14 benefits of king oyster mushroom

King oyster mushroom ( pleurotus eryngii) is one of the many species of oyster mushroom family with numerous health benefits, and also the largest. It has thick white stem and large brown cap. Just like meat, when harvested and raw, king oyster mushroom possess little or no flavor. But once made into a meal, can taste great and yummy.
Pleurotus eryngii is native to Europe, Middle East and Africa, where it is usually eaten as a substitute to meat and sea foods.

King oyster mushroom is a popular ingredients in Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisines. In the south eastern part of Nigeria, king oyster mushroom is usually cooked in soups as meat substitute or compliments. It is soft and fibrous, and tastes great.
It usually grow in a humid and shady environment, mostly on the trunk of dead plants. At most, king oyster mushroom grows to 8 inches tall and 2 inches in diameter. However, unlike other oyster mushrooms, the stem can become woody and tough.

Nutritional benefits of king oyster mushroom

King oyster mushroom is rich in carbohydrates, protein, fiber and fat. It is also very rich in essential and nonessential amino acids such as:

• Alanine
• Aspartic acid
• Glutamic acid
• Glycine
• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Phenylalanine
• Proline
• Serine
• Threonine
• Serine
• Tyrosine
• Valine

Mineral content of king oyster mushroom

• Calcium
• Iron
• Zinc
• Manganese
• Sodium
• Potassium

Vitamins present in king oyster mushroom

• These include,
• Folic acid
• Riboflavin
• Thiamine
• Niacin
• Vitamin C

Health benefits of king oyster mushroom

Like several other oyster mushroom, pleurotus eryngii is used in formulating most nutraceuticals because of its wide range of applications to various human diseases. We shall, therefore, consider some of the health benefits of king oyster mushroom in details.

King mushroom may protect you from cancer

Generally, various mushrooms of the pleurotus family possess bioactive agents that forestall the growth and proliferation of different cancer cell lines. Pleurotus eryngii also possess such activity. These potential for treating cancers is due to its bioactive compounds such as ergosterol, glucans, proteoglycans and amino acids.
The possible ways these bioactive compounds carry out their cancer growth inhibition includes the inhibition of neovascularization induced by tumor growth in sarcoma180 cells in vitro, the activation and clonal expansion of T cells, increase in NK and T helper cells and stimulation of the synthesis of interleukins, stimulation of immune function, prolonging cell survival, and promoting greater tolerance to chemotherapy. The anticancer benefits of king oyster mushroom makes it a one of the sought after home remedy.

May protect you from viral infections

If you drink tea made from king oyster mushroom or eat foods rich in it, on a regular pattern, you would boost your immunity against such viruses as influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis. This is because it possess antiviral compounds which inhibit viral growths.
A study showed that laccase present in king oyster mushroom inhibited the reproductive activity of influenza virus type A, and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase with an IC50 of 2.2uM.

Good for lowering blood cholesterol level

Looking for ways to lower your blood cholesterol level? King oyster mushroom may just be your best bet. Hypercholesterolemia have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, and people who suffer cardiovascular diseases are susceptible to heart attack. This is even more reason to keep your cholesterol level low.
Luckily, mushrooms possess anti-hypercholesterolemia, and king oyster mushrooms in particular, possess polysaccharides thag inhibit lipid accumulation in foam cells.
This makes the oyster mushroom a good candidate for reducing hyper-cholesterol levels.

Pleurotus eryngii lowers hypertension

Pleurotus species possess compounds that can inhibit the activity of the angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE), which lowers the blood pleasure, exhibiting anti-hypertension. King oyster mushroom may be combined with dried leaves and seeds of perilla frutescens for a more efficient normalisation of your blood pressure.

King oyster mushrooms possess antidiabetic properties

Mushrooms have proved to be effective alternatives to synthetic drugs in the treatment of diabetes. Most times however, researchers focused on alloxan induced diabetic rats, which only destroys the pancreatic beta cells. In this experiment and similar once, much of the attention is on low insulin production due to the destruction of pancreatic cells.
A patient with type 2 diabetes may not benefit from such findings. This is because in type 2, the problem isn’t pancreas destruction or low insulin level, but insensitivity of the cells of the body to insulin presence. To such patient, king oyster mushroom would be a great help. King oyster mushroom lowers blood glucose level by improving insulin sensitivity and hence, glucose transportation across cellular membranes.

May protect your DNA and kidney from toxicity

Regular intake of king oyster mushroom would protect your DNA from oxidative damage. It will also protect your kidneys from toxic substances that would accumulate in the kidney and form stones.
Kidney stone is one major factor for kidney failures. It is increasing in its prevalence and has gained global attention. This is one reason you should eat king oyster mushroom regularly, to detoxify your system.

Read also (9 health benefits of Bryophyllum pinata)

Read also (12 Health Benefits of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds)

Benefits of king oyster mushroom as an antioxidants agent

Mush of the reason we age so quick and fall sick regularly is due to excess production of free radicals. When glutathione, which is our body’s natural antioxidants are overpowered by free radicals, our proteins, lipids, and DNAs, causing cellular deaths.
With consistent intake of antioxidants, our body remains youthful and glow. This is because antioxidants rejuvenate our cells and protect our body from illnesses such as autoimmune diseases.
When you eat or drink oyster powder tea, you fortify your body with rich antioxidants. This would boost your immune system and enhance your heart health.

King oyster mushroom perform estrogen-like functions

Estrogens play an important role in menopausal women’s lives, especially in bone maintenance and in the central nervous system. After menopause, women who are in a state of estrogen deficiency are at risk for osteoporosis and neurological symptoms such as depression and memory impairment. However, researchers have shown that Pleurotus eryngii extracts could improve these problems caused by estrogen deficiency. The mushroom can improve depression-like behavior and memory impairment in post-menopausal women.

Benefits of king oyster for ulcer

Oyster mushrooms have been said to possess anti-ulcer properties against helicobacter pylori. but that’s not all, its high fiber content cures constipation and other gastrointestinal diseases.

Other health benefits of king oyster mushroom

Aside the aforementioned pharmacological properties, this oyster mushroom also possess several other health benefits such as:

• Anti-bacteria activity
• Antifungal activity
• Anti-inflammatory activity
• Immunomodulatory property
• Anti-allergic property

King oyster mushroom tea recipe

Although mushroom is edible, most people eat it as meat or fish substitute, especially vegetarians. Only a few people know that oyster mushroom can be made into a tea.
To do this, however, follow the instructions below:

Ingredients

Two spoons of King mushroom powder
A spoon of Ginger powder
Half a spoon of Garlic powder (optional)
Natural honey
One and half a cup of water

Instructions

Bring your water to boiling point
Add mushroom powder
Allow to boil for another 2 mins.
Add ginger and garlic powder
Reduce the heat and allow to steam for 3 mins.
Strain your tea and add honey to taste
Enjoy your tea hot or warm

Conclusion

Because of its rich content of the B vitamins, essential and nonessential amino acids, and bioactive compounds, king oyster mushroom should be a home made food for everyone. It would be beneficial for post menoposal women as well as diabetic patients.

References

Galappaththi, Mahesh & Dauner, Lucas & Madawala, Sumedha & Karunarathna, Samantha. (2021). Nutritional and medicinal benefits of Oyster (Pleurotus) mushrooms: a review. 1. 65-87. 10.5943/FunBiotec/1/2/5.
Fortes RC, Taveira VC, Novaes MRCG. 2006 – The immunomodulator role of β-D-glucans as co-adjuvant for cancer therapy. Rev. Bras. Nutr. Clin 21(2), 163–168.
Ikekawa T, Nakanishi M, Uehara N, Chihara G, Fukuoka F. 1968 – Antitumor action of some Basidiomycetes, especially Phllinus linteus. Gan 59(2), 155–157. PMID: 5723060
Wang H, Ng TB. 2001 – Pleureryn, a novel protease from fresh fruiting bodies of the edible
mushroom Pleurotus eryngii. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
289(3), 750–755. Doi 10.1006/bbrc.2001.6037. PMID: 11726212.
Chen J, Yong Y, Xing M, Gu Y, Zhang Z, Zhang S, Lu L. 2013 – Characterization of polysaccharides with marked inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation in Pleurotus eryngii. Carbohydr Polym 97(2), 604–613. Doi 10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.05.028. PMID: 23911491.
Przybytniak G, Ambroz H. 1999 – Free radicals, their identification and determination. In: Marciniec B, Zak S. (eds.) Analytical methods in studies of pollutants and hazardous. Bydgoszcz: BTN. pp. 17
Felson DT, Zhang Y, Hannan MT, Kiel DP, Wilson PW, et al. (1993) The effect of post-menopausal estrogen therapy on bone density in elderly women. N Engl J Med 329: 1141-1146.
Sudhir K, Komesaroff PA (1999) Clinical review 110: Cardiovascular actions of estrogens in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84: 3411-3415.