A critical review on the health promoting effects of mushrooms nutraceuticals

Abstract

Extensive elucidations focusing on the efficient health promoting properties and high nutritional values of mushrooms have been expanded dynamically from the past few decades. Due to its high quality of proteins, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, mineral substances, triterpenes sterols and secondary metabolites, mushrooms have always been appreciated for their vital role in protecting and curing various health problems, such as immunodeficiency, cancer, inflammation, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and obesity. Moreover, investigations in recent years have revealed the correlations between the health-promoting benefits and gut microbiota regulating effects induced by the mushrooms intake. Researches on the immense role in the nutritional and health benefits displayed by mushrooms have become an emergent task to study. The present article overviewed and compiled the latest information correlated to the health benefits and underlying functional mechanisms of mushroom nutraceuticals, and concluded that the supplementation of mushrooms as a dietary composition could become a natural adjuvant for the prevention and treatment of several health diseases. Keywords: Mushrooms, Bioactive nutraceuticals, Health benefits, Functional mechanisms, Gut microbiota regulation