<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>There are about 40 species in the <italic>Pleurotus</italic> genus, including those with high economic significance, i.e. <italic>P. ostreatus</italic> and <italic>P. pulmonarius</italic>. The fruiting bodies of oyster mushrooms are of high nutritional and health-promoting value. In addition, many species belonging to the <italic>Pleurotus</italic> genus have been used as sources of substances with documented medicinal properties, such as high-molecular weight bioactive compounds (polysaccharides, peptides and proteins) and low-molecular weight compounds (terpenoids, fatty acid esters and polyphenols). The bioactive substances contained in the mycelium and fruiting bodies of <italic>Pleurotus</italic> species exhibit immunostimulatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-oxidative properties. Their multidirectional positive influence on the human organism is the result of interaction of bioactive substances. Extracts from individual <italic>Pleurotus</italic> species can be used for the production of dietary supplements increasing the organism’s immunity. They are also used for the production of cosmetics. They can be added to functional foods as probiotics, or used as natural preservatives or ingredients of special foodstuffs for patients with specific diseases.</p></abstract>

There are about 40 species in the Pleurotus genus, including those with high economic significance, i.e. P. ostreatus and P. pulmonarius. The fruiting bodies of oyster mushrooms are of high nutritional and health-promoting value. In addition, many species belonging to the Pleurotus genus have been used as sources of substances with documented medicinal properties, such as high-molecular weight bioactive compounds (polysaccharides, peptides and proteins) and low-molecular weight compounds (terpenoids, fatty acid esters and polyphenols). The bioactive substances contained in the mycelium and fruiting bodies of Pleurotus species exhibit immunostimulatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-oxidative properties. Their multidirectional positive influence on the human organism is the result of interaction of bioactive substances. Extracts from individual Pleurotus species can be used for the production of dietary supplements increasing the organism’s immunity. They are also used for the production of cosmetics. They can be added to functional foods as probiotics, or used as natural preservatives or ingredients of special foodstuffs for patients with specific diseases.

Bioactive compounds and medicinal properties of Oyster mushrooms (<italic>Pleurotus</italic> sp.)

Department of Vegetable Crops, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Folia Horticulturae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Bioactive compounds and medicinal properties of Oyster mushrooms ( sp.)

There are about 40 species in the Pleurotus genus, including those with high economic significance, i.e. P. ostreatus and P. pulmonarius. The fruiting bodies...

Bioactive compounds and medicinal properties of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sp.)

Published Online: Dec 14, 2018

Page range: 191 - 201

Received: Nov 04, 2017

Accepted: Feb 19, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2018-0012

Keywords
fruiting bodies, functional food, health-promoting activities, oyster mushrooms

© 2018 Iwona Golak-Siwulska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Bioactive compounds and medicinal properties of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sp.)

Published Online: Dec 14, 2018

Page range: 191 - 201

Received: Nov 04, 2017

Accepted: Feb 19, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2018-0012

Keywordsfruiting bodies, functional food, health-promoting activities, oyster mushrooms

© 2018 Iwona Golak-Siwulska et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
fruiting bodies, functional food, health-promoting activities, oyster mushrooms