Mushrooms: A Potential Natural Source of Anti-Inflammatory Compounds for Medical Applications
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 2014-11-23
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Summary
This research explores how mushrooms can be used as natural sources of anti-inflammatory compounds for medical treatments. Scientists have found that various mushroom species contain different compounds that can reduce inflammation without the harsh side effects of conventional drugs. These findings are significant for developing safer treatments for inflammatory conditions.
Impacts on everyday life:
• Potential development of natural alternatives to NSAIDs with fewer side effects
• New options for treating chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease
• Increased value and use of mushrooms in health supplements and medical treatments
• Greater understanding of traditional medicine practices using mushrooms
• Possible development of new anti-inflammatory skincare products
Background
Inflammation is a complex biological response in the human body to remove injury or harmful stimuli. While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used, long-term use can cause significant side effects including gastrointestinal issues, renal failure, and cardiovascular toxicity. This has led to increased interest in discovering natural anti-inflammatory compounds from sources like mushrooms, which have a long history of medicinal use in many cultures.
Objective
To review and report the different types of bioactive metabolites from mushrooms with anti-inflammatory properties, their relevant producers, and their various mechanisms of action as potent anti-inflammatory agents.
Results
The review identified multiple classes of anti-inflammatory compounds from mushrooms including polysaccharides (especially β-glucans), terpenoids, peptides, phenolic compounds, and other metabolites. These compounds work through various mechanisms including inhibition of inflammatory mediators like NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and interleukins, as well as downregulation of genes expressing inflammatory mediators. Key species producing these compounds include Agaricus blazei, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Ganoderma lucidum, and Inonotus obliquus among others.
Conclusion
Mushrooms represent potential biofactories for producing diverse natural anti-inflammatory compounds that could be used in medical and cosmeceutical applications. However, several challenges need to be addressed including cultivation methods, standardization of bioactive contents, isolation of pure compounds, and development of validated testing protocols before mushroom-derived compounds can be fully utilized in pharmaceutical applications.
- Published in:Mediators of Inflammation,
- Study Type:Review,
- Source: 10.1155/2014/805841