Review of Pharmacological Effects of Antrodia camphorata and Its Bioactive Compounds

Abstract

Antrodia camphorata is a unique mushroom of Taiwan, which has been used as a traditional medicine for protection of diverse health-related conditions. In an effort to translate this Eastern medicine into Western-accepted therapy, a great deal of work has been carried out on A. camphorata. This review discusses the biological activities of the crude extracts and the main bioactive compounds of A. camphorata. The list of bioactivities of crude extracts is huge, ranging from anti-cancer to vasorelaxation and others. Over 78 compounds consisting of terpenoids, benzenoids, lignans, benzoquinone derivatives, succinic and maleic derivatives, in addition to polysaccharides have been identified. Many of these compounds were evaluated for biological activity. Many activities of crude extracts and pure compounds of A. camphorata against some major diseases of our time, and thus, a current review is of great importance. It is concluded that A. camphorata can be considered as an efficient alternative phytotherapeutic agent or a synergizer in the treatment of cancer and other immune-related diseases. However, clinical trails of human on A. camphorata extracts are limited and those of pure compounds are absent. The next step is to produce some medicines from A. camphorata, however, the production may be hampered by problems related to mass production.

Genomic and transcriptomic analyses of the medicinal fungusAntrodia cinnamomeafor its metabolite biosynthesis and sexual development

“…cinnamomea is rich in polysaccharides (4) and produces specific ergostane triterpenoids, including antcins C and K (5), zhankuic acids A, B, and C (6), and antrocamphin (7). A. cinnamomea has long been the most valued medicinal fungus in Taiwan, as a remedy for various diseases, including hypertension, abdominal pains, hepatitis B, and cancers (8)(9)(10)(11). Also, the extract of A. cinnamomea has long been used to ameliorate the effects of alcohol intoxication.…”

“…For these reasons, numerous studies of its pharmacological properties have been conducted (12). Also, others have investigated the composition of polysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides and their differences between basidium and mycelium and among strains (11,13).…”

Antcin A, a steroid-like compound from Antrodia camphorata, exerts anti-inflammatory effect via mimicking glucocorticoids

“…To date, a total of 10 antcins, (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K) plus some of their derivatives have been identified in fruiting bodies of Niuchangchih [9] . Among the five minor ones not examined in this study, antcins D, F, G, and I, but not antcin E, possess an additional hydrophilic group attached to C-7.…”

“…More than 30 steroid-like compounds (triterpenoids and steroids) identified and structurally determined from fruiting bodies of Niuchangchih represent the major constituents and account for approximately 60% of dry weight in this medicinal Antcin A, a steroid-like compound from Antrodia camphorata, exerts anti-inflammatory effect via mimicking glucocorticoids www.chinaphar.com Chen YC et al Acta Pharmacologica Sinica npg mushroom [9] . Among these steroid-like compounds, antcins, a unique group having ergostane skeletons, are only found in Niuchangchih to date.…”

Effects of Taiwanofungus camphoratus on non-specific and specific immune activities in mice

“…Antrodia cinnamomea, Antrodia camphorata ) is an edible medicinal fungus native to Taiwan. It grows on the inner cavity of Cinnamomum kanehirae Hayata (Lauraceae) and has been used to promote health, treat liver disease, drug and food intoxication, hangover, exhaustion and cancers by the aboriginals in Taiwan for a long time (Wu SHR and Chang 1997; Geethangili and Tzeng 2011; Yue et al 2012). Several bioactive compounds of T. camphoratus have been identified and the biological functions in immunomodulatory (Song et al 2014; Kuo et al 2008; Sheu et al 2009), anticancer (Huang et al 2015; Kumar et al 2015; Lin et al 2015), antiinflammation (Chen YF et al 2014; Hsieh et al 2010), antioxidant (Wu MD et al 2011; Hseu et al 2008) and hepatoprotective (Huang CH et al 2010; Gokila Vani et al 2014; Chang et al 2016) effects were widely studied.…”