174
Lentinus edodes has gained major attention for its immunomodulatory roles due
to lentinan and other immune-boosting polysaccharides and edible hybrid mushrooms (Bhunia et al. 2010). Both water-soluble and water-insoluble types of
β-glucans (Yu et al. 2010) have been isolated from L. edodes (Maity et al. 2013).
The polysaccharides belonging to the group of β-D-glucans such as lentinan of
L. edodes are found to boost the immune system. These polysaccharides do not
cause any harm and, therefore, are considered as biological response modifier. The
mechanisms responsible for antitumor effect include oncogenesis prevention,
boosted immune response, and promotion of apoptosis due to direct antitumor
activity (Zhang et al. 2007). In order to exhibit its biological activity, lentinan needs
functional T-cell component. The lentinan and immune boosting polysacharides
increases T helper (Th) cell and macrophage profileration and also stimulate the
non-immunological acute phase proteins and colony-stimulating factor (CSF),
which affects the macrophages, lymphocytes cells proliferation and the activation of
the complement system (Bohn and BeMiller 1995; Xu et al. 2014). A water-soluble
polysaccharide obtained after sepharose gel filtration of hybrid mushroom strain
(obtained after fusion of protoplast of P. florida and L. edodes) resulted in activation
of macrophage, thymocyte, and splenocytes (Maity et al. 2013).
The antibiotic substances such as protein-based lentin, exobiopolymer- containing
sulfur-based lenthionine, purine-derived lentinosin, and lentinamycins A and B
obtained from fruiting bodies of L. edodes have been identified. The atherosclerotic
molecules such as eritadenine and lovastatin have been obtained from fruiting bodies of L. edodes. The shiitake mushrooms are also used for diseases, environmental
allergies, bronchial inflammation, frequent colds, and flu and regulating urinary
incontinence (Bisen et al. 2010). The terpenoids and sterol compounds of mushrooms are reported for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities (Zhang et al. 2013).
Besides the application of shiitake mushrooms in food and medicinal industries, the
carbon composite with NiCo 2 O 4 has been developed for efficient supercapacitor
applications where mushroom has been as the carbon. The high surface area of
mushroom is an advantage over other carbon materials. The mushroom-C/NiCo 2 O 4
composite is known to provide a better capacitance compared with carbon and other
metal-based oxide composite electrodes (Raman et al. 2019).
10.8 Concern
The formation of formaldehyde endogenously in the shiitake mushroom is a major
concern. The formation of formaldehyde was observed during analysis of flavor
compounds (Okada et al. 1972). The catalysis of lentinic acid γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and L-cysteine sulphoxide lyase (C-S lyase) was found to produce the
characteristic flavor compounds and formaldehyde (Yamazaki et al. 1980; Yasumoto
et al. 1976). However, the exact mechanisms of formaldehyde formation in L. edodes
are not known. Formaldehyde is present in natural foods as well as used in dry and
frozen processed food to keep it fresh. It is toxic to the eyes and can cause blindness
R. Salwan et al.
Lentinus edodes has gained major attention for its immunomodulatory roles due
to lentinan and other immune-boosting polysaccharides and edible hybrid mushrooms (Bhunia et al. 2010). Both water-soluble and water-insoluble types of
β-glucans (Yu et al. 2010) have been isolated from L. edodes (Maity et al. 2013).
The polysaccharides belonging to the group of β-D-glucans such as lentinan of
L. edodes are found to boost the immune system. These polysaccharides do not
cause any harm and, therefore, are considered as biological response modifier. The
mechanisms responsible for antitumor effect include oncogenesis prevention,
boosted immune response, and promotion of apoptosis due to direct antitumor
activity (Zhang et al. 2007). In order to exhibit its biological activity, lentinan needs
functional T-cell component. The lentinan and immune boosting polysacharides
increases T helper (Th) cell and macrophage profileration and also stimulate the
non-immunological acute phase proteins and colony-stimulating factor (CSF),
which affects the macrophages, lymphocytes cells proliferation and the activation of
the complement system (Bohn and BeMiller 1995; Xu et al. 2014). A water-soluble
polysaccharide obtained after sepharose gel filtration of hybrid mushroom strain
(obtained after fusion of protoplast of P. florida and L. edodes) resulted in activation
of macrophage, thymocyte, and splenocytes (Maity et al. 2013).
The antibiotic substances such as protein-based lentin, exobiopolymer- containing
sulfur-based lenthionine, purine-derived lentinosin, and lentinamycins A and B
obtained from fruiting bodies of L. edodes have been identified. The atherosclerotic
molecules such as eritadenine and lovastatin have been obtained from fruiting bodies of L. edodes. The shiitake mushrooms are also used for diseases, environmental
allergies, bronchial inflammation, frequent colds, and flu and regulating urinary
incontinence (Bisen et al. 2010). The terpenoids and sterol compounds of mushrooms are reported for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities (Zhang et al. 2013).
Besides the application of shiitake mushrooms in food and medicinal industries, the
carbon composite with NiCo 2 O 4 has been developed for efficient supercapacitor
applications where mushroom has been as the carbon. The high surface area of
mushroom is an advantage over other carbon materials. The mushroom-C/NiCo 2 O 4
composite is known to provide a better capacitance compared with carbon and other
metal-based oxide composite electrodes (Raman et al. 2019).
10.8 Concern
The formation of formaldehyde endogenously in the shiitake mushroom is a major
concern. The formation of formaldehyde was observed during analysis of flavor
compounds (Okada et al. 1972). The catalysis of lentinic acid γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and L-cysteine sulphoxide lyase (C-S lyase) was found to produce the
characteristic flavor compounds and formaldehyde (Yamazaki et al. 1980; Yasumoto
et al. 1976). However, the exact mechanisms of formaldehyde formation in L. edodes
are not known. Formaldehyde is present in natural foods as well as used in dry and
frozen processed food to keep it fresh. It is toxic to the eyes and can cause blindness
R. Salwan et al.