Bioactive compounds of Ganoderma species: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential in cancer and metabolic...

Ganoderma is a genus of polypore macrofungi, has retained significant attention due to its diverse microbial, biotechnological, and pharmacological properties, especially in cancer therapy and the management of metabolic diseases. The present review combines existing information about the bioactive compounds of Ganoderma species, mostly triterpenoids and polysaccharides, accentuating their molecular mechanisms in disease modulation. Special emphasis is given to Ganoderma leucocontextum, a species identified in Tibet in 2015, with notable pharmacological properties. Mechanistic studies have reported that Ganoderma species have antitumor effects by modulating key signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt and MAPK, and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Their nutraceutical potential as agents to modulate oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation is also discussed. Despite promising preclinical outcomes, constraints associated with interspecies variability in bioactive compound content, an absence of standardised methods of extraction, and limited clinical validation impede their translational application. This review underlines the microbial biotechnological potential of Ganoderma species against cancer and metabolic disorders, advocating thorough pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and clinical investigations to advance Ganoderma-based interventions in modern biomedicine.