Preclinical Efficacy and Structural Gaps of Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides in Cancer: A Systematic Review

Vollständiger Abstract

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Ganoderma lucidum’s anticancer potential is largely attributed to its polysaccharides, yet their preclinical translation requires rigorous systematization. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review evaluated the anticancer efficacy of G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) in preclinical models (PROSPERO: CRD42021296200). Systematic searches spanning 2011 to 2026 were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Eligible peer-reviewed articles investigated GLPs in cancer cell lines or animal models. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2.0) tool was used to assess the risk of bias for animal studies. Across 14 included studies, GLPs were primarily extracted from fruiting bodies or spores via hot-water extraction and ethanol precipitation. Preclinical models predominantly involved colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29, LoVo, SW480) and BALB/c, ICR, or Swiss albino mouse strains. GLPs consistently reduced tumor volume in vivo and decreased tumor cell viability in vitro. Mechanistic outcomes encompassed the induction of apoptosis, senescence, and immunomodulatory markers, frequently converging on MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways. However, a major methodological limitation was the widespread negligence or superficiality in the chemical characterization of the tested fractions; only one study achieved complete purification of a β-D-glucan. In conclusion, while GLPs demonstrate potent tumor-suppressive and immunomodulatory properties, the pervasive structural ambiguity and lack of extract purification profoundly hinder translational reliability and the establishment of robust structure–activity relationships.