Medicinal and Nutritional Importance of Mushrooms

Mushrooms have been used as food for centuries because of their unique taste, in addition to their great nutritional value, as it was found that there are many nutritional and medical benefits due to human consumption of mushrooms, both wild and cultivated. Nutritionally, mushrooms are rich in proteins, carbohydrates and fibers and are also low in energy and fats. It also contains a large variety of nutrients and minerals such as potassium, copper and vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin and folate. Most types of mushrooms are an important source of active compounds with the potential for medicinal and therapeutic effects. Biologically of potential medical importance, as the results of studies showed that the bioactive components isolated from mushrooms have pharmacological effects such as antitumor, antioxidant, antiviral, cholesterol-lowering, as well as lowering blood sugar effects in patients. Consuming mushrooms or one of their products in our daily diet may provide many health benefits.