THE FOOD AND MEDICINAL BENEFITS OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS): A REVIEW

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is a culinary mushroom. Mushrooms are considered a potential source of many essential nutrients and therapeutic bioactive compounds. Pleurotus ostreatus is a macro fungus that belongs to the class Basidiomycetes and the family Pleurotaceae, known as the oyster mushroom. It is the most important commercially cultivated mushroom in the world. Mushroom contains rich nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids, lipids and fibers. It is used as food and medicine. Mushroom contains more bioactive compounds such as peptides, polysaccharides, liposaccharides, glycoprotein, lectin, triterpenoid, fatty acids, essential amino acids and nucleosides. They are used traditionally as a medicine for different diseases. These mushrooms have been reported to be antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti- inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antihypercholesterolemic, antiatherogenic, anti-hyperglycemic and immunomodulating. This review gives information on the traditional uses, chemical composition and nutritional benefits of oyster mushrooms. These studies reveal that Pleurotus ostreatus is a source of medicinally active compounds with various pharmacological effects. These studies will be helpful to create interest in Pleurotus ostreatus and may be useful in developing a new reaction for further research.