Health Promoting Effects of Bioactive Compounds in Mushrooms

Mushrooms are known to be pharmacologically active; hence, they are important in food and medicine. The bioactive compounds present have been reported to exhibit pharmacological activities. During growth, mushrooms acquire various compounds from the substrates, and can also synthesize valuable secondary metabolites that are adjudged to be safe. The nutritional composition of mushrooms is of benefit to human health, coupled with the secondary metabolites synthesized. The nutritional and health potentials of mushrooms have made them a suitable raw material for producing new drugs and functional foods that could be of benefit to mankind. Hence, mushrooms and their products are of immense value in nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. This review examines bioactive compounds present in some mushrooms and their benefits to humans.