Ganoderma lucidum Bioactive Compounds and the Antitumor Mechanisms Current Advances

At present, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are commonly used in clinical practice to treat tumors, but these therapies often cause severe side effects that compromise human health. Being a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi) has garnered significant attention of late years for the antitumor activity of its components. Relevant studies have revealed that its bioactive compounds, including Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides, Ganoderma lucidum triterpenes, Ganoderma lucidum active proteins, sterols and nucleosides, exhibit antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms such as immune regulation, induction of tumor cell apoptosis as well as attenuation of tumor cell proliferation and metastasis, and demonstrate synergistic effects combining with various antitumor drugs. Notably, they exhibit promising efficacy with minimal toxicity. This paper reviews the major bioactive substances of Ganoderma lucidum, analyzing their molecular structures and mechanisms of action. It summarizes current research progress and clinical applications, discusses existing challenges and limitations in related studies, and explores future prospects for developing Ganoderma-based antitumor drugs, providing a theoretical foundation for subsequent research and application of Ganoderma bioactive compounds in antitumor drug development.