Kladar Nebojša V, Gavarić Neda S, Božin Biljana N
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Eur J Cancer Prev. 2016 Sep;25(5):462-71. doi: 10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000204.
The genus Ganoderma includes about 80 species growing on cut or rotten trees. The most commonly used species is Ganoderma ludicum. Biomolecules responsible for the health benefits of Ganoderma are polysaccharides with an immunostimulative effect and triterpenes with a cytotoxic action. For more than 2000 years, it has been used traditionally in the treatment of various pathological conditions and recently, its immunoregulatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anticancer potential has been confirmed. A wide range of Ganoderma extracts and preparations arrest the cell cycle in different phases and consequently inhibit the growth of various types of cancer cells. Extracts containing polysaccharides stimulate immunological reactions through the production of various cytokines and mobilization of immune system cells. In-vivo studies have confirmed the anticancer potential and the antimetastatic effects of compounds originating from Ganoderma. There is also evidence for the chemopreventive action of Ganoderma extracts in bladder, prostate, liver, and breast cancer. The results of clinical studies suggest the combined use of G. lucidum with conventional chemotherapy/radiotherapy, but the methodology and the results of these studies are being questioned. Therefore, a constant need for new clinical trials exists.
灵芝属包括约80种生长在砍伐或腐烂树木上的物种。最常用的物种是紫芝。灵芝具有健康益处的生物分子是具有免疫刺激作用的多糖和具有细胞毒性作用的三萜类化合物。两千多年来，它一直被传统地用于治疗各种病理状况，最近，其免疫调节、抗病毒、抗菌、抗氧化、保肝和抗癌潜力已得到证实。多种灵芝提取物和制剂可在不同阶段阻止细胞周期，从而抑制各种类型癌细胞的生长。含多糖的提取物通过产生各种细胞因子和调动免疫系统细胞来刺激免疫反应。体内研究已证实源自灵芝的化合物具有抗癌潜力和抗转移作用。也有证据表明灵芝提取物在膀胱癌、前列腺癌、肝癌和乳腺癌中具有化学预防作用。临床研究结果表明灵芝与传统化疗/放疗联合使用，但这些研究的方法和结果受到质疑。因此，一直需要进行新的临床试验。
