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Mushroom cultivation
is currrently the most efficient biotechnological process for the
valorisation of agroindustrial wastes rich in lignin and cellulose,
transforming them into very appreciated and nutritional food. Thus, in
addition to contributing to food security and healthy eating,mushroom production
is an environmentally friendly activity, based on the principles of circular
economy. Edible mushrooms have a diversity of biomolecules with nutritional
value and/or medicinal properties. They have been recognized as functional
foods and as a source of compounds that exhibit anti-cancer, anti-diabetic,
anti-obesity, immunomodulatory, anti-aging, etc., properties. These
bioactivities have been reported for various extracts and isolated compounds,
such as polysaccharides, polysaccharide-protein complexes, proteoglycans and
proteins. The objectives of the present project are the development of
innovative alternative substrates for mushroom production, to increase the
scientific knowledge on beneficial bioactivities in mushroom species and
evaluate the use of the spent substrate as a feed ingredient. Another
important goal is the development of new functional foods, nutraceutical
products and natural cosmetics based in mushromm compounds.
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