# Mushroom Nutrition as Preventative Healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa
## 5 Anti-Inflammatory Role of Mushrooms  
Inflammation, the cornerstone of pathology, is a complex protective mechanism where the blood flow raises to the area of tissue lesion or infection, which is a necessary part for recovery [94]. Inflammation a healing restorative process; however, it may be adverse also, because it destroys a lot of the fine cells in the process [95]. Based on the need to develop novel therapies, researchers have sought evidence supporting the impact of specific foods on inflammation in the body. Foods that may originate inflammation comprise processed carbohydrates such as white bread and pastries, dried chips, fizzy drinks, red meat, processed sausages, biscuits, desserts, and margarine. Some foods, mushrooms included, have the capacity to suppress inflammation, but it is unclear how often and how much is needed for this benefit. Following an anti-inflammatory diet, one can fight off inflammation; however, although there is promising research for the impact of some foods, there is no anti-inflammatory miracle food, and although diet is crucial, it is not the single factor [96]. Consuming mushrooms does not necessarily show significant changes on induced inflammatory responses. The result is not surprising, since it would certainly be harmful  
Figure 7: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimalarial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory potential functions of pyrimidine derivatives (adapted from [89]). to strongly induce or suppress immune function following the ingestion of a commonly consumed food. Mushrooms also have an effect on immune function, but that effect is evident only when the immune system is challenged [97]. Common African mushrooms such as _Pleurotus tuber-regium_, _Termitomyces_ spp., _Pleurotus_ spp., and _Agaricus_ spp. are rich in chitin, which can be hydrolyzed into glucosamine, which is involved in the creation of molecules that protect joints from inflammation [98; 99]. Some mushrooms act directly on inflammation. _Cordyceps synensis_, a mushroom that is abundant and diverse in humid temperate and tropical forests at high altitude, not yet reported in SSA, contains a nucleoside compound, cordycepin, that stimulates the production of interleukin 10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine [100]. Wild or cultivated mushrooms, fresh or as dietary supplements, have anti-inflammatory activity occurring through inhibition of the NF-kB signalling pathway, which is a protein complex that controls cytokine production and cell survival, and it is a major transcription factor that regulates genes responsible for both the innate and adaptive immune response [101]. _Poria cocos_ mushrooms also contain triterpenes, which have been shown to improve inflammation and treat tumors [102]. Other mushrooms exert an anti-inflammatory effect less directly by quenching damaging free radicals and counteracting oxidation. For instance, Chaga mushrooms (_Intonotus obliquus_) have antioxidant activity, protecting cells against oxidative damage [103; 104]. Oyster mushrooms (_Pleurotus ostreatus_) have an antioxidant effect as well [105]. Much of the active polysaccharides, water soluble or insoluble, isolated from mushrooms, can be classified as dietary fibres (i.e., \(\beta\)-glucan, xyloglucan, heteroglycan, chitinous substance) and their glycoprotein complexes [106]. The chemical nature of extracted \(\beta\)-glucan varies from different sources. Cereals and other food contain 2.5-4.5% \(\beta\)-glucans, but these are not capable of controlling immune functions. However, mushroom \(\beta\)-glucans, which consist essentially of a (1,3)-\(\beta\)-linked with small numbers of (1,6)-\(\beta\)-linked side chains, can modulate the autoimmune mechanisms [107]. These biological response modifiers (1,3)-\(\beta\)-glucans interact with the intestinal cell wall and are absorbed into the lymph fluid, where they recruit neutrophils and macrophages and trigger the production of cytokines and stimulate immune function (Figure 8) [108]. Figure 8: Mechanism of antitumor activity of \(\beta\)-glucan bioactive compound [109].