Medicinal mushrooms occuring in South India : Ganoderma lucidum, Phellinus rimosus, Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus pulmonaris

 

Among the large resources of fungi, higher Basidiomycetes especially mushrooms are unlimited sources of therapeutically useful biologically active agents. There are approximately 700 species of higher Basidiomycetes that have been found to possess significant pharmacological activities

Medicinal mushrooms occurring in South India namely:-

1) Ganoderma lucidum, 

2)Phellinus rimosus,

3)Pleurotus florida and

4) Pleurotus pulmonaris 

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) are excellently edible and nutritious, rank among one of the most widely cultivated mushrooms in the world.

They possessed profound antioxidant and antitumor activities.

 This indicated that these mushrooms would be valuable sources of antioxidant an antitumor compounds. 

Investigations also showed that they had significant antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic activies. 

 Indian medicinal mushrooms are potential sources of antioxidant and anticancer compounds. 

Caution: However, intensive and extensive investigations are needed to exploit their valuable therapeutic use.