Proteomic Research on the Therapeutic Properties of Medicinal Mushrooms

According to estimates, more than 800 mushroom species have been confirmed to possess various pharmacological properties. While the primary research focus has been on immunomodulatory and, more recently, on direct antitumor effects, many other therapeutic properties have also become important research subjects. Systems biology approaches, which include various omics methods coupled with bioinformatics, have begun to enter the field of medicinal mushroom research. Proteomics is a well-established hypothesis-generating discipline focused on the systemic study of proteins, used in discovering new pathways and processes resulting from physiological and pathological states or pharmacological interventions. It is particularly powerful in new potential therapeutic target discovery of "druggable proteins" or disease biomarkers of prognostic or therapeutic significance. Despite challenges in proteomics' extensive data analysis and interpretation, proteomics remains indispensable for the detailed understanding and characterization of pharmacological effects. In comparison with genomics, proteomics generates more accurate data since several protein products may result from only one gene. This results from differential splicing and more than 200 posttranslational modifications, which affect protein function, stability, protein-protein, and other interactions. This chapter provides a current overview of proteomic research on medicinal mushrooms concerning anticancer, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antiatherosclerotic, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties.