Edible mushrooms are an excellent source of proteins, minerals, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, and secondary metabolites. Numerous studies have provided evidence for the protective effects of edible mushrooms against various chronic diseases. In this review, details on the compositions and nutritional values of edible mushrooms were discussed. Furthermore, bioactive compounds such as polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of edible mushrooms, as well as the application of these edible mushrooms as potential therapeutic agents, were covered. This chapter also endeavoured to review the recent progress on the potential utilisation of edible mushrooms in the development of functional food products and its effects on the nutritional, physical, and organoleptic properties of the developed food products. Based on the recent socioeconomic trends, the substitution of edible mushroom as an essential source of functional ingredients in food products could become a natural adjuvant for the prevention and alleviation of several lifestyle-related diseases. This information could be beneficial for the development of food products with health functionalities, which are of great interest to the medical nutrition industry, which is an industry that emerged from the convergence between the food and pharma industries.
Part of the book: An Introduction to Mushroom