Research on a Specialty Mushroom (Pleurotus tuber-regium) as a Functional Food: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities

Abstract

Pleurotus tuber-regium (PTR) is an edible specialty mushroom that has attracted growing interest recently because of its sensory attributes, high nutritional values, and important medicinal properties. PTR is rich in bioactive polysaccharides, proteins with essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Current studies have shown that the nutrients and bioactive ingredients of PTR contribute to their antitumor, antihypercholesterolemic, antihypertensive, antiobesity, hepatic-protective, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and prebiotic activities, indicating that PTR is a promising functional food and nutraceutical. In this review, the chemical constituents and physiological functions of PTR are summarized, which provide the scientific basis to support the further research and development of its application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Genomic and Transcriptomic Insight of Giant Sclerotium Formation of Wood-Decay Fungi

“…It is known that the sclerotium of W. cocos is composed of polysaccharides of linear (1→3)-β-D-glucan ( Wang et al, 2004 ). Polysaccharides isolated from the sclerotium of P. tuber-regium were identified as a triple-helix conformation with a main chain of (1→3)-β- D -glucan and branching at every third glucose by a (1→6)-β- D -glucopyranosyl unit ( Lin et al, 2020 ). Previous research on sclerotium formation mostly focused on plant diseases-related small sclerotia fungi, disclosing that the sclerotium formation was closely related to adversity-induced dormancy ( Willetts and Bullock, 1992 ; Smith et al, 2015 ).…”

Phytochemical evaluation and acute oral toxicity of crude methanol extract of Pleurotus tuber-regium (Fr.) Singer in laboratory mice (Mus musculus)

“…The mushroom produces a sclerotium, or underground tuber and both the sclerotium and mushroom are edible. When ripe, the cap curls upward to form a cup-like shape, similar to that of an oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) (Lin et al, 2020). In Nigeria, sclerotium is nutritiously consumed as food, with folkloric claims that they have potent medicinal properties against asthma, high blood pressure, cancer, inflammation, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia (Okolo et al, 2020;Vishwakarma et al, 2018).…”

Metabolite Profiling of Pleurotus ostreatus Grown on Sisal Agro‐Industrial Waste Supplemented with Cocoa Almond Tegument and Wheat Bran

“…Mushrooms offer countless industrial applications, especially in the production of lignin‐degrading enzymes and other industrial biocatalysts [2] . In addition, these organisms usually contain significant amounts of polysaccharides ( β ‐glucans), dietary fibers, unsaturated fatty acids, peptides, glycoproteins, and antioxidant compounds [3] . Furthermore, they are considered important sources of minerals, such as sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and vitamins, in particular, vitamin D [4] .…”

“…[2] In addition, these organisms usually contain significant amounts of polysaccharides (β-glucans), dietary fibers, unsaturated fatty acids, peptides, glycoproteins, and antioxidant compounds. [3] Furthermore, they are considered important sources of minerals, such as sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and vitamins, in particular, vitamin D. [4] Several studies have demonstrated that mushrooms exhibit a wide range of beneficial properties for humans, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities. [5] The genus Pleurotus encompasses several gilled white rot fungi species, known as decomposers of wood and agroindustrial wastes.…”