In addition, Google Scholar was used to supplement material from additional articles pertinent to our study. Importantly, before being used in this review, papers from Google Scholar were evaluated for credibility and authenticity [21] by correlating them with the relevant publication, considering its true publisher [22,23] and registered identifiers.…”

“…Titles and abstracts that satisfied the established criteria were recruited for full-text article evaluation and afterward used to provide the necessary analytical data for the current review after being deemed appropriate by three independent investigators. The author's independence was maintained when determining whether or not to incorporate the enrolled articles to reduce the potential risk of bias [21]. The data collection forms were standardized to remove discrepancies that could potentially arise and allow the three reviewers to get the same data from each study.…”

“…An increasing body of research also shows that certain cancer survivors may live longer, have a lower risk of the disease returning (or developing new cancer), and experience fewer side effects from therapy when certain dietary, physical activity, and associated factors are considered. Along with enhancing their general health and well-being, it can also reduce their risk of contracting some other serious diseases [21]. As a secondary prevention strategy, it has therefore been demonstrated that adopting a healthy diet and an active lifestyle can lower mortality from chronic disease.…”

Pharmacotherapeutic Potential of Aloe secundiflora against Colorectal Cancer Growth and Proliferation

“…Cancer is the second leading cause of death, after cardiovascular illnesses. In Western societies, colorectal cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related fatalities [ 16 ]. In underdeveloped nations, cancer deaths account for over 70% of fatalities [ 17 ].…”

Therapeutic Effects of Medicinal Mushrooms on Gastric, Breast, and Colorectal Cancer: A Scoping Review

“…While still in the exploration phases, agaricus sylvaticus is a medicinal mushroom that has been shown to have anticancer properties, improve immunological parameters, and reduce glycemia levels [ 21 ]. Moreover, medical mushrooms have not been reported to have harmful effects in the treatment of colorectal cancer compared to synthetic chemotherapies but may produce significant beneficial effects [ 22 ].…”