Mushroom-Derived Products as an Alternative Antimalarial Therapeutics: A Review

Edible and medicinal mushrooms have been highlighted to contain potent antiparasitic activity, due to their vast phytochemical content. Mushroom can be defined as a macro-fungus with a fruiting body that can be either above or below the ground which can be seen and picked by hands. A number of researchers have documented potent antimalarial effects of crude extracts and isolated compounds derived from medicinal and edible mushrooms. The continued discovery of drug-resistant malaria-causing parasites has necessitated the requirement for novel antimalarial drugs. However, literature on mushrooms as potential antimalarials has not been fully provided; hence, this chapter focuses majorly on the antiparasitic effects of mushroom-derived products and their potential antimalarial capabilities and the possible mechanism of action.