Various MUSHROOMS have been used as folk medicine for long times, the higher Basidiomycetes have become a matter of great interest due to their diverse nutritional, MEDICINAL, and pharmacological properties. 650 species and intraspecific taxa from 182 genera of higher Hetero- and Homo-basidiomycetes have been listed that contain biological active anti-tumor and immunostimulative polysaccharides. Recently, lentinan, shizophyllan and krestin have been accepted as immunoceuticals in several oriental countries. Polysaccharides present the highest capacity for carrying biological information since they have the greatest potential for structural variability. Immunoceutical compound offer hope for cancer patient. These substances are pro-homeostatic uniquely effective immune boosters, which pose no threat of autoimmune backlash. The enhancement or potentiation of host defense mechanisms has been recognized as a possible means of inhibiting tumor growth without harming the host. Antitumor polysaccharides isolated from MUSHROOMS (fruit-body, submerged cultured mycelial biomass or liquid culture broth) are either water-soluble ?-D-glucans, ?-D-glucans with heterosaccharide chains of xylose, mannose, galactose, and uronic acid or; ?-D-glucan-protein complexes-proteoglycans. Certain terpenoids and their derivatives have been isolated from mushroom species have been shown cytotoxic and anti-cancer properties. The discovery and identification of new safe drugs, without sever side effects, has become an important goal of research in the biomedical sciences and MUSHROOMS have shown that they can be an interesting goal for cancer research.

In this study, the forest areas of the North and North-West provinces were explored. Samples were collected from the roots, crowns, and trunks of the living trees. Samples (fungal fruiting body or the caps) were mainly of basidiomycetes and ascomycetes fungi types. The traits of each mushroom, its host, the location of the site were recorded. After the microscopic analysis of the cap, samples were investigated regarding the shape, color, thickness, the presence or absence of base, the presence or absence of upper and lower rings or both based on the type of tissue, the size, and other important characteristics. Some Species of forest MEDICINAL fungi which according to previous research appear to have a significant impact on controlling various human diseases are introduced. It is hoped that this experiment provides a context for the cooperation of researchers and pharmacists. Some species are both edible and drug and hence cannot be directly applied. Generally speaking, the MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS such as Oudemansiella radicata are not edible and dangerous and should not be used as food.

Due to the variety of vegetation and high humidity, the Northern provinces of Iran are the habitat of many MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS. Genetic variation of MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS in Iran is poorly studied. 30 isolates of Trametes versicolor were collected from different localities in Guilan, Golestan, and Mazandaran provinces (North of Iran). The genetic diversity was evaluated by ISSR marker. 86 bands were observed using eight polymorphic primers. Cluster analysis showed that the isolates divided into 18 groups at a level of 0.22 similarity coefficient. SI indices were 0.335, 0.305 and 0.217 in Guilan, Golestan, and Mazandaran populations respectively. 96% genetic variation was observed within populations. The diverse geographic origin of the isolates is an influential factor in the high intra-population genetic diversity of the fungus.

Background: MUSHROOMS have been valued as high tasty nutritional and nutraceutical food throughout the world. At present 270 species of MUSHROOMS are known to have various nutritional and therapeutic properties. Polysaccharides are the primary content of MUSHROOMS that are used for their pharmaceutical properties as immunostimulators.Objectives: Here, MUSHROOMS were screened for useful polysaccharides.Materials and Methods: Fungal fruiting bodies were collected in rainy season, isolated and maintained in malt agar medium, and screened for their endo- and exo-polysaccharides.Results: The MUSHROOMS screened in this study are good producers of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and intracellular polysaccharides (IPS). Ganoderma lucidum was the best producer of polysaccharide among all the isolates.Discussions: Mushroom polysaccharides are well known for their antidiabetic, antitumor and hepatoprotective activities, and so are likely to be used in the preparation of novel drugs. It is suggested that a thorough study on the optimization and characterization of these polysaccharides and biomolecules is essential to exploit this mushroom on an industrial scale.

Ganoderma lucidum Karst. is an annual MEDICINAL fungus which belongs to the Ganodermataceae family. Ganoderma lucidum, also known by the common names Reishi or Mannentake (Japanese), Ling Zhi (Chinese) and Yung Zehi (Korean). Ganoderma is the symbol of happy living, chance, immortality and health in China. In orient folk medicine Ganoderma was used for treating insomnia, asthma, kidney and liver diseases as well as arthritis. The major chemical constituents of G. lucidum are polysaccharides, triterpenes, sterols, lectins and some proteins having beneficial properties for the prevention and treatment of a variety of ailments. Both triterpenes and polysaccharides contain anticancer properties thus making them important nominees for the researches. Spores, fruiting body and mycelium have been investigated for biological active compounds. In recent years, a number of researches were performed for the identification of biological compounds and MEDICINAL properties of Ganoderma lucidum. The latest findings regarding G. lucidum are discussed in this review article.