title: Medicinal Properties of the Genus Clitocybe and of Lectins from the Clouded Funnel Cap Mushroom, C. nebularis (Agaricomycetes): A Review.
abstract: Current knowledge of the medicinal properties of Basidiomycetes mushroom species of the genus Clitocybe and of the biological activity of C. nebularis fruiting bodies is reviewed. The main focus is the therapeutic potential of lectins from C. nebularis. Species of the genus Clitocybe, including C. nebularis, have not been traditionally considered as medicinal mushrooms; however, recent studies have demonstrated their antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antioxidative properties, their antimicrobial (antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal) activities against various bacteria and fungi, as well as their potential use in therapy for alcoholism and as psychotropic agents. These activities have been shown to be due to various compounds, either isolated or in extracts, mainly polysaccharides but also phenols, ribonucleosides, and proteins. These include laccase, protease inhibitors, and lectins. C. nebularis has been shown to be rich in a variety of lectins and isolectins with distinct carbohydrate-binding specificities, showing versatile biological activities. They exhibit immunostimulatory and adhesion-/phagocytosis-promoting properties, as well as toxicity in various invertebrates. Mushroom species of the genus Clitocybe, including C. nebularis, thus constitute a valuable source of compounds showing diverse biological activities with a broad potential for applications in biomedicine or biotechnology. On the basis of such evidence reviewed here, we propose that C. nebularis and other Clitocybe species can be considered to be medicinal mushrooms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jure
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pohleven
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana; and Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Janko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jerica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sabotic
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D037102:Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D037102:Lectins; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs