A Potent Skin-Repairing Ingredient: King Trumpet Mushrooms

You can’t go wrong with mushrooms – they are fat-free, cholesterol-free, as well as low in sodium and calories. They are power-packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, copper and potassium. These are not only important for the heart, muscle and nerve functions, but they also promote healthy skin. In this article, we will discuss the different effects of mushrooms on the skin. We’ll also introduce a potent skin-repairing ingredient known for its health and skin benefits, the King Trumpet Mushroom.

What are King Trumpet Mushrooms? 

Pleurotus eryngii, otherwise known as King Trumpet Mushroom, is a common edible and medicinal mushroom. It is a potent skin-repairing ingredient that contains multiple beneficial bioactive compounds which have health promoting benefits to cure various diseases and maintain good overall health. Extracts from Pleurotus eryngii have been studied and results have shown many biological activities of the fungus. They include anti-tumour, anti-cancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunostimulating activities. Pleurotus eryngii when consumed is generally well-tolerated with few side effects. Hence, it may be developed as a functional food and potential therapeutic agent for disease. 

Effects of mushroom on skin

Mushrooms are a good source of hydrators for the skin. It mimics the action of hyaluronic acid by facilitating the binding of water to collagen, trapping it in the skin. This helps to make the skin soft and supple with a dewy appearance. They can also help in acne treatment since they are high in vitamin D. This can reduce breakouts when applied topically as a skincare ingredient. Furthermore, mushrooms contain a particular acid which gently exfoliates the skin to brighten the skin complexion and radiance. There is also evidence for their anti-aging properties since they are rich in antioxidants which prevents free radical damage. 

Anticancer activity 

Natural active components from Pleurotus eryngii, such as polysaccharide, polysaccharide-protein, diterpenoid, triterpene have exhibited significant anti-cancer activity. Biological studies have shown that polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii played a significant role in the enhancement of the antitumor activity. A water-soluble polysaccharide isolated from Pleurotus eryngii significantly suppressed the tumor growth in Renca-bearing mice. In another study done, the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) of Pleurotus eryngii exerted a significant inhibition in neovascularization, which influences tumour growth and metastasis.

Antiviral and antimicrobial activity 

Research conducted shows that laccase from Pleurotus eryngii displayed inhibitory activity against HIV while the mycelia of Pleurotus eryngii displayed antiviral activity against influenza virus type A. The antimicrobial properties of the medicinal mushrooms have also been well recognized for many years, with some studies reporting that Pleurotus eryngii extracts possess inhibitory properties against a group of bacterial reference strains of medical relevance.

Antioxidant 

This potent skin-repairing ingredient also has antioxidant properties due to polyphenols and polysaccharide present. Research also shows that Pleurotus eryngii has currently possesses antioxidant activity that correlates with their total phenolic content. The polysaccharide from mushrooms also has significant antioxidant capacities of scavenging free radicals, hence being able to protect the body and skin from harmful free radicals and damage.

Immuno-modulating effects

An immunomodulator is a substance that affects the functioning of the immune system. In an immunomodulatory response, it usually involves activated macrophages, NK cells, cytotoxic T cells, and their secretory products, such as tumour necrosis factor and interleukins. Pleurotus eryngii has immuno-modulating effects – cultures of Pleurotus eryngii produce molecules which can increase the natural killer cell activity of white blood cells.

Anti-allergic properties

Pleurotus eryngii extract (PEE) has anti-allergic properties as supported by evidence showing that PEE inhibited the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators. Additionally, PEE has also displayed inhibitory properties of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice, which reduced thickness of the skin and infiltration of inflammatory cells and mast cells. Furthermore, in another study, continuous treatment of PEE inhibits allergic contact dermatitis.

Estrogen-like activity 

Estrogens play a significant role in menopausal women’s lives, especially in bone maintenance and in the central nervous system. After menopause, women who lack estrogen are at risk of suffering from osteoporosis and neurological symptoms such as depression and memory impairment. However, researches have shown that these problems caused by estrogen deficiency could be improved by Pleurotus eryngii extracts (PEE).

Results prove that PEE is able to stimulate the activity of bone forming osteoblasts, while inhibiting the generation and activity of bone resorbing osteoclasts. PEE has also been proven to have estrogen-like activity, which can improve depression-like behaviour and memory impairment caused by surgical or natural menopause. Menopause can also cause hormone levels plummet, which leads to noticeable changes to the skin. As a result of this, the skin can appear to be increasingly dry, slack and thin. In the same way, mushrooms can assist in mitigating these symptoms through stimulating the release of estrogen. 

Reference:

Fu Z, Liu Y. A Potent Pharmacological Mushroom: Pleurotus eryngii. Fungal Genom Biol. 2016;6(1). doi:10.4172/2165-8056.1000139