Abstract
Developing new markets and uses for mushrooms are important to the mushroom growers and industry. We conducted an attitude and awareness survey among consumers towards mushrooms in order to identify their possible new uses. The initial results suggested that many consumers had high interest in using medicated cosmetics made from mushrooms. We therefore studied the effects of mushrooms on platelet aggregation and chemokine gene expression which are both indicators of the state of lifestyle diseases and rough skin. The results indicated that several species of mushroom had high inhibition effects on these indicators, and suggested that these species would have strong potential as raw materials in such medicated cosmetics products as those for whitening, and for treating skin against rough surfaces and wrinkles.
