Shiitake fungi, or Lentinula edodes, are edible mushrooms classified into the Basidiomycota phylum. They have been used as food and in traditional medicine for centuries. These fungi grow on decaying wood, especially in hardwood trees. They feature a characteristic stem and umbrella-shaped brown caps, which vary in size. Shiitake mushrooms are cultivated in Japan and other parts of the world, and the majority of their sales are in Asia. These mushrooms are rich in bioactive compounds beneficial for human health and healing. Shiitake mushrooms can be incorporated in cooking and are used in developing some health and pharmaceutical products due to their medicinal properties.
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