Anti-tumor and immunoregulatory activities of Ganoderma lucidum and its possible mechanisms

Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004 Nov;25(11):1387-95.

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum (G lucidum) is a medicinal fungus with a variety of biological activities. It has long been used as a folk remedy for promotion of health and longevity in China and other oriental countries. The most attractive character of this kind of medicinal fungus is its immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities. Large numbers of studies have shown that G lucidum modulate many components of the immune system such as the antigen-presenting cells, NK cells, T and B lymphocytes. The water extract and the polysaccharides fraction of G lucidum exhibited significant anti-tumor effect in several tumor-bearing animals mainly through its immunoenhancing activity. Recent studies also showed that the alcohol extract or the triterpene fraction of G lucidum possessed anti-tumor effect, which seemed to be related to the cytotoxic activity against tumor cells directly. Preliminary study indicated that antiangiogenic effect may be involved antitumor activity of G lucidum.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / isolation & purification
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Polysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Reishi* / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Polysaccharides