Abstract
For centuries, mushrooms have been included in skincare. This review compiles 52 studies on extracts from macrofungal fruiting bodies and their effects on skin cells. Across nine commonly studied species, macrofungi provide polysaccharides, phenolics, polysaccharide–peptides, free amino acids, sterols, proteins, glycosides, triterpenes, and alkaloids. Reported activities relevant to skin aging include antioxidant and photoprotective actions, skin-brightening and moisturizing effects, anti-inflammatory activity, and support of structural components such as collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Together, the literature suggests multiple bioactive pathways by which mushroom extracts may contribute to cosmetic anti-aging benefits.
Summary
This 2024 Nutrients review takes a broad look at mushrooms in cosmetic anti-aging and pulls together 52 papers on fruiting-body extracts tested against skin-aging mechanisms. Species recurring in the literature include widely used medicinal and culinary fungi (e.g., Ganoderma, Inonotus, Lentinula, Pleurotus, Tremella, Trametes, Schizophyllum, Grifola, Agaricus subrufescens). The most consistent signals come from polysaccharides and triterpenoids, which repeatedly show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, UV/photoprotection, melanogenesis-modulating, and barrier-support activities in cell or animal models. What’s missing are well-controlled human studies using standardized preparations, so the paper positions mushroom extracts as promising cosmetic actives rather than established clinical treatments. For formulation and content, it’s strong evidence that mushrooms merit inclusion in a cosmetic/skin-health editorial cluster—paired with clear notes about the current preclinical evidence base.
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