A Mechanistic Review on Medicinal Mushrooms-Derived Bioactive Compounds: Potential Mycotherapy Candidates for Alleviating Neurological Disorders

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases are highly debilitating and pose the greatest threats to public health. Diseases of the nervous system are caused by a particular pathological process that negatively affects the central and peripheral nervous systems. These diseases also lead to the loss of neuronal cell function, which causes alterations in the nervous system structure, resulting in the degeneration or death of nerve cells throughout the body. This causes problems with movement (ataxia) and mental dysfunction (dementia), both of which are commonly observed symptoms in Alzheimerʼs disease, Parkinsonʼs disease, Huntingtonʼs disease, and multiple sclerosis. Medicinal mushrooms are higher fungi with nutraceutical properties and are low in calories and fat. They are also a rich source of nutrients and bioactive compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, and vitamins that have been used in the treatment of many ailments. Medicinal mushrooms such as Pleurotus giganteus, Ganoderma lucidium, and Hericium erinaceus are commonly produced worldwide for use as health supplements and medicine. Medicinal mushrooms and their extracts have a large number of bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharide β-glucan, or polysaccharide-protein complexes, like lectins, lactones, terpenoids, alkaloids, antibiotics, and metal-chelating agents. This review will focus on the role of the medicinal properties of different medicinal mushrooms that contain bioactive compounds with a protective effect against neuronal dysfunction. This information will facilitate the development of drugs against neurodegenerative diseases.

Ganoderma formosanum Exopolysaccharides Inhibit Tumor Growth via Immunomodulation

“…Many medicinal mushrooms have beneficial effects on health [ 11 , 12 ]. Among medicinal mushrooms, the Ganoderma species are of particular importance because of their numerous biological activities attributed to triterpenoids and polysaccharides [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The anticancer activity of the Ganoderma species includes such mechanisms as inducing cell cycle arrest, triggering apoptosis, and inhibiting cancer cell motility and mutagenesis [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Antioxidant Compounds from Edible Mushrooms as Potential Candidates for Treating Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…It has been reported that mushroom antioxidant compounds, due to their ability of increasing antioxidant defenses and counteract oxidative stress, may prevent age-related neurological diseases [165][166][167][168] (Figure 7).…”

“…It has been reported that mushroom antioxidant compounds, due to their ability of increasing antioxidant defenses and counteract oxidative stress, may prevent age-related neurological diseases [165][166][167][168] (Figure 7). In this regard, it is worth highlighting that most of the studies conducted to date on in vitro and in animal models that demonstrate the neuroprotective properties of mushrooms have been conducted on mushroom polysaccharides [169] (Table 1).…”

Ergothioneine, recent developments

“…These include the association of increased mushroom consumption with decreased risks of dementia [ 133 , 134 ], cardiovascular disease, certain cancers (e.g. prostate and breast cancer) [ 135 , 136 ], IBD [ 137 ], metabolic syndrome [ 138 ], PD and other neurological disorders [ 139 ], viral infections [ 140 ] and many other conditions. Some of the studies attributed these perceived health benefits of mushrooms to the ET present [ 129 , [141] , [142] , [143] ].…”