Sclerotium of culinary-medicinal king tuber oyster mushroom, Pleurotus tuberregium (Fr.) singer (Agaricomycetideae): Its cultivation, biochemical composition, and biopharmacological effects (Review)

Among all the different morphological stages of edible mushrooms, the sclerotium is being relatively less reported, compared to the fruiting body and mycelium, in terms of its cultivation and economic importance, as well as its nutritional and medicinal values. Among the sclerotium-producing mushrooms, Wolfiporia cocos, Grifola umbellata, and Omphalia lapidescens were recorded in the ancient Chinese pharmacopedia for their pharmacological effects more than a thousand years ago. Recently, the sclerotial mushroom Pleurotus tuberregium has attracted much attention. This review comprehensively describes the cultivation, biochemical composition, and nutritional values, as well as the biopharmacological effects, of this mushroom sclerotium. Scientific investigations on this mushroom sclerotium over the last 10 years are highlighted. The potential of this mushroom sclerotium to be developed as novel functional foods or nutraceuticals is also discussed.