Bioactive secondary metabolites in mushrooms: A focus on polyphenols, their health benefits and applications

Mushrooms are renowned for their multifaceted contributions in the realms of nutrition and therapy. Possessing exceptional flavors, aromas, and nutritional content, they are categorized as 'functional foods' due to their ability to enhance overall health and confer nutritional advantages. Moreover, mushrooms have gained substantial recognition for their therapeutic applications, primarily owing it to their diverse repository of bioactive compounds referred to as secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites exhibit a wide range of biological properties, encompassing anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative activities. The primary objective of this review is to emphasize the biologically active constituents found in various edible and medicinal mushroom species, with focus on the extraction and utilization of their principal compounds, particularly polyphenols. These polyphenols not only confer antioxidant effects but also offer preventive and therapeutic benefits. To achieve this, it is imperative to comprehend the techniques employed for phenolic compound extraction and to synthesize the key findings from the most noteworthy studies conducted to date.