Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Mar 9;317(1):542.
doi: 10.1007/s00403-025-04048-7.

Mushrooms in modern cosmetics: unlocking anti-aging, antioxidant, and therapeutic potential

Affiliations
Review

Mushrooms in modern cosmetics: unlocking anti-aging, antioxidant, and therapeutic potential

Saliha Rukhsar et al. Arch Dermatol Res. .

Abstract

Mushrooms have gained significant attention in the cosmetics industry due to their rich bioactive compounds with numerous skin benefits. This review explores the potential of various mushroom species as ingredients in cosmeceuticals, focusing on their anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, skin whitening, moisturizing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Agaricus bisporus have demonstrated the ability to inhibit key enzymes like elastase, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, and collagenase, which play vital roles in skin aging and pigmentation. These bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, phenolic acids, vitamins, and carotenoids, contribute to reduce wrinkles, improving skin hydration, enhancing elasticity, and providing protection from oxidative stress and UV damage. Furthermore, mushrooms have shown antimicrobial activities, making them effective against skin infections and inflammation. Mushrooms have become a popular ingredient in hair care products for their nourishing benefits, helping to promote healthy hair growth and protect against damage. As demand for natural, sustainable, and effective skincare alternatives rises, the incorporation of mushrooms into cosmetic formulations offers a promising solution. This review highlights the growing application of mushrooms in the development of innovative cosmeceuticals and emphasizes the need for further research to explore their full potential. Advancements in extraction techniques and the identification of new bioactive compounds are expected to enhance the efficacy of mushroom-based skincare products, making them an integral part of the global cosmetics market in the future.

Keywords: Anti-aging; Antioxidant activity; Mashrooms.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

References

    1. Hyde KD, Bahkali AH, Moslem MA (2010) Fungi—an unusual source for cosmetics. Fungal Divers 43(1):1–9 - DOI
    1. Carcelli M, Rogolino D, Bartoli J, Pala N, Compari C, Ronda N, Bacciottini F, Incerti M, Fisicaro E (2020) Hydroxyphenyl thiosemicarbazones as inhibitors of mushroom tyrosinase and antibrowning agents. Food Chem 303:125310 - PubMed - DOI
    1. Choi MH, Han HK, Lee YJ, Jo HG, Shin HJ (2014) In vitro anti-cancer activity of hydrophobic fractions of Sparassis latifolia extract using AGS, A529, and HepG2 cell lines. J Mushroom 12(4):304–310 - DOI
    1. Öztürk M, Tel-Çayan G, Muhammad A, Terzioğlu P, Duru ME (2015) Mushrooms: a source of exciting bioactive compounds. Stud Nat Prod Chem 45:363–456 - DOI
    1. Wu Y, Choi MH, Li J, Yang H, Shin HJ (2016) Mushroom cosmetics: the present and future. Cosmetics 3(3):22 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources