Bioactive Compounds of Ganoderma lucidum and their Therapeutic Applications

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum(GL), a renowned medicinal mushroom has been traditionally used in Korea, China and Japan to promote longevity, enhance vitality, and treat various ailments. It is referred to as "God's herb" in ancient China, and has been cultivated extensively on sawdust and wood logs in response to demand in global market. Extensive in vivo and in vitro investigations have elucidated the manifold metabolic activities of GL. It has been found to contain a wide array of biochemical compounds such as fatty acids, triterpenoids, nucleosides, polysaccharides, amino acids, proteins, and enzymes, all of which possess significant pharmacological properties. Triterpenoids and polysaccharides from G. lucidum have exhibited antiangiogenic, cytotoxic, anti-allergic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immuno-modulatory, and antihistamine effects. G.lucidum alongwith array of medicinal properties also possess certain limitations to be addressed. Clinical trials frequently encounter obstacles concerning the absence of pure constituents and the precise identification of obtained compounds, which can pose challenges in the research process. Furthermore, most of the included studies were of small scale, raising concerns about their methodological quality. Although Ganoderma has shown promising potential in cancer prevention and treatment, it should not be considered as a first-line therapy for cancer. G. lucidum extracts and active compounds formulation have undergone patenting, development, and application as cosmeceuticals, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. This review highlights the potential of G. lucidum as an untapped natural medicine in the management of emerging infectious diseases. However, this study does not delve into the specific chemical compounds or mode of action of each bioactive component against different emerging diseases.