Abstract:

The chemical properties and pharmacological activities of straw mushroom Volvariella volvacea are reviewed in this paper. Meanwhile, its fresh-keeping and processing technologies have also been discussed. Straw mushroom is an edible fungus growing at higher temperature and it is difficult to keep fresh. Straw mushroom is rich in nutritional and functional components including edible fiber, protein, amino acids, dextran and sterols, which have biological activities such as antioxidant, immunomodulation and anti-tumor activities. The major fresh-keeping methods for the mushroom include cold storage, air-modulated storage, irradiation, and chemical treatment. The processing of straw mushroom is still at the primary stage and urgently needs in-depth processing technologies.

Key words: straw mushroom, biological property, chemical component, fresh keeping, processing