Depression is the most common form of mental illness and the major cause of disability worldwide. Symptoms of depression, including feelings of intense sadness and hopelessness, may occur after a specific event or in response to a gradual decline in health and functional status, often associated with aging. Current therapies for treating these symptoms include antidepressant drugs, counseling and behavioral therapy. However, antidepressant drugs are associated with mild to severe adverse effects, which has prompted the need for better treatment options. Medicinal mushrooms are valuable sources of food and medicine and are increasingly being used as supplements or as alternative medicines in standard healthcare. Numerous studies have provided insights into the neuroprotective effects of medicinal mushrooms, which are attributed to their antioxidant, anti-neuroinflammatory, cholinesterase inhibitory and neuroprotective properties. In this review, we comprehensively examine the role of these medicinal mushrooms in the treatment of depression. However, to apply these natural products in clinical settings, the therapeutic agent needs to be properly evaluated, including the active ingredients, the presence of synergistic effects, efficient extraction methods, and stabilization of the active ingredients for delivery into the body as well as crossing the blood-brain barrier.

抑郁症是精神疾病的最常见形式，也是全世界残疾的主要原因。抑郁症的症状，包括强烈的悲伤和绝望感，可能会在特定事件发生后出现，或者是由于健康和功能状态逐渐下降（通常与衰老相关）而出现。当前用于治疗这些症状的疗法包括抗抑郁药，咨询和行为疗法。然而，抗抑郁药与轻度至严重的不良反应有关，这促使人们需要更好的治疗选择。药用蘑菇是食品和药品的宝贵来源，并在标准医疗保健中越来越多地被用作补充剂或替代药物。大量研究为药用蘑菇的神经保护作用提供了见识，这归因于其抗氧化剂，抗神经炎，胆碱酯酶抑制和神经保护特性。在这篇综述中，我们全面研究了这些药用蘑菇在治疗抑郁症中的作用。但是，要将这些天然产品应用于临床环境，需要对治疗剂进行适当评估，包括活性成分，协同作用的存在，有效的提取方法以及有效成分的稳定性，以便将其递送至体内以及通过血脑屏障。