Camargo, Marcela R. [UNESP]Kaneno, Ramon [UNESP]2014-05-272014-05-272011-12-01Annual Review of Biomedical Sciences, v. 13, p. 1-8.1806-8774http://hdl.handle.net/11449/72819Ganoderma lucidum is an edible medicinal mushroom with immunomodulatory and antitumor properties, which are mainly attributed to polysaccharides and triterpenes that can be isolated from mycelia, fruiting bodies and spores. G. lucidum has been us d in a powdered form, as a medicinal beverage and a nutraceutical food (usually dried). In the present review we report some historical facts and the experimental evidence that polysaccharides and triterpenes obtained from this mushroom present potential antitumor activity. Direct effects on tumor cells include induction of apoptosis and interference in the cell cycle, whereas indirect effects are based on the modulation of immune response, usually impaired by cancer cells. Data indicate that G. lucidum can be used as a complementary tool for treatment of cancer patients. © by São Paulo State University.1-8engImmunomodulationMushroomPolysaccharidesTriterpenesTumorcaspasegamma interferonganoderic acidGanoderma lucidum extractGanoderma lucidum polysaccharideganodermanontriolinterleukin 10interleukin 12polysaccharideprotein Baxprotein bcl 2protein Bidreactive oxygen metaboliteterpenoidtriterpenoidtumor necrosis factor alphaunclassified drugantineoplastic activityapoptosiscell cycle arrestcell proliferationcolon cancercytokine productioncytotoxicitydendritic celldrug isolationGanoderma lucidumhumanimmunomodulationinnate immunitymacrophagenatural killer cellnonhumanoxidative stressspleen lymphocyteT lymphocyteTh1 celltumor cell destructionBasidiomycotaArtigoAcesso aberto2-s2.0-848562978972-s2.0-84856297897.pdf88458355506378090000-0002-4292-3298