Mushroom Bioactive Molecules as Anticancerous Agents: An Overview

Abstract

Mushrooms have long been used in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), where they play an important role in promoting overall health and well-being. However, the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms have made this group of macrofungi a significant part of traditional medicine, particularly in Southeast Asia and China. Across the globe, cancer is the leading cause of death. Powerful anti-cancer medications known as traditional chemotherapeutic agents treat this dangerous disease. However, patients are always accompanied by immunosuppression, increasing the risk of tumor return and mortality. Identifying, separating, and transferring bioactive macromolecules naturally present in tumor-genic foods could be a promising option. Mushrooms are a source of macromolecules such as ergosterol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, linoleic acid, β-glucan, α-glucan, resveratrol, concanavalin A, Cibacron blue affinity protein, and others. Numerous studies have demonstrated that oyster mushroom extracts are full of macromolecules like β-glucan and other polysaccharides that inhibit the proliferation of cancer cell types without affecting healthy cells. The genera Phellinus, Pleurotus, Agaricus, Ganoderma, Clitocybe, Antrodia, Trametes, Cordyceps, Xerocomus, Calvatia, Schizophyllum, Flammulina, Suillus, Inonotus, Inocybe, Funlia, Lactarius, Albatrellus, Russula, and Fomes are the mushrooms that have been linked to success against cancer. The anticancerous substances are essential because they create reactive oxygen species, inhibit mitotic kinase, prevent mitosis, inhibit angiogenesis, and topoisomerase, which ultimately stop cancer growth. This review provides the most recent results on the pharmacologically active chemicals, their potential as antitumor agents, and the underlying mechanism of biological activity.

Keywords: cancer; leukemia; mushroom; tumor.

FIGURE 1

Anticancerous components of mushrooms.

FIGURE 2

Effect of bioactive components derived from the mushroom on the cancer cell.