Macrofungi as a Nutraceutical Source: Promising Bioactive Compounds and Market Value

Author: mycolabadmin
2021-05-19
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Summary

This research examines how mushrooms can be used as natural health supplements due to their beneficial compounds and medicinal properties. Mushrooms contain various substances that can help fight diseases, boost immunity, and promote overall health. The market for medicinal mushrooms is growing rapidly as more people seek natural health products. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides natural alternatives to synthetic supplements and medications – Offers new dietary options for improving health and preventing disease – Creates economic opportunities through growing mushroom nutraceutical market – Makes traditional eastern medicine more accessible to western consumers – Supports development of new functional foods and health products

Background

Macrofungi production and economic value have been increasing globally. The demand for macrofungi has expanded rapidly due to their popularity among consumers, pleasant taste, unique flavors, and health benefits. Macrofungi contain high quality proteins, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, minerals, triterpene sterols, and secondary metabolites that make them an important commodity.

Objective

This review aims to establish the potential of mushrooms as nutraceuticals, with emphasis on their medicinal properties and bioactive compounds. The review compiles experimental in vivo and in vitro studies, and clinical trials supporting the bioactivities of different compounds from edible mushrooms. It also establishes the market value of medicinal mushrooms and bioactive compounds from market studies.

Results

The review found that macrofungi contain numerous bioactive compounds with medicinal properties including anticancer, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. Key compounds include polysaccharides like β-glucans, proteins like lectins, ergothioneine, bioactive fats, phenolic compounds, and vitamins. The global medicinal mushroom market is projected to increase by USD 13.88 billion from 2018 to 2022, with strong growth expected for specific compounds like cordycepin, lentinan, and lovastatin.

Conclusion

Macrofungi produce many important bioactive compounds, with polysaccharides being the most promising nutraceuticals. The consumption of medicinal mushrooms as functional food and dietary supplements is expected to increase significantly. Growing demand, eastern medicine trends, preference for natural products, and focus on gut health are driving market growth. However, more research is needed on safety, efficacy and quality control. The bioactive compounds from macrofungi show great promise for drug development and disease prevention, though high prices and low public awareness remain market limitations.

Published in:Journal of Fungi,
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.3390/jof7050397