Abstract
Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw. Karst) is a common bracket fungus, with a woody texture. It is found predominantly in coniferous forests in temperate regions throughout Europe and Asia. Fomitopsis pinicola has been extensively used for medicinal purposes, particularly in Chinese and Korean traditional medicine. In this mini-review, the anti-cancer characteristics of F. pinicola extracts were investigated. In vitro experiments revealed the pro-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts, whilst two of three in vivo studies reported an inhibition of tumour growth and prolonged survival. Only studies wherein fungal specimens were sourced from Europe or Asia were included in this review, as samples sourced as F. pinicola from North America were probably not F. pinicola, but a different species. Although not one of the most revered fungal species, F. pinicola has been used as a medicinal fungus for centuries, as well as consumed as a health food supplement. To date, the results from only three in vivo studies, investigating anti-cancer properties, have been published. Further studies, using comprehensively identified specimens, are required to fully elucidate the anti-cancer properties of F. pinicola extracts.
Highlights
Decay fungi such as F. pinicola are often thought to be symbiotic and this could be due to the presence of fungi and nitrogen fixing bacteria at the same sites on fir trees [5]
Cell cycle dysregulation is another hallmark of cancer [32] and may be a target of the mechanism of action of FPKc. This reasoning is supported by in vitro evidence showing the inhibition of cell proliferation; damage to cell membrane in sarcoma but not healthy cells; the triggering of S-phase cell cycle arrest; a decrease in MMP and release of mitochondrial cytochrome C [19]. These in vitro studies show that F. pinicola extracts/compounds have anti-cancer activities which warrant further investigation
Further research is required to characterise the anti-cancer activities of F. pinicola as there is a paucity of data, from in vivo and clinical studies
Summary
Fomitopsis pinicola is commonly known as a brown-rot fungus, characterised by bipolar sexual compatibility and the presence of the phenol oxidase, tyrosinase (with extracellular oxidase not present) [3]. It has been used in Chinese and Korean traditional folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent and for general well-being. The fungus is saprobic and can be parasitic, causing heart rot in living trees, and brown cuboidal rot in dead trees [2] Decay fungi such as F. pinicola are often thought to be symbiotic and this could be due to the presence of fungi and nitrogen fixing bacteria at the same sites on fir trees [5]. F. pinicola in the antrodia clade [7]
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