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International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9437

Institutional price:	$538.00
Issues per year:	4

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2001, Volume3

156 pages

Issue price - $128.00

Hypocholesterolemic Activity of the Genus Pleurotus (Jacq.: Fr.) P. Kumm. (Agaricales s. I., Basidiomycetes)

Nina Gunde-Cimerman
National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdzihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Vecna pot 111,1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ana Plemenitas
University of Ljubljana, Medical Faculty, Institute of Biochemistry, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

ABSTRACT

Pleurotus species, especially P. ostreatus (Jacq: Fr.) Kumm., popularly named the oyster mushroom, are prime edible mushrooms that are commercially cultivated. It is known that, owing to their high protein content and dietary fibers these mushrooms have a positive effect on human nutrition. Besides, Pleurotus spp. modulate the immune system; have hypoglycemic activity; have an antithrombotic effect; inhibit tumor growth, inflammation, and microbial action; and lower blood pressure and plasma lipid concentration. In addition, they effectively reduce lipids in general and specifically low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.