The Rise of Mushroom-Based Nutraceuticals: A Review of Nutritional Potential and Industrial Integration

A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background:Mushrooms have gained considerable attention as functional foods and nutraceutical agents because of their rich nutritional composition and diverse bioactive compounds. In recent years, increasing scientific evidence has highlighted their potential role in disease prevention, health promotion, and industrial applications within the food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Objective:To review the nutritional value, bioactive constituents, therapeutic potential, and industrial integration of medicinal and edible mushrooms as emerging nutraceutical products.

Materials and Methods:A narrative review of the literature was conducted using electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Relevant peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2024 were identified using keywords related to mushroom nutraceuticals, bioactive compounds, functional foods, medicinal mushrooms, and industrial applications. The retrieved literature was critically reviewed and synthesized narratively.

Results:The reviewed literature demonstrated that medicinal mushrooms are rich sources of β-glucans, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. These bioactive constituents have been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and metabolic benefits. Species such as *Ganoderma lucidum*, *Lentinula edodes*, *Cordyceps militaris*, *Hericium erinaceus*, and *Grifola frondosa* were among the most extensively investigated and showed promising nutraceutical potential. Furthermore, increasing industrial utilization of mushroom-derived products in dietary supplements, functional foods, and pharmaceutical formulations was observed across the reviewed studies.

Conclusion:Mushrooms represent valuable nutraceutical resources with significant nutritional, therapeutic, and commercial potential. Continued research, standardization of bioactive compounds, and regulatory development are necessary to support their broader integration into healthcare, food industries, and evidence-based nutraceutical applications.