Medicinal mushrooms as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of diabetes mellitus: a review with focusing on in vivo and clinical studies

Abstract

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that affects 1 in 11 people. More than 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year are related to the disease. Many medications are used for diabetes, but these medications only prevent the disease from progressing and its symptoms. Medicinal mushrooms have been used to treat diabetes since 2,000 years ago in the traditional medicine of different countries. This study reviews the research conducted on the anti-diabetic effect of several medicinal mushrooms reducing blood sugar level by various mechanisms. Mushrooms affect carbohydrate metabolism by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glycosidase enzymes, affect cellular pathways involved in fat metabolism, insulin secretion, and cellular apoptosis. The antioxidant activity of mushrooms prevents oxidative damage to pancreatic beta cells, reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides and normalize liver enzymes levels. The anti-diabetic activity of medicinal mushrooms has been proven by in vitro and in vivo experiments, as well as by clinical trials. They were suggested as dietary food supplement in the treatment of diabetes.

Keywords

• medicinal mushrooms
• antidiabetic
• antioxidant
• in vitro
• in vivo
• clinical trials