Agaricus bisporus or button mushroom is cultivated in more than seventy countries and is one of the most commonly and widely consumed mushrooms in the world.

The antioxidant agents in mushrooms are:

Selenium

Vitamin C

Choline

Mushrooms are fungi that contain about 8.9 mcg of selenium, about 16.6 mg of choline and about 2.0 mg of vitamin C in 1 cup.

Selenium is a powerful mineral that is essential for the proper functioning of your body. It plays a critical role in metabolism and thyroid function and helps protect our body from damage caused by oxidative stress.

Choline is a nutrient that supports various bodily functions, including cellular growth and metabolism. The body makes some choline, but the majority comes from dietary sources. In 1998, the Institute of Medicine officially recognized choline as an essential nutrient.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue and the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters.

The antiodixant compounds such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, ergothioneine, glutathione, and selenium are known to be behind the mushrooms’ cancer-fighting ability.

In a study, researchers found that mushrooms have high amounts of the ergothioneine and glutathione, both important antioxidants, said Robert Beelman, professor emeritus of food science and director of the Penn State Center for Plant and Mushroom Products for Health. He added that the researchers also found that the amounts the two compounds varied greatly between mushroom species.

Ergothioneine has demonstrated antioxidant and cytoprotective capacities in vitro.

Glutathione is involved in many processes in the body, including tissue building and repair, making chemicals and proteins needed in the body, and for the immune system.

(Sources of Information: webmd.com, medicalnewstoday.com, sciencedaily.com, healthline.com, downtoearth.org.in and sciencedirect.com)