The pursuit of natural solutions for addressing concerns related to hair loss and skin aging has gained significant traction due to consumer demand for skin-friendly and safer alternatives to synthetic chemicals. The increasing prevalence of hair loss due to factors like stress, pollution, and nutritional imbalances, alongside the natural process of skin aging influenced by various internal and external factors such as reactive oxygen species, necessitates the exploration of novel therapeutic and cosmetic agents. Mushrooms, with their long history of use in traditional medicine and as a source of diverse bioactive compounds, have emerged as a promising reservoir of natural products with potential applications in combating hair loss and skin aging. This review article aims to provide insight into the bioactive compounds found in mushrooms and their extracts, which are currently used or have the potential to be used in cosmetic products for their antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, skin whitening, moisturizing, and anti-hair loss effects, while also considering future prospects and challenges.
Section-wise Key Points
•General Benefits of Mushrooms: Mushrooms are considered a rich source of vital phytonutrients like polysaccharides, essential amino acids, and other nutrients, offering a wide range of health benefits and pharmacological properties, including antioxidative effects. Both wild edible and medicinal mushrooms exhibit strong therapeutic and biological activities. Mushrooms contain various metabolites such as terpenes, steroids, phenolic acids, and benzoic acid, and are rich in proteins, amino acids, and vitamins like B1, B2, B12, C, D, and E. They have been recognized for their nutraceutical, therapeutic, and prophylactic uses.
•Mushrooms and Anti-Hair Loss: Several mushrooms have shown potential in addressing hair loss. Lentinus edodes can eliminate or reduce hair loss, promote new hair growth, maintain hair health, reduce graying, and improve shine. Polysaccharides from Flammulina velutipes may promote the regeneration of hair follicles. Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa), rich in protein, selenium, zinc, and B vitamins, can stimulate hair growth, prevent hair loss, treat dandruff, and dry scalp due to its beta-glucans and polysaccharides, which improve scalp health and boost the immune system. Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) have been traditionally used as a hair shampoo. Lanostane-type triterpenes from Chaga, including lanosterol, inotodiol, lanost-8, 24-diene-3β,21-diol, and trametenolic acid, have shown pro-proliferative effects on Human Follicle Dermal Papilla Cells (HFDPCs) more potent than minoxidil. Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) contains adaptogens with antioxidant effects that can protect the scalp from toxins and free radical damage, creating a healthier environment for hair follicles. Ganoderma lucidum may also inhibit DHT, a hormone associated with hair loss.
•Mushrooms and Anti-Aging Skin: Mushrooms contain various bioactive compounds like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and phenolic compounds that show effectiveness in fighting skin aging and age-related diseases. Hyaluronic acid in mushrooms supports skin hydration, while kojic acid aids in exfoliation and brightens the skin. Vitamin D in mushrooms can minimize breakouts, and the presence of Vitamin C, choline, and selenium may offer anti-aging benefits. Fungal polysaccharides from mushrooms like Lentinula edodes (shiitake) have gained attention for their potential in wound healing, moisturizing, anti-aging, and whitening. Shiitake mushroom contains high ergothioneine content, which has shown potential for anti-aging by eliminating senescent cells. Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) contain pharmacologically active polysaccharides and inotodiol, a lanostane-type triterpenoid, which exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects by modulating collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis. Tremella mushrooms (Tremella fuciformis), rich in polysaccharides, have been traditionally used to improve skin appearance and possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom) extracts exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, playing a role in curing skin aging and suppressing tyrosinase activity, which is important for skin whitening.
•Mushroom Cosmetics: Present and Future Prospects: Mushrooms like Shiitake, Maitake, and Reishi are being incorporated into topical creams, lotions, serums, and facial preparations. The cosmetics category includes both cosmeceuticals (topical) and nutricosmetics (oral), with mushrooms being recognized as a traditional source of natural bioactive compounds for both. Important mushroom ingredients include phenolics, polyphenolics with antioxidant activity, terpenoids (especially in Ganoderma spp.), selenium, and polysaccharides, all contributing to antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, skin whitening, moisturizing, and anti-hair loss effects. Future development in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics can further enhance the use of mushrooms in cosmetics.
This study highlights the novelty of utilizing the diverse range of bioactive compounds present in various mushroom species as potential cosmetic ingredients to address prevalent concerns like hair loss and skin aging. By consolidating findings on the traditional uses and scientifically investigated properties of mushrooms such as Lentinus edodes, Flammulina velutipes, Grifola frondosa, Inonotus obliquus, Ganoderma lucidum, Tremella fuciformis, and Agaricus bisporus, the study underscores their potential as natural alternatives to synthetic cosmetic agents. The future implications of this research are significant, suggesting a pathway for the development of safer and more effective cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics derived from mushrooms. However, it suggests the need for further research, particularly clinical trials, to verify the safety, dosage, and effectiveness of these bioactive compounds in cosmetic applications. The exploration of a wider range of mushroom species and the advancement in understanding their molecular mechanisms of action promise to further expand their role in the cosmetic industry.
Link to the study: https://www.jelsciences.com/articles/jbres2070.pdf
