Niuchangchih (Antrodia camphorata) and its potential in treating liver diseases

Niuchangchih (Antrodia camphorata (M. Zang & C.H. Su) Sheng H. Wu, Ryvarden & T.T. Chang) is a basidiomycete endemic to Taiwan. It is well known as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Taiwanese aborigines used this species to treat liver diseases and food and drug intoxication. The compounds identified in Niuchangchih are predominantly polysaccharides, triterpenoids, steroids, benzenoids and maleic/succinic acid derivatives. Recent research has revealed that Niuchangchih possesses extensive biological activity, such as hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, immuno-modulatory, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The fruiting bodies and fermented products of Niuchangchih have been reported to exhibit activity when treating liver diseases, such as preventing ethanol-, CCl(4)- and cytokine-induced liver injury, inhibiting the hepatitis B virus, ameliorating fatty liver and liver fibrosis, and inhibiting liver cancer cells. This review will address the protective effects of Niuchangchih on the pathological development of liver diseases, and the underlying mechanisms of action are also discussed.