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Three new lanostane-type triterpenoids with cytotoxic activity from the Ganoderma leucocontextum
Rong Fu1, Xiaohong Li1, Yonggang Kang2
1College of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui, China.
Natural Product Research
|July 1, 2026
Summary
Three new lanostane triterpenoids were isolated from the Tibetan mushroom Ganoderma leucocontextum. These compounds show potential as anti-hepatocellular carcinoma leads due to moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells.
Area of Science:
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Medicinal Mushroom Research
- Triterpenoid Synthesis
Background:
- Ganoderma leucocontextum, a Tibetan medicinal mushroom, is a source of bioactive compounds.
- Triterpenoids are a class of natural products with diverse biological activities.
- Lanostane-type triterpenoids are known for their complex structures and therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize new lanostane-type triterpenoids from Ganoderma leucocontextum.
- To investigate the cytotoxic effects of these novel compounds against cancer cell lines.
- To explore the potential of these compounds as leads for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drug development.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of bioactive metabolites from Ganoderma leucocontextum using ethanol.
- Purification of compounds using repeated column chromatography and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
- Structure elucidation through High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (HRTOFMS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Isolation of three new lanostane-type triterpenoids, named ganoleucocontins S-U (1-3).
- Detailed structural determination, including planar skeletons and stereochemical configurations, was achieved.
- Cytotoxicity assays revealed moderate inhibitory effects on the HepG2 cell line (liver cancer cells), with IC50 values ranging from 19.86 to 35.24 μM.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully identified novel triterpenoids, expanding the known structural diversity of Ganoderma metabolites.
- Ganoleucocontins S-U exhibit promising cytotoxic activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
- These findings suggest that Ganoderma leucocontextum triterpenoids are potential candidates for further development as anti-cancer therapeutics.
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