Mushroom as Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals

Mushrooms are the fungi that have been used as food since time immemorial. Nutritionally they are valuable source of healthy food, with low calories and rich in carbohydrates, essential amino acids, fibers, important vitamins and minerals. Mushrooms have also been used in medicine for centuries. There are more than 500 species of mushrooms recorded from all over world, of which around 2000 species are edible and among the edible species, some are investigated and authenticated for medicinal use. These have been found to boost the immune system, have anti-cancerous property, act as anti-hypercholesterolemia and hepatoprotective agents and many other. Moreover, as nutraceuticals they have been found to relieve the stress and pressure of modern society by stimulating both basic and secondary immune responses of the immune system.