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The higher fungi are a rich source of chemical compounds with multi-directional therapeutic and pro-health effects. This review summarizes the results of the most important chemical and biological studies of the fruiting bodies and the mycelial cultures of Laetiporus sulphureus. Numerous studies have demonstrated the antimicrobial, anticancer, cytotoxic, hypoglycemic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of the extracts. Currently, only a few wood-decay fungi have practical use in medicine. Therefore it seems important to continue research on the effectiveness and safety of extracts and compounds of natural origin, including fungi, whose potential is not still used.

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. (Basidiomycota) – known as the oyster mushroom – is a mushroom species distributed on all continents, except for Antarctica. Since World War I it has been commercially cultivated on a large scale. Pleurotus ostreatus is a valuable mushroom of dietary importance. It is rich in primary and secondary metabolites and chemical elements of physiological significance. One hundred grams of fresh fruiting bodies contains 15% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, 40% of niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin, and 0.5 mg of vitamin B12. This species is also characterized by a high content of oleic acid (40%), linolenic acid (55%), and substances responsible for decreasing serum cholesterol levels. High contents of lovastatin, an approved hypolipidemic drug, and pleuran, an immunomodulating polysaccharide, have been found in fruiting bodies of this species. It exhibits antiatherosclerotic, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. Due to its wide spectrum of biological activities, P. ostreatus is considered a medicinal mushroom. Fruiting bodies and extracts of P. ostreatus have found applications in the treatment of civilization – related diseases, especially diabetes, arteriosclerosis and cancer. It is also a potential source of active ingredients in cosmetics and topically applied preparations.

Phenolic acids, both derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids, possess valuable biologically properties: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and others. Studies of the accumulation of these compounds focused mostly on plant material, but the Basidiomycota taxon are also the rich sources of these compounds. The aim of the study was qualitative and quantitative HPLC analysis of phenolic acids and cinnamic acid in fruiting bodies of selected edible mushroom species belonging to the phylum Basidiomycota: Armillaria mellea, Boletus badius, Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Lactarius deliciosus and Pleurotus ostreatus. The investigations revealed the presence of the following acids: protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, ferulic, sinapic, vanillic and cinnamic. Both the composition and the amount of phenolic acids in these species were diverse. The total amount ranged from 6.00 mg · kg-1 DW in A. mellea to 48.25 mg · kg-1 DW in Boletus badius. Protocatechuic acid amounts fluctuated in the range of 1.37–21.38 mg · kg-1 DW, with its maximum in Boletus badius. p-Hydroxybenzoic and sinapic acid dominated in Pleurotus ostreatus. Cinnamic acid levels amounted from 1.09 to 8.73 mg · kg-1 mg DW and Boletus badius contained its highest content. The results show that edible mushrooms are a good dietary source of phenolic acids with antioxidant activity.