Pleurotus Ostreatus Extract: A Modern Health Revolution of a Traditional Edible Fungus

The extract of Pleurotus of edible Pleurotus Ostreatus Fungi Extract Medicinal Health Revolution retained all nutritional values and developed additional beneficial nutritional values due to modern extraction technology. 

The edible fungus, a common edible fungus, has been found to have a high value as an extract. The modern extraction techniques isolate the bioactive compounds of Pleurotus ostreatus and this has made it a highly desired raw material in the health supplement market. The extract of Pleurotus ostreatus contains multiple bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides and proteins and sterols, and hence it can enhance immunity and antioxidants and reduce blood lipids and other health benefits.

With the advancement of the health industry, Pleurotus ostreatus extract market is experiencing fast growth. This is a naturally derived and safe fungal extract which has become a major option to manufacturers of functional food and dietary supplement manufacturers. 

01 Where Pleurotus Ostreatus Comes From and How We Extract It Today 

The scientific name of oyster mushroom is Pleurotus ostreatus and it belongs to the Pleurotus genus in the Pleurotaceae family. The fungus is widely cultivated and consumed in several countries, namely China and Egypt. The product is not merely a food product but also a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) product. Based on TCM theory, Pleurotus ostreatus is warm and sweet in taste and it is used to remove harmful wind and cold, and to relax the muscles and open the energy channels of the body. 

Through modern extraction techniques, Pleurotus ostreatus is now a high-value added raw material rather than a common food product. Hot water extraction, ultrasonic assisted extraction, microwave assisted extraction, and enzymatic extraction are the prevalent extraction methods. 

The most basic approach is to boil water at a high temperature of 90 to 95℃ but it takes time and will degrade certain components. Cavitation effect in ultrasonic-assisted extraction breaks cell walls and reduces the extraction period to 50 minutes with an extraction rate of 10.55%. 

The method is a novel one, involving the mushroom growth of Pleurotus ostreatus in large tanks that generate polysaccharides. It is not a seasonal one and is capable of large and automatic production. Polysaccharides are obtained by extracting the extract concentrate and processing it through the use of ethanol. It is then subjected to removal of protein, bleaching, cleaning, and other steps to generate the final extract of the Pleurotus ostreatus. 

The healing properties of Pleurotus ostreatus extract result from its high content of bioactive compounds. The dried Pleurotus ostreatus contains 57.6-81.8 mg of Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharides per 100 grams and this makes it a very good source of raw materials to extract polysaccharides. The health benefits of Pleurotus ostreatus extract are attributed to its constituent compounds. 

Immune Regulation 

Pleurotus ostreatus contains water-soluble polysaccharides which stimulate macrophages and splenocytes and thymocytes, and increase immunological response of the organism through the excretion of tumor necrosis factor TNF-αand interleukin-6 (IL-6). According to research, the β-glucan found in Pleurotus ostreatus has been shown to modulate the neutrophil activity and increase the immune system. 

Hypolipidemic and Hypoglycemic Effects 

Polysaccharides of the Pleurotus ostreatus enhance glycogen and reduce insulin resistance by activating the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). Its β-glucan can attach to bile acids, facilitates the metabolism of cholesterol and has good control of blood lipids. 

Antioxidant and Anti-aging Properties 

The Pleurotus ostreatus (mushrooms) includes ergothioneine and selenium that normally fight free radicals and are 1.5 times more powerful antioxidant than Lentinus edodes (Shiitake mushrooms). The water extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus have been demonstrated to inhibit DPPH and ABTS free radicals. 

Adjuvant Antitumor Effect 

A polysaccharide and lectin are the antitumor components found in Pleurotus ostreatus. Selenopolysaccharides from this mushroom are known to cause apoptosis of cancer cells by altering the ratio of the proteins Bax and Bcl-2. The glucan of this mushroom activates natural killer (NK) cells, which can kill the cells of lung and breast cancer. 

The extract of Pleurotus ostreatus is commonly used in the health product industry since it is a natural product with numerous health advantages. There The diversified market demands are satisfied by different dosage forms and formulations. 

Capsules and tablets are the forms most commonly used by users of Pleurotus ostreatus extract products for health purposes. These products tend to be standardized with the inclusion of 10%-30% Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharides and they are marketed as immune support supplements. In order to focus on the middle-aged and old population, Pleurotus ostreatus extract is mostly mixed with nattokinase, red yeast rice, and other ingredients to prepare products that support cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. 

One of the industries that Pleurotus ostreatus extract is used in is the functional foods and beverages industry. The extract can be easily dissolved in water and is compatible with other ingredients, which enables its application in common foods such as yogurt, cereal bars, and nutritional powders. The extract is also used to develop functional solid and liquid drinks in the beverage industry, which provide advantages to the customers who are seeking convenient solutions to be healthy at any time. 

The personalized health solution is a trend in the present times. Pleurotus ostreatus extract is used to formulate differentiated products for various populations, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health packages targeting the aged, immune-enhancing solutions targeting office employees, and metabolic support products targeting fitness enthusiasts. 

The dosage innovation has also been constantly evolving. The forms in which Pleurotus ostreatus extract can be applied are now more numerous than ever before. They include the traditional powder and capsules, convenient instant granules, oral liquids, and even functional candies. This improves the experience of consumers and how they use the product. 

Market trends and prospects 

Market size of Pleurotus ostreatus extract is on a fast rise as a result of the increase in health consciousness of the consumers, increase in the ageing population, and the inclination towards natural products. This market is expected to continue expanding at a constant rate in the next few years. 

Personalized personalization of health products to be the mainstream 

In the adoption of the precision nutrition concept, the health products made with oyster mushroom extracts will have more options to the target groups and particular requirements. The health products made from oyster mushroom extracts will be customized and based on genetic testing and metabolic characteristic analysis will be made available in the market. 

Nanotechnology will improve the bioavailability of Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharides and facilitate targeted delivery of drugs. The structural modification of Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharides is by chemical or physical methods to increase their bioactivity and bioavailability. 

Accelerated Global Market Expansion 

Pleurotus ostreatus extract still enjoys its greatest demand in North America and Europe, however the Asia-Pacific region offers huge potential of growth being rooted in a deep traditional herbal culture. Being one of the original countries of Pleurotus ostreatus, China enjoys resource, technology and market advantages. 

Improved Regulatory Standardization 

There is gradual improvement in the worldwide standard system which is being developed by the regulatory authorities concerning the fungal health products. The scientific nature of quality standards, effectiveness of evaluation and the label claims of different mushroom products such as Pleurotus ostreatus extract will become more rigorous and more complete. 

The boundaries of the potential applications of Pleurotus ostreatus extract continue to expand as the technology continues to develop in the field of biotechnology. With the advent of nanotechnology, it is possible to use Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharides as delivery carriers in target drugs that deliver their effects to target sites with high accuracy. 

Later on, the extract of Pleurotus ostreatus will spread beyond the traditional health product industry, and it will find a bigger use in the field of nutritional therapeutic products and special dietary foods.