Antrodia cinnamomea Galactomannan Elicits Immuno-stimulatory Activity Through Toll-like Receptor 4

Evidence-Based Nutraceuticals Derived from Antrodia cinnamomea

Antrodia cinnamomea (A. cinnamomea), a medicinal and edible mushroom endemic to Taiwan, has been traditionally valued as a health tonic. Recent studies have highlighted the diverse specialized metabolites and bioactive potential of this substance, primarily attributed to key secondary metabolites such as benzenoids, maleic and succinic acids, ubiquinone, triterpenoids, and the primary metabolite polysaccharides. These compounds exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, including those related to antibacterial, antitumor, anti-inflammation, hepatoprotection, hypoglycaemia, and antioxidant activities, and immunomodulation and gut microbiota regulation. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of A. cinnamomea and its potential applications in health supplements and functional foods. This review evaluated recent advancements in the cultivation, extraction, and characterization of bioactive compounds from A. cinnamomea, with a particular focus on submerged and solid-state fermentation methods. We hope to provide a comprehensive framework for promoting the efficient and scientific evidence based utilization of A. cinnamomea in novel therapeutic strategies and health-related innovations.

Anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of polysaccharides from Antrodia cinnamomea : A review

Antrodia cinnamomea ( Ac ), also known as "Niu-Chang-Chih" in Chinese, is a valuable fungus that has been widely used as medicine and food among indigenous people in Taiwan. Ac is rich in polysaccharides ( Ac -PS), making it a promising candidate for adjunctive therapy in cancer and inflammation conditions. There are two types of Ac -PS: general (non-sulfated) PS ( Ac -GPS) and sulfated PS ( Ac -SPS). This review highlights that both Ac -GPS and Ac -SPS possess immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Each type influences interleukin signaling pathways to exert its anti-inflammatory effects. Ac -GPS is particularly effective in alleviating inflammation in the brain and liver, while Ac -SPS shows its efficacy in macrophage models. Both Ac -GSP and Ac -SPS have demonstrated anticancer effects supported by in vitro and in vivo studies, primarily through inducing apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. They may also synergize with chemotherapy and exhibit antiangiogenic properties. Notably, Ac -SPS appears to have superior anticancer efficacy, potentially due to its sulfate groups. Furthermore, Ac -SPS has been more extensively studied in terms of its mechanisms and effects on lung cancer compared with Ac -GPS, highlighting its significance in cancer research. In addition, Ac -SPS is often reported for its ability to activate macrophage-mediated responses. Clinically, Ac -GPS has been used as an adjunctive therapy for advanced lung cancer, as noted in recent reports. However, given the numerous studies emphasizing its anticancer mechanisms, Ac -SPS may exhibit greater efficacy, warranting further investigation. This review concludes that Ac -derived Ac -GPS or Ac -SPS have the potential to be developed into functional health supplements or adjunctive therapies, providing dual benefits of anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.

Polysaccharides of Floccularia luteovirens regulate intestinal immune response, and oxidative stress activity through MAPK/Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway in immunosuppressive mice

This study explores the novel immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides from the rare Floccularia luteovirens, a fungus with significant potential yet unexplored bioactive components, traditionally used in Tibetan medicine. This study employs a wide array of analytical techniques, including HPGPC, HPLC, western blotting, ELISA, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, to comprehensively investigate FLP1's effects. The main structure of FLP1 was characterized by IF-TR and NMR spectrometry. The structural backbone of FLP1 was →3,6)-β-D-Glcp-(1 → and →2,3)-α-D-Manp-(1→. After immunosuppressed mice treated with FLP1, the findings demonstrated that FLP1 stimulated the production of secretory sIgA and secretion of cytokines (IL-4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) in the intestine of Cy-treated mice, resulting in the activation of the MAPK pathway. Additionally, FLP1 protected oxidative stress by triggering Nrf2/Keap1 pathways and antioxidation enzymes (SOD, MDA, T-AOC, CAT, and GSH-Px). It also enhanced the intestinal barrier function by regulating the villous height ratio and expression of tight-junction protein. Furthermore, FLP1 remarkably reversed the gut microbiota dysbiosis in immunosuppressed mice by increasing the abundance of Oscilliospiraceae, and Lachnospiraceae, and altered the fecal metabolites by increasing LysoPE (0:0/18:0); 0:0/16:0; 18:1(11Z)/0:0, LysoPG (16:0/0:0), LysoPG 18:1 (2n) PE (14:0/20:1), echinenone, 2-(2-Nitroimidazol-1-yl)-N-(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl) acetamide, and suberic acid which is closely related to the immunity function. These results suggested that FLP1 may regulate the intestinal immune response by modulating the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in immunosuppressed mice thereby activating the immune system.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine: harnessing dendritic cells for anti-tumor benefits

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is being more and more used in cancer treatment because of its ability to regulate the immune system. Chinese Herbal Medicine has several advantages over other treatment options, including being multi-component, multi-target, and having fewer side effects. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen presenting cells that play a vital part in connecting the innate and adaptive immune systems. They are also important in immunotherapy. Recent evidence suggests that Chinese Herbal Medicine and its components can positively impact the immune response by targeting key functions of dendritic cells. In this review, we have summarized the influences of Chinese Herbal Medicine on the immunobiological feature of dendritic cells, emphasized an anti-tumor effect of CHM-treated DCs, and also pointed out deficiencies in the regulation of DC function by Chinese Herbal Medicine and outlined future research directions.

Pleurocinus ostreatus Polysaccharide Alleviates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression through the Gut Microbiome, Metabolome, and JAK/STAT1 Signaling Pathway

This study investigated the structure of Pleurocinus ostreatus polysaccharide (POP-1) and its effect on immunocompromised mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CY). Novel POP-1 was α- and β-glucopyranose, its molecular weight was 4.78 × 104 Da, it was mainly composed of glucose (88.9%), and it also contained galactose (2.97%), mannose (5.02%), fucose (0.3%), arabinose (0.21%), ribose (0.04%), galactose acid (0.17%), and glucose acid (1.45%). After POP-1 was administered to immunosuppressed mice, results showed that POP-1 increased the body weight, spleen, and thymus index and enhanced T lymphocyte proliferation in mice. POP-1 up-regulated the expression of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in the mouse spleen to increase immunoglobulin (IgM, IgG, and IgA) and secrete cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) through activation of the JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway. Moreover, POP-1 remarkably reversed the gut-microbiota dysbiosis in immunosuppressed mice by increasing the abundance of Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Blautia, and Ligilactobacillus and altered the fecal metabolites by increasing hexahomomethionine, DG(8:0/20:4(5Z, 8Z, 11Z, 14Z)-OH(20)/0:0, 2-((3-aminopyridin-2-yl)methylene)hydrazinecarbothioamide, Ginkgoic acid, and carboxy-ethyl-hydroxychroman, which is closely related to the immunity function. This study indicates that P. ostreatus polysaccharide effectively restores immunosuppressive activity and can be a functional ingredient in food and pharmaceutical products.

Galactomannan inhibits Trichinella spiralis invasion of intestinal epithelium cells and enhances antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity related killing of larvae by driving macrophage polarization

Previous studies have shown that recombinant Trichinella spiralis galectin (rTsgal) is characterized by a carbohydrate recognition domain sequence motif binding to beta-galactoside, and that rTsgal promotes larval invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. Galactomannan is an immunostimulatory polysaccharide composed of a mannan backbone with galactose residues. The aim of this study was to investigate whether galactomannan inhibits larval intrusion of intestinal epithelial cells and enhances antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), killing newborn larvae by polarizing macrophages to the M1 phenotype. The results showed that galactomannan specially binds to rTsgal, and abrogated rTsgal facilitation of larval invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. The results of qPCR, Western blotting, and flow cytometry showed that galactomannan and rTsgal activated macrophage M1 polarization, as demonstrated by high expression of iNOS (M1 marker) and M1 related genes (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), and increased CD86+ macrophages. Galactomannan and rTsgal also increased NO production. The killing ability of macrophage-mediated ADCC on larvae was also significantly enhanced in galactomannan- and rTsgal-treated macrophages. The results demonstrated that Tsgal may be considered a potential vaccine target molecule against T. spiralis invasion, and galactomannan may be a novel adjuvant therapeutic agent and potential vaccine adjuvant against T. spiralis infection.

Structural characterization, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of intracellular polysaccharide from Armillaria luteo-virens

Armillaria luteo-virens (A. luteo-virens) is a kind of edible fungus mainly exists in Qinghai-Tibet of China, but at present only very few studies focus on the bioactivities of its polysaccharides. This study aimed to purify and characterize the structure features of a novel intracellular polysaccharide (ALP-A) derived from A. luteo-virens and explore its potential anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities. Through systematic separation and purification, we obtained a homogeneous ALP-A with an average molecular weight of 23693Da. Structural analysis indicated that ALP-A was mainly composed of glucose and mannose with a molar ratio of 6.02:1. The repeating unit of ALP-A was →4) -α-D-Glcp-(1→ backbone with α-Glcp-(1→ and α-Manp-(6→ side chains which branched at O-2 position. The anti-tumor assays in vivo suggested that ALP-A could effectively restrain S180 solid tumor growth, protect immune organs and promote the secretion of cytokines (IL2, IL6 and TNF-α) in serum. Besides, in vitro immunomodulatory assays indicated that ALP-A could improve proliferation, phagocytic capacity and raise the level of NO and cytokines in Raw264.7 cells. These results demonstrate that ALP-A which possess potential antitumor and immunomodulatory abilities can be developed as a new functional food.

ZnF3, a sulfated polysaccharide from Antrodia cinnamomea, inhibits lung cancer cells via induction of apoptosis and activation of M1-like macrophage-induced cell death

Sulfated polysaccharides (Ac-SPSs) of Antrodia cinnamomea present anti-cancer activity. However, the anti-cancer mechanism of Ac-SPSs is not fully understood and remains largely unexplored. In this study, we identify an Ac-SPS with 7.9 kDa, noted ZnF3, and aim to examine the dual anti-cancer functions of ZnF3 on inhibiting cancer cells and activating macrophages. A biological study shows that ZnF3 inhibits lung cancer cells by inducing subG1 population and apoptosis. ZnF3 downregulates the expression of TGFβ receptor in lung cancer cells. In parallel, ZnF3 activates macrophages via induction of TNF-α and IL-6 secretion, NO production and phagocytosis. ZnF3 activates AKT/mTOR pathway and induces M1 type macrophage polarization. Cancer cells co-cultured with ZnF3-stimulated macrophages, leading to inhibition of lung cancer cells. This study demonstrates that ZnF3 not only directly inhibits cancer cells but also activates macrophages-mediated cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. Moreover, ZnF3 may be a supplement for suppressing lung cancer cells.

Review of Bioactivity, Isolation, and Identification of Active Compounds from Antrodia cinnamomea

Antrodia cinnamomea is a precious and popular edible and medicinal mushroom. It has attracted increasing attention due to its various and excellent bioactivities, such as hepatoprotection, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, antitumor, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and gut microbiota regulation properties. To elucidate its bioactivities and develop novel functional foods or medicines, numerous studies have focused on the isolation and identification of the bioactive compounds of A. cinnamomea. In this review, the recent advances in bioactivity, isolation, purification, and identification methods of active compounds from A. cinnamomea were summarized. The present work is beneficial to the further isolation and discovery of new active compounds from A. cinnamomea.

An Immunological Polysaccharide from Tremella fuciformis: Essential Role of Acetylation in Immunomodulation

The edible fungus Tremella fuciformis was shown to have a high molecular weight (1.87 × 10³ kDa) bioactive polysaccharide, denoted as TFP-F1. Monosaccharide composition and NMR analysis of the polysaccharide and its derivatives indicated it contained fucose (Fucp), xylose (Xylp), mannose (Manp), and glucuronic acid (GlcAp) in a ratio of 0.9:1.0:3.2:1.2. Using IR, NMR, and GC-MS spectroscopic data, the structure of TFP-F1 was elucidated as {→3)-[β-D-GlcAp-(1→2)]-α-D-Manp-(1→3)-α-D-Manp-(1→3)-[α-L-Fucp-(1→2)-β-D-Xylp-(1→2)]-α-D-Manp-(1→}_n, with partial acetylation of C6-OH in mannoses. Furthermore, at a concentration of 1 μg/mL, TFP-F1 was found to stimulate the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 in J774A.1 macrophage cells in vitro via interaction with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). The removal of O-acetyl groups led to the loss of immunomodulatory activities, demonstrating that O-acetyl groups play an essential role in enhancing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Nano Modification of Antrodia Cinnamomea Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Action and Improves the Migratory Potential of Myogenic Progenitors

The skeletal muscle progenitors’ proliferation and migration are crucial stages of myogenesis. Identifying drug candidates that contribute to myogenesis can have a positive impact on atrophying muscle. The purpose of the study is to synthesize the Antrodia cinnamomea (AC)-β-cyclodextrin (BCD) inclusion complex (IC) and understand its in vitro pro-regenerative influence in murine skeletal C2C12 myoblasts. The IC was subjected to various nano-characterization studies. Fluorescent IC was synthesized to understand the cellular uptake of IC. Furthermore, 25 µg/mL, 12.5 µg/mL, and 6.25 µg/mL of IC were tested on murine C2C12 skeletal muscle cells for their anti-inflammatory, pro-migratory, and pro-proliferative action. The cellular internalization of IC occurred rapidly via pinocytosis. IC (252.6 ± 3.2 nm size and −37.24 ± 1.55 surface charge) exhibited anti-inflammatory action by suppressing the secretion of interleukin-6 and enhanced cell proliferation with promising cytocompatibility. A 12.5 μg/mL dose of IC promoted cell migration in 24 h, but the same dose of AC significantly reduced cell migration, suggesting modification by BCD. Molecular studies revealed that IC promoted C2C12 myoblasts migration by upregulating long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT-1, SYISL, and activating the pPKC/β-catenin pathway. Our study is the first report on the pro-proliferative and pro-migratory effects of BCD-modified extracts of AC.

Using One-pot Fermentation Technology to Prepare Enzyme Cocktail to Sustainably Produce Low Molecular Weight Galactomannans from Sesbania cannabina Seeds

Enzymatic hydrolysis using β-mannanase and α-galactosidase is necessary to produce low molecular weight galactomannan (LMW-GM) from galactomannans (GM) in the leguminous seeds. In this study, different ratios of avicel and melibiose were used as the inductors (carbon sources) for Trichoderma reesei to metabolize the enzyme cocktail containing β-mannanase and α-galactosidase using one-pot fermentation technology. The obtained enzyme cocktail was used to efficiently produce LMW-GM from GM in Sesbania cannabina seeds. Results showed that 15 g/L avicel and 10 g/L melibiose were the best carbon sources to prepare enzyme cocktail containing β-mannanase and α-galactosidase with activities of 3.69 ± 0.27 U/mL and 0.51 ± 0.02 U/mL, respectively. Specifically, melibiose could effectively induce the metabolite product of α-galactosidase by T. reesei, which showed good performance in degrading the galactose substituent from GM backbone. The degradation of galactose alleviated the spatial site-blocking effect for enzymatic hydrolysis by β-mannanase and improved the yield of LMW-GM. This research can lay the foundation for the industrial technology amplification of LMW-GM production for further application.

The immunomodulatory activity of degradation products of Sesbania cannabina galactomannan with different molecular weights

Galactomannan (GM) is widely recognized as an immune enhancer; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown. Herein, four products with molecular weights in descending order, namely GM40, GM50, GM65, and GMOS, were separated from incomplete degradation products of Sesbania cannabina GM by ethanol precipitation, followed by their immunomodulatory activity. Through FTIR and XPS spectra, the amount of free hydroxyl groups was shown to decrease in the following order: GM > GM50 > GMOS > GM40 > GM65. Moreover, the immunomodulatory activity of different products decreased in abovementioned order. The TNF-α, IL-6 and TLR4 content in RAW 264.7 cells treated with different GM products in the presence or absence of TAK-242 (TLR4 inhibitor) suggested that the immunomodulatory activity of GM and its degradation products is TLR4-dependent. Overall, the preliminary relationship indicated here between the hydroxyl groups or the possible deeper structural changes of GM and the immunomodulatory activity need to be further investigated.

Characterization and immunomodulatory effect of an alkali-extracted galactomannan from Morchella esculenta

In our continuous exploration for bioactive polysaccharides, a novel polysaccharide FMP-2 was isolated and purified from the fruiting bodies of Morchella esculenta by alkali-assisted extraction. FMP-2 had an average molecular weight of 1.09 × 10⁶ Da and contained mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose in a molar ratio of 4.10:0.22:1.00:5.75:0.44. The backbone of FMP-2 mainly consisted of 1,2-α-D-Galp, 1,6-α-D-Galp, and 1,4-α-D-Manp, with branches of 1,4,6-α-D-Manp and 1,2,6-α-D-Galp. FMP-2 can stimulate phagocytosis and promote the secretion of NO, ROS, and cytokines like IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells ranging from 25 to 400 μg/mL. FMP-2 had great repairing effect on the immune injury of zebrafish induced by chloramphenicol. The phagocytosis ability of zebrafish macrophages and the proliferation of neutrophils can be greatly enhanced by polysaccharide FMP-2 with concentrations from 50 to 200 μg/mL. These findings suggest that FMP-2 might be used as a potential immunomodulator in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Immunomodulatory Properties of Polysaccharides from the Coral Pseudopterogorgia americana in Macrophages

Polysaccharides from marine organisms produce an important regulatory effect on the mammalian immune system. In this study, the immunomodulatory properties of a polysaccharide that was isolated from the coral Pseudopterogorgia americana (PPA) were investigated. PPA increased the expression levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), but not inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide, in macrophages. A mechanistic study revealed that PPA activated macrophages through the toll-like receptor-4 and induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased the phosphorylation levels of protein kinase C (PKC)-α, PKC-δ and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and activated NF-κB. The inhibition of ROS and knockdown of PKC-α reduced PPA-mediated TNF-α and IL-6 expression; however, the knockdown of PKC-δ significantly increased PPA-mediated TNF-α expression. In addition, the inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinase-1/2 and NF-κB reduced PPA-mediated TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2 expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of ROS, MAPK and PKC-α/δ reduced PPA-mediated NF-κB activation, indicating that ROS, MAPK and PKC-α/δ function as upstream signals of NF-κB. Finally, PPA treatment decreased the phagocytosis activity of macrophages and reduced cytokine expression in bacteria-infected macrophages. Taken together, our current findings suggest that PPA can potentially play a role in the development of immune modulators in the future.

Interaction between polysaccharides and toll-like receptor 4: Primary structural role, immune balance perspective, and 3D interaction model hypothesis

Various structural types of polysaccharides are recognized by toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). However, the mechanism of interaction between the polysaccharides with different structures and TLR4 is unclarified. This review summarized the primary structure of polysaccharides related to TLR4, mainly including molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, glycosidic bonds, functional groups, and branched-chain structure. The optimal primary structure for interacting with TLR4 was obtained by the statistical analysis. Besides, the dual-directional regulation of TLR4 signaling cascade by polysaccharides was also elucidated from an immune balance perspective. Finally, the 3D interaction model of polysaccharides to TLR4-myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) complex was hypothesized according to the LPS-TLR4-MD2 dimerization model and the polysaccharides solution conformation. The essence of polysaccharides binding to TLR4-MD2 complex is a multivalent non-covalent bond interaction. All the arguments summarized in this review are intended to provide some new insights into the interaction between polysaccharides and TLR4.

Mechanism of Intestinal Flora and Proteomics on Regulating Immune Function of Durio zibethinus Rind Polysaccharide

In this study, cyclophosphamide was injected intraperitoneally to establish an immunosuppressive mouse model to study the immune regulating effects of Durio zibethinus Murr rind polysaccharide (DZMP) through proteomics and intestinal flora. The results showed that the thymus and spleen indexes of the high-dose DZMP (200 mg/kg) group were significantly increased, and the tissue structure of the spleen was improved compared with the model group ( $P<0.01$ ). The contents of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α in the high-dose group of DZMP were significantly increased ( $P<0.001$ ). Activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were increased in serum ( $P<0.01$ ). In the liver, catalase (CAT) activity was increased ( $P<0.001$ ) while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was decreased and immune activity was increased ( $P<0.001$ ). Proteomics studies showed that the drug group could significantly increase the low-affinity immunoglobulin gamma Fc receptor III (FcγRIII) protein and protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) compared with the model group ( $P<0.001$ ). In addition, the result showed that those proteins were likely involved in the regulation of the metabolic pathways of autoimmune thyroid disease, Staphylococcus aureus infection, and NF-κB signaling pathway. Intestinal microbial studies showed that short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content was increased as well as the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Paraprevotella, while the relative abundance of Ruminococcus and Oscillospira was decreased compared with the model group ( $P<0.001$ ). The results showed that DZMP might play a beneficial role in immune regulation by improving intestinal flora.

An antioxidative galactomannan extracted from Chinese Sesbania cannabina enhances immune activation of macrophage cells

In the present study, the antioxidant activities and immunostimulatory ability of a polysaccharide extracted from Chinese Sesbania cannabina, which was identified to be a galactomannan in our previous study, were investigated. The extracted polysaccharide exhibited strong DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and ferrous ion chelating activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The immune-enhancing effect of our polysaccharide on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells was investigated by determining the cell viability, phagocytic activity, NO and intracellular ROS production and mRNA expression of cytokines. The results indicated that the polysaccharide could increase the production of NO and intracellular ROS, as well as effectively trigger transcriptional activation of TLR-2/4, NF-κB, IL-10/1β/6, IFN-γ, Ik-Bα, iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α. These findings provide useful information for potential application of the polysaccharide extracted from Chinese Sesbania cannabina in the food industry.

Diversity of potentially exploitable pharmacological activities of the highly prized edible medicinal fungus Antrodia camphorata

Antrodia camphorata, also known as A. cinnamomea, is a precious medicinal basidiomycete fungus endemic to Taiwan. This article summarizes the recent advances in research on the multifarious pharmacological effects of A. camphorata. The mushroom exhibits anticancer activity toward a large variety of cancers including breast, cervical, ovarian, prostate, bladder, colorectal, pancreatic, liver, and lung cancers; melanoma; leukemia; lymphoma; neuroblastoma; and glioblastoma. Other activities encompass antiinflammatory, antiatopic dermatitis, anticachexia, immunoregulatory, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antiatherosclerotic, antihypertensive, antiplatelet, antioxidative, antiphotodamaging, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, neuroprotective, testis protecting, antiasthmatic, osteogenic, osteoprotective, antiviral, antibacterial, and wound healing activities. This review aims to provide a reference for further development and utilization of this highly prized mushroom.

Antrodia cinnamomea-An updated minireview of its bioactive components and biological activity

Antrodia cinnamomea or Antrodia camphorata is a distinctive mushroom of Taiwan, which is being used as a traditional medicine to treat various health-related conditions. More than 78 compounds have been identified in A. cinnamomea. Large numbers of phytochemical studies have been carried out in A. cinnamomea due to the high amount of terpenoids. Besides that, the extracts and active components of A. cinnamomea were reported to have various biological activities including hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. In this review article, we have summarized the recent findings of A. cinnamomea and its molecular mechanisms of action in various disease models. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: A. cinnamomea, medicinal fungus used in traditional medicine in Taiwan also possess high market value. Aim of the present review is to highlight the compounds present in A. cinnamomea and their different pharmacological activities in preventing/cure various diseases/disorders. A. cinnamomea can be potentially developed into health foods or drugs.