Developments in Medicinal Mushroom Biology and Therapeutic Properties

Medicinal mushrooms have a long history of use in traditional ancient therapies and contemporary research has validated much of ancient knowledge. The recent research achievements in medicinal mushrooms during the last two decades have given confidence that medicinal mushrooms can contribute greatly to st healthcare of humans in 21 century. Clinical practice now in Japan, China, Korea, Russia and several South eastern countries and more recently in USA have recognized the beneficial effects of mushroom derived preparations and their use in therapy. Market for mushroom nutraceuticals in USA is about $ 15 billion today and the market is growing fast worldwide. Developments in Medicinal Mushroom Biology and Therapeutic Properties addresses the relevance and use of medicinal mushrooms in healthcare. The current book is a compilation of articles written by eminent researchers actively working on ethnomycology, biodiversity and conservation, cultivation, chemistry, pharmacology, practical application, toxicity and therapeutic uses of medicinal mushrooms. Broad range of health concern and the failure of modern medicine to treat several disease conditions makes it an essential reading for students, teachers, clinicians and researchers in health profession as well as biologists, microbiologists and others in biomedical research. The book will be immensely useful to pharmaceutical industries interested in the development of natural product based medicines, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals and drugs.