Mushroom Extracts
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Antioxidant, anti-aging
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Serums, oils, creams, dietary supplements
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MUSHROOM EXTRACTS?
Mushroom extracts have been researched in multiple animal and human studies for their effects. These benefits include: prevention of senescence in UVB-induced human keratinocytes, improvement in wound healing and angiogenesis, inhibition of melanin formation, augmentation of lipogenesis, enhancement of collagen production, reduction in reactive oxygen species, suppression of an inflammatory response, and attenuation of UV-induced immunosuppression. When ingested, mushroom extracts have also been used to show anti-allergenic activity in patients with atopic dermatitis, presumably due to the attenuation of the Th1 and Th2 responses and reduction in mast cell populations.
WHAT ARE MUSHROOM EXTRACTS?
Mushrooms are the bioactive fruiting bodies of diverse fungi, the extracts of which have been shown to have various medicinal, nutritional and pharmacological effects. The effects of mushroom extracts may be species-specific; thus, a diverse set of effects and benefits have been reported.
ARE MUSHROOM EXTRACTS SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
Mushroom extracts are likely safe for all skin types and tones based on available data. However, there are reports of anaphylaxis to mushrooms, though these are usually from ingestion or inhalation. Some ex vivo studies do show that mushroom extracts are safe for use in cosmeceuticals for use on human skin. A randomized controlled trial showed that creams with mushroom extract were well-tolerated and efficacious in the study population of 20 volunteers with sensitive skin.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
There is minimal data on contraindications for the topical application of mushroom extracts. Although rare, patients with an allergy to mushrooms, their components or their byproducts, like extracts, should avoid use of products containing mushrooms.
Sources:
Choi BW, Min KU, Kim YY, et al. Type III hypersensitivity reaction in mushroom growers. Korean J Intern Med. 1991;6(1):27-32.
Chong Z, Matsuo H, Kuroda M, et al. Mushroom extract inhibits ultraviolet B-induced cellular senescence in human keratinocytes. Cytotechnology. 2018;70(3):1001-1008.
Cunha IM, Marques ML, Abreu C, Bartolomé B, Gomes E. Anaphylaxis to Agaricus bisporus ingestion. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2020;18:eRC5478. Published 2020 Nov 27.
Fung SY, Yap HY, Ng ST, Tan CS. In Vitro Inhibition of Melanin Formation and Enhancement of Collagen Production by a Mushroom Sclerotial Water Extract from the Tiger Milk Mushroom, Lignosus rhinocerus (Agaricomycetes), with No Skin and Eye Irritation. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2022;24(5):19-32.
Kalitukha L, Sari M. Chemical Composition and Ultraviolet Absorption Activity of an Aqueous Alkali Extract from the Fruiting Bodies of the Tinder Conk Mushroom, Fomes fomentarius (Agaricomycetes). Int J Med Mushrooms. 2021;23(4):23-37.
Lam WP, Wang CM, Tsui TY, et al. Extract of white button mushroom affects skin healing and angiogenesis. Microsc Res Tech. 2012;75(10):1334-1340.
Liu W, Wang M, Xu S, Gao C, Liu J. Inhibitory effects of shell of Camellia oleifera Abel extract on mushroom tyrosinase and human skin melanin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019;18(6):1955-1960.
Mapoung S, Umsumarng S, Semmarath W, et al. Skin Wound-Healing Potential of Polysaccharides from Medicinal Mushroom Auricularia auricula-judae (Bull.). J Fungi (Basel). 2021;7(4):247. Published 2021 Mar 25.
Nagao M, Sato T, Akimoto N, Kato Y, Takahashi M, Ito A. Augmentation of sebaceous lipogenesis by an ethanol extract of Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in hamsters in vivo and in vitro. Exp Dermatol. 2009;18(8):730-733.
Shahid A, Huang M, Liu M, et al. The medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum attenuates UV-induced skin carcinogenesis and immunosuppression. PLoS One. 2022;17(3):e0265615. Published 2022 Mar 21.
Shiu PH, Li J, Zheng C, et al. Amauroderma rugosum Extract Suppresses Inflammatory Responses in Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha/Interferon Gamma-Induced HaCaT Keratinocytes. Molecules. 2022;27(19):6533. Published 2022 Oct 3.
Sung JH, Park SH, Seo DH, Lee JH, Hong SW, Hong SS. Antioxidative and skin-whitening effect of an aqueous extract of Salicornia herbacea. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2009;73(3):552-556.
Taofiq O, Rodrigues F, Barros L, Barreiro MF, Ferreira ICFR, Oliveira MBPP. Mushroom ethanolic extracts as cosmeceuticals ingredients: Safety and ex vivo skin permeation studies. Food Chem Toxicol. 2019;127:228-236.
Ukawa Y, Izumi Y, Ohbuchi T, Takahashi T, Ikemizu S, Kojima Y. Oral administration of the extract from Hatakeshimeji (Lyophyllum decastes sing.) mushroom inhibits the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2007;53(3):293-296.
Wang Y, Viennet C, Jeudy A, Fanian F, He L, Humbert P. Assessment of the efficacy of a new complex antisensitive skin cream. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2018;17(6):1101-1107.
Watanabe K, Karuppagounder V, Sreedhar R, et al. Basidiomycetes-X, an edible mushroom, alleviates the development of atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mouse model. Exp Mol Pathol. 2018;105(3):322-327.
