The Fascinating Bird’s Nest Mushroom, Secondary Metabolites and Biological Activities

Abstract

Background: Mushrooms are generous source of nutritional and medicinal compounds. Bird’s nest fungi are a gasteromyceteous group of mushrooms named for their similarity in shape to small bird’s nests. They are considered from the tiniest and most interesting mushrooms all over the world. It is usually found in shady moist environments, and typically survive on plant debris, soil, decaying wood, or animal’s excrement. Bird’s nest mushrooms are inedible, though they were not previously reported to be poisonous, due to their tiny size. Object: this review aims to put bird’s nest mushrooms under light spot through describing their morphology and ecology especially of the most common fungus, Cyathus haller. Moreover, discussing important secondary metabolites and biological activities exerted by bird’s nest mushrooms. Conclusion: bird’s nest mushrooms are able to produce many novel and potent secondary metabolites that exerted different bioactivities especially as antimicrobial, antitumor, and anti-neuro inflammation activities. Further studies and investigations are encouraged in order to find more about this interesting tiny mushroom.