Antiproliferative Activity of Bioactive Compounds from Mushrooms of Indian Isolates

Biodiversity study on mushrooms of basidiomycetes was initiated and more than seven hundred species were described by Natarajan and associates during 1975-2008 from South India. But the bio-documentation of many medicinal mushrooms were initiated a decade ago by Vaidya and associates from Western India, Janardhanan and associates from Kerala and Kaviyarasan and associates from South India. Lentinus tuberregium, Neolentinus kauffmanii and Agaricus heterocystis, were studied for their medicinal properties such as antitumor, antiviral, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. These indigenous mushrooms are effective against many cancer lines and induce apoptosis and results in tumor cell death. Antiangiogenesis effect of Trametes hirsuta extract was well established with fertilized hen eggs. These results, clearly established their candidature for drug formulations. Two novel anticancer compounds extracted from Lentinus tuberregium were filed for patent for their anticancer properties. Polysaccharides from Tramates hirusuta, an indigenous isolate was also very effective against many cancer lines. Currently few more edible mushrooms are being studied for their medicinal properties.