Abstract
The 21st century enters a “post-antibiotic world,” with just a few alternatives
for combating antibiotic-resistant microbial strains. The search for new antimicrobials
which could overcome the situation of antimicrobial resistance is of prime importance
and the need of hour. Herbal antimicrobials pose a plethora of new antimicrobial drug
discoveries. Mushrooms give rise to a number of bioactive chemicals that are known to
have anti-pathogenic qualities as well as safer and more effective therapeutic effects in
the treatment of human diseases. As a result, this chapter emphasises that
mycoconstituents might be an alternate treatment regimen and could play a role in
novel drug discovery against various infections. This chapter contains information
about the potential use of mycoconstituents in the management and treatment of
infectious diseases. The approaches illustrate the importance of primary screening of
bioactive molecules from mushrooms as a potential step by offering new possibilities
for clinical and pharmacological research and development. Traditional antibiotics can
now be substituted with newer and more effective natural antimicrobials derived from
mushroom extracts to treat a variety of fatal and multi-drug resistant infectious
diseases. As a result, this functional food extract might play a significant role in
naturally combating infections and offering a comprehensive approach to treatments.
Finally, we will go through the mechanics of mushroom antimicrobial potentials and
presents an insight into “Mycotherapy”.