Mechanism of Nitric Oxide Production in Macrophages Treated with Medicinal Mushroom Extracts (Review)

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas with highly reactive radicals and is an important signal molecule in living organisms with diverse pathophysiological functions. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) can be expressed in macrophages and is able to induce NO production. Studies have proposed that mushroom extracts can promote or inhibit NO production in macrophages through acting on iNOS, nuclear factor kappa B, and other signaling pathways. This article is dedicated to the mechanism of mushroom extracts affecting NO secretion in macrophages.