Nutritional and Medicinal Importance of Pleurotus Mushrooms: An Overview

Mushrooms of Pleurotus genus are popularly consumed all over the world due to their taste, flavor, high nutritional values, and some medicinal properties. Several species of this genus are rich in proteins with essential amino acids, physiologically important polysaccharides and essential fatty acids, dietary fibers, important minerals, and some vitamins. Because of these nutritional composition and the presence of some other active ingredients, these mushrooms have been reported to have anticancer, antihypercholesterolemic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiobesity, hepatoprotective, antiaging, antimicrobial, antiallergic, and antioxidant activities. The high nutritional value and potential medicinal uses suggest that the Pleurotus mushrooms are important functional foods or nut raceuticals.