Https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.17206 Md. Asaduzzaman Khan, Mousumi Tania, Shangyi Fu, Junjiang Fu

Although oxidation is the most common biological and energy producing reaction, oxidative stress is harmful to cell, because the products of oxidation such as free radicals and peroxides damage the cellular components, causing several diseases. Damage in DNA is responsible for cancer formation and progression. However, several enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase etc. act as antioxidants to influence oxidative stress. Polymorphisms in these enzymes are supposed to be associated with DNA damage and subsequently the individual’s risk of cancer susceptibility. This review article aims to further elucidate the relationship between antioxidant enzymes and cancers by summarizing the findings of some of the important study concerning expression levels and genetic polymorphisms of antioxidant enzymes in cancer patients.

Mushrooms of Pleurotus genus are popularly consumed all over the world due to their taste, flavor, high nutritional values, and some medicinal properties. Several species of this genus are rich in proteins with essential amino acids, physiologically important polysaccharides and essential fatty acids, dietary fibers, important minerals, and some vitamins. Because of these nutritional composition and the presence of some other active ingredients, these mushrooms have been reported to have anticancer, antihypercholesterolemic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiobesity, hepatoprotective, antiaging, antimicrobial, antiallergic, and antioxidant activities. The high nutritional value and potential medicinal uses suggest that the Pleurotus mushrooms are important functional foods or nutraceuticals.