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Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from the Edible-Medicinal Macrofungi

Summary

This comprehensive review examines over 270 bioactive compounds from edible and medicinal mushrooms, showing they have remarkable potential to treat various diseases. These mushroom-derived substances demonstrate effectiveness against cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and infections while having fewer side effects than conventional drugs. Families like reishi and shiitake mushrooms are particularly rich sources of these healing compounds. The research suggests mushrooms are valuable natural resources for developing new therapeutic treatments.

Background

Macrofungi are well-known edible-medicinal mushrooms that belong mostly to Basidiomycota, with a few from Ascomycota. These mushrooms produce various secondary metabolites as chemical defense mechanisms against harmful organisms. Modern pharmacology has recognized the medicinal value of mushroom secondary metabolites in treating various diseases.

Objective

This review highlights over 270 natural products produced by 17 families of macrofungi covering 2017 to 2023, including their structures, bioactivities, and related molecular mechanisms. The aim is to provide theoretical basis for research of secondary metabolites from large edible and medicinal fungi.

Results

The review identified 274 secondary metabolites including 116 terpenoids, 71 sterols, 22 phenols, 14 polyketides, and 9 alkaloids with diverse bioactivities. Compounds demonstrated anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimalarial, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities through various molecular mechanisms.

Conclusion

Macrofungi represent a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites with high potential for exploitation in treating diabetes, cancer, neurological diseases, fungal and bacterial infections, and hyperlipidemia. Families including Ganodermataceae, Hymenochaetaceae, Polyporaceae, and Hericiaceae produce particularly wide ranges of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 38392816, DOI: 10.3390/jof10020144
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