Abstract
Several human diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, increasingly affect the adult population worldwide. Therefore, scientists have tried to discover new natural sources of medicines, especially from mushrooms, to prevent and treat these diseases. Wild mushrooms and mushrooms growing on solid media or in submerged cultures belong to a large number of genera (Agaricus, Auricularia, Ganoderma, Grifola, Hericium, Lentinula, Schizophyllum) and can be used to produce biologically active compounds (lectins, polysaccharides, phenolics, terpenoids, and steroid derivatives) as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, hepatoprotective, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective agents. Metabolomics and genomic studies of the unexplored biotechnological potential of mushrooms can also assist in the production of novel mushroom-derived biotech products. High-quality, long-term, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies have also been described as necessary to prove the efficacy of extracts or isolated compounds. The present review discusses the current state of knowledge and the main findings of previous studies on mushroom-derived therapeutics and healthy food. This chapter is an update contribution to modern mycopharmacology and biomedicine.