Diversity of Mushrooms and Their Metabolites of Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Significance

Table 1

Diversity of nutraceutical and therapeutic metabolite producing mushrooms found in order Agaricales (nomenclature source: Mycobank).

Family	Important genera	Therapeutic/nutritional value	References
Hygrophoraceae	Hygrophorus	Fatty acids with bactericidal and fungicidal activity prepared from Hygrophorus eburneus. Hygrophamides are important constituents of cell membranes and assumed to play important roles as antigens and their receptors.	[9, 14]
Tricholomataceae	Clitocybe, Tricholoma	Tricholoma magnivelare, the pine mushroom, or the white matsutake, is another edible mushroom known to enhance fertility and virility, strengthen the immune system, have anticancer activity, and even work as an aphrodisiac.	[9]
Amanitaceae	Amanita	A. phalloides, also known as “death cup,” is a well-known poisonous mushroom of this genus and is also reported to be used in tumor therapy.	[9, 15]
Agaricaceae	Agaricus	A. campestris and A. rodmani are edible. A. brunnescens (bisporus) is grown commercially.	[9]
Strophariaceae	Stropharia, Naematoloma, Psilocybe	The well-known edible members of the genus Stropharia include Stropharia rugosoannulata and Stropharia aeruginosa. These mushrooms are a low calorie and fat-free food choice, known to assist in weight loss. Psilocybe cubensis’s principal active compounds are psilocybin and psilocin which have mind-altering effects like euphoria and visual and mental hallucinations.	[9, 11]
Coprinaceae	Coprinus Panaeolus	Coprinus atramentarius is edible unless consumed with alcohol. Coprinus comatus has antioxidant properties.	[9]
Pluteaceae	Pluteus Volvariella	P. cervinus, P. atromarginatus, and V. volvacea all are edible.	[9]
Cortinariaceae	Cortinarius Galerina	Cortinarius sp. is inedible and some are poisonous too.	[16]
Psathyrellaceae	Psathyrella	Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler is one of the most valuable edible mushrooms in Nigeria as it is very rich in protein and fibres.	[17]
Inocybaceae	Inocybe	Inocybe aeruginascens contains the formerly known alkaloids psilocybin, psilocin, baeocystin, and aeruginascin.	[16]
Strophariaceae	Pholiota	Polysaccharide isolated from Pholiota nameko (PNPS-1) led to significant decreases in very low-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.; A novel lectin from Pholiota adiposa showed antiproliferative activity.	[18, 19]
Marasmiaceae	Marasmius, Omphalotus	Marasmius oreades, the fairy ring mushroom, is a good edible species containing Cu, Fe, Zn, folic acid, protein, and all the essential amino acids required by man.	[9]
Omphalotaceae	Lentinula	Lentinula edodes is low in sodium and glucose, rich source of fibre, and ideal for diabetics. In Japan, it is used as a natural treatment of cancer because of its complex carbohydrate, lentinan. It is also a source of selenium, an antioxidant that is said to prevent cancer.	[9]
Lyophyllaceae	Termitomyces	Methanolic extract of Termitomyces albuminosus mycelia showed high antioxidant properties.; Polysaccharide-rich fraction of Termitomyces eurhizus accelerates healing of indomethacin induced gastric ulcer.; Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the dry matter of culture broth of Termitomyces albuminosus and its extracts.	[20–22]
Pleurotaceae	Pleurotus	Ribonucleases (RNases: mol. wt. 10.7 kDa) have been isolated and characterized from P. ostreatus that has the potentiality to neutralize HIV through degradation of viral genetic material.	[23]
Hydnangiaceae	Laccaria	Laccaria edulis, Laccaria laccata, and Laccaria proxima are all edible species.	[24]
Physalacriaceae	Flammulina Armillaria	Flammulina velutipes is rich in peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and others and can prevent some severe diseases like cancer and coronary heart disease.	[25]