The Versatile Functions of G. Lucidum Polysaccharides and G. Lucidum Triterpenes in Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

Abstract

G. lucidum has a long history of thousands of years in China and is closely related with the lives of the Chinese people. It is reported to cure various diseases due to its high nutritional value and wide range of uses. The fascinating effects of G. lucidum have tethered a multitude of efforts to explore its effective ingredients and supplement functions. At present, many cancer research studies have reported the G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) and G. lucidum triterpenes (GLTs) as the main active ingredients in G. lucidum, which have shown positive effects on radiotherapy and chemotherapy. GLPs or GLTs treatment synergizes with radiotherapy and chemotherapy through multiple pathways, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, immune microenvironment, etc. Therefore, this review aims to analyze and summarize these complex molecules from G. lucidum in order to create more treatment options for cancer patients in the future.

Keywords:

• GLP
• GLTs
• pharmacology
• general structure
• radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Acknowledgments

All the staff have designed the study, data collected, prepared, written, reviewed and edited the entire manuscript. Hang Song and Teng Ma are co-correspondence authors for this study.

Abbreviations

GLPs, G. lucidum polysaccharides; GLTs, G. lucidum triterpenoids; BG, β-glucan; BiNP, the combination of synthetic bismuth sulfide nanoparticles; GLP-Au, the combination of gold nanocomposites and GLPs; PTX, Paclitaxel; SGP, G. lucidum spore polysaccharide; HGF, hematopoietic growth factors; ROS, oxygen species; GAA, ganoderic acid A; EBV, Epstein-Barr virus; GLE, ganoderic lucidum extracts; EBVaGC, EBV-associated gastric carcinoma; GAB, ganoderenic acid B; CDDO and CDDO-Me, 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid and its C28-modified derivative, methyl-ester.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.