Edible and medicinal mushrooms

Project made by: ELENA BLEJUSCA

University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "Ion
Ionescu de la Brad
Faculty of Agriculture
Specialization: Management in public alimentation and agri-tourism
 Introduction
Mushroom is a plant constructed with no tissue structures.
Which can be an unicellular or a multicellular organism.
Although mushroom is a type of plant, they do not contain
cellulose and chlorophyll. So that they can not create their
own nutrients, they must have to living on another plants or
animals, to absorb nutrition from them.

Mushrooms have been consumed since earliest history.

Ancient Greeks believed that mushrooms provided strength
for warriors in battle, and the Romans perceived them as the
Food of the Gods. For centuries, the Chinese culture has
treasured mushrooms as a health food, an elixir of life.
 Edible Mushrooms
Edibility is defined as the absence of poisons and the
presence of a desirable taste and smell.
Mushrooms have been considered as ingredient of
gourmet cuisine across the globe; especially for their
unique flavor and have been valued by humankind as a
culinary wonder.
More than 2,000 species of mushrooms exist in nature,
but around 25 are widely accepted as food and few are
commercially cultivated. Mushrooms are considered as a
delicacy with high nutritional and functional value.
Edible mushrooms come in a range of shapes, sizes,
textures, colors, flavors, scents, and densities.
Also known as the white cultivated
mushroom or champignon de Paris.
Agaricus bisporus is grown on composted Agaricus Bisporus
cereal straw and animal manure. This
cultivation is usually in buildings where
the environment (temperature, humidity,
carbon dioxide) is controlled.
The major regions of cultivation are
Europe, North America, China and
Australia.
Agaricus bisporus is the most extensively
cultivated mushroom in the world,
accounting for 38% of the world
production of cultivated mushrooms.
 Coprinus Comatus
Coprinus comatus is an edible
basidiomycete with a growth habit
similar to agarics.
It is commonly found in temperate
climates in the northern hemisphere
and prefers to grow on rich
decomposed substrates. Fruit bodies
tend to appear in clusters.
It is commercially cultivated in China
and by amateurs all over the world.

A unique feature of the species is the fast maturation of fruit bodies. After
producing spores the gills rapidly turn into a black, ink like liquid as they
continue to mature. The short shelf life of this mushroom means that it has to
be consumed within few hours after harvesting or immediately canned. It is
also known as the Shaggy Ink Cap.
 Flammulina Velutipes
The winter mushroom.
Although this mushroom is gathered
from the wild, it is also now cultivated
particularly in Japan. The growth
substrate is a mixture of sawdust and
rice bran which are mixed, wetted,
autoclaved and filled into polypropylene
bottles. The growth temperature is
manipulated to produce high quality
mushrooms.

This fungus can be found growing wild in China, Siberia, Asia Minor, Europe,
Africa, North America, Australia and Japan living on both dead and living wood of
broad leaf trees such as aspens, willows and elms.
 Lentinus Edodes

Also known as shiitake, oak mushroom.

Lentinus edodes is grown usually on logs of oak outdoors in forests. A more
intensive cultivation technique has recently been developed involving growth
on synthetic logs mainly sawdust and other agricultural wastes.
Lentinus edodes is largely produced in Japan, China and South Korea. Lentinus
edodes accounts for 10% of world production of cultivated mushrooms.
As food, Shiitake has a delicious taste and texture, so its good to use fresh in
cooking. Standardized-extract tablets are available.
As a medicinal mushroom, its good as a potent immune-boosting mushroom;
has antitumor and antiviral properties; lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.
 Pleurotus Species
The oyster mushroom.
A number of different species are grown including, Pleurotus
ostreatus, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Pleurotus cystidus, Pleurotus
cystidus, Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus flabellatus.
This mushroom is cultivated on a wide range of plant wastes (cereal
straw, sawdust, bagasse, waste cotton) often enclosed by plastic bags.
Mushroom production is light dependent. Some growers operate a 12
hour light cycle using fluorescent lamps.
Pleurotus mushrooms are the second most important mushrooms in
production in the world, 25% of total world production of cultivated
mushrooms. Pleurotus mushrooms are world-wide, China is the major
producer.
 Volvariella volvacea
The chinese or paddy straw mushroom.
Volvariella volvacea is a high temperature mushroom grown largely in
tropical and subtropical regions of Asia e.g. China, Taiwan, Thailand,
Indonesia, India, Madagascar.

This mushroom can be grown on a variety of agricultural wastes e.g.

paddy straw, water hyacinth, oil palm, banana, cotton or wood waste.
Mushroom production is encouraged by heavy watering, temperature
reduction and light.Volvariella mushrooms account for 16% of total
production of cultivated mushrooms in the world.
 Medicinal Mushrooms

Mushrooms are important for their healing capacities and properties in

traditional medicine. It has reported beneficial effects for health and treatment
of some diseases.

Many nutraceutical properties are described in mushrooms, such as

prevention or treatment of Parkinson, Alzheimer, hypertension, and high risk of
stroke. They are also utilized to reduce the likelihood of cancer invasion and
metastasis due to antitumoral attributes.

Mushrooms act as antibacterial, immune system enhancer and cholesterol

lowering agents; additionally, they are important sources of bioactive
compounds. As a result of these properties, some mushroom extracts are used
to promote human health and are found as dietary supplements.
 Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

What its good for: Reishi is useful for many ailments. It has immunostimulant
properties, calms anxiety, and is used as a general tonic. It is anti-allergenic
and antiviral, and is used for hepatitis and heart arrhythmias. Reishi can also
be used as an antidote for poisonous mushrooms.
Where it grows: Reishi grows on the East Coast of the United States, as well as
throughout Europe, South America, and Asia. Reishi is now widely cultivated
in the past, it grew only in small quantities in the wild, so it was very
expensive.
How to take it: Reishi is available dried, powdered, and in capsules, extracts,
tinctures, tea, and syrup.

In China, reishi is known as ling zhi. Ling zhi belongs to Chinas highest class of
medicines; there, its considered a tonic, thought to impart strength, vigor,
and longevity.
 Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor)

What its good for: The turkey tail mushroom has cholesterol-lowering
effects, immune-enhancing activity, and antioxidant activity.
Where it grows: Common worldwide; turkey tail grows in many parts of the
United States and Europe, and throughout China. Look for the fan-shaped,
overlapping mushroom on dead logs.
How to take it: Turkey tail is most commonly taken as a tea or in capsules. It
can be eaten fresh, but its very chewy. It also can be made into a mild-
tasting soup stock.
 Maitake (Grifola frondosa)

What its good for: Maitake has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in several
studies. It may also help reduce blood pressure and raise HDL (the so-called
good) cholesterol.
Where it grows: The mushroom grows commonly in the Eastern United States,
Europe, and Asia. Cultivation techniques were developed in 1979, and the
mushroom is now more widely available.
How to take it: Maitake can be taken as a capsule, powder, in tea, or used in
cooking (such as in soups).
Maitake means dancing mushroom in Japanese.
 Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)

What its good for: Chaga has anticancer and antitumor activity.
Where it grows: Chaga grows on birch trees and other hosts, especially in the
Eastern United States, Alaska, Europe, and other parts of the northern
hemisphere.
How to take it: Is available as a tea, decoction, extract, or syrup.
In Russia, chaga has also been used as a tonic, blood purifier, and pain reliever.
 Conclusions
Several mushroom species have been pointed out as sources of bioactive
compounds, in addition to their important nutritional value. The inclusion of
whole mushrooms into the diet may have efficacy as potential dietary
supplements.
While hallucinogenic mushrooms are occasionally consumed
for recreational or religious purposes, they can produce
severe nausea and disorientation, and are therefore not commonly considered
edible mushrooms.
It has been shown by a wide range of studies that mushrooms contain
components with outstanding properties to prevent or treat different type of
diseases.
Future studies into the mechanisms of action of mushroom extracts will help
us to further delineate the interesting roles and properties of various
mushroom phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of some
degenerative diseases.
Mushrooms are an excellent food source and addition to any diet or menu.