Mushrooms and Lichens the Factory of Important Secondary Metabolites: Review

Abstract

Mushrooms and lichens are plentiful source of nutritional and medicinal compounds. However, medicinal uses of the mushrooms and lichens still need to be worked out for their biological activities. Mushrooms and Lichens have reserved their position centuries ago as food and medicine. They are rich in nutrients and in biologically active compounds that belong to different chemical classes. Capabilities of different members of mushrooms and Lichens have encouraged researchers to investigate further applications of these macrofungi and lichens in fields of food and pharmaceutical industries and also other than food and pharmaceutical industries. This review, aims to put together Lentinan, schizophyllan, Betulinans A and B, ganoderic acid, cordycepin and usnic acid under light spot through representing their importance as biological activities exerted by ever one. Further studies and investigations are fortified in order to find more about these interesting natural products.

Nameko Mushroom (Pholiota microspore), Hiratake Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) and Shimeji Mushrooms (Lyophyllum shimeji): Bioactive Compounds as a Source of Various Biological Activities: A Review

“…Due to its wide spectrum of biological activities, P. ostreatus is considered a medicinal mushroom [56]. Fruiting bodies and extracts of P. ostreatus have found applications in the treatment of civilization -related diseases, especially diabetes [35], arteriosclerosis and cancer. It is also a potential source of active ingredients in cosmetics and topically applied preparations.…”

“…The bioactive substances that may be extracted from medicinal mushrooms will strengthen the immune systems of people and raise their quality of life. Among the most frequent substances discovered in mushrooms are phenolics, fl avonoids, glycosides, polysaccharides, tocopherols, ergothioneine, carotenoids, and vitamins [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

“…Proteins, polysaccharides, fi bers, and many other biomolecules isolated from mushrooms have been exhibited to help in the management of diabetes as biological antihyperglycaemic drugs [7]. Studies have shown that mushrooms display anti-diabetic properties [35], including antioxidants, blood glucose level reduction, and insulin secretion through glucose stimulation, digestive enzymes, and inhibitory eff ects on tyrosine kinase [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Mushrooms in the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota are much admired for pharmacological properties and their nutritional value.…”

“…In traditional medicine, they have long been used to maintain health and prevent and treat various human diseases. Many studies have documented the advantages of medicinal mushrooms for the management of diabetes [35].…”