Nutritional composition, bioactive polysaccharides, and biological activities of Russula griseocarnosa X. H. Wang, Zhu L. Yang & Knudsen: A comprehensive review

This review summarizes the existing studies on Russula griseocarnosa, a rare edible mushroom, with the aim of evaluating its nutritional composition and biological activities. The results showed that the mushroom contains high levels of protein, bioactive polysaccharides, essential amino acids, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids and is rich in phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids, and ergosterol. The extracted polysaccharides (PRG, PRG1-1) exhibited strong antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities, mainly through the induction of apoptosis and enhanced ROS production in cancer cells. Compared with many other edible mushrooms, R. griseocarnosa exhibits superior nutritional quality and greater potential for biological functionality. This review demonstrates that the mushroom has high value in the development of functional foods and natural medicines; however, its application remains limited due to the limited in vivo studies. Future research should focus on sustainable cultivation, polysaccharide standardization, and clinical trials to fully exploit the potential of this mushroom.