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Modern Pro-Health Applications of Medicinal Mushrooms: Insights into the Polyporaceae Family, with a Focus on Cerrena unicolor

Summary

This review explores how medicinal mushrooms, particularly Cerrena unicolor, can be used to improve health through functional foods and supplements. The mushroom contains natural compounds with powerful properties including fighting cancer cells, killing harmful bacteria and viruses, and protecting the body from oxidative stress. Research shows these mushrooms could be incorporated into dairy products and other foods to create innovative health-promoting products for consumers.

Background

Medicinal mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat various diseases. The Polyporaceae family contains numerous species with documented bioactive properties. Cerrena unicolor, a wood-degrading basidiomycete, has emerged as a particularly promising source of health-promoting compounds.

Objective

This review examines the bioactive composition, technological potential, and functional applications of Cerrena unicolor and other Polyporaceae family mushrooms. The focus is on analyzing antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects, with particular emphasis on interactions with food matrices to enhance bioavailability and therapeutic potential.

Results

C. unicolor demonstrates significant antioxidant activity through enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds including polysaccharides and phenolic derivatives. The mushroom exhibits strong anticancer properties against multiple cancer cell lines (cervical, colon, breast, ovarian), antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and viruses, and additional benefits including antinematode, detoxification, hypoglycemic, and wound-healing properties.

Conclusion

C. unicolor represents a valuable source of bioactive compounds with multiple health-promoting properties suitable for functional food and nutraceutical applications. Future research should focus on in vivo animal trials and clinical studies to optimize formulations, improve bioavailability, and establish regulatory pathways for commercialization.
  • Published in:Molecules,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 41157106
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