The Potential of Mushroom Extracts to Improve Chemotherapy Efficacy in Cancer Cells: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Chemoresistance is a challenge in cancer treatment, limiting the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Mushroom extracts have shown potential as treatments for cancer therapies, offering a possible solution to overcome chemoresistance. This systematic review aimed to explore the role of mushroom extracts in enhancing chemotherapy and reversing chemoresistance in cancer cells. We searched the PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases, following the PRISMA guidelines, and registered on PROSPERO. The extracts acted by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells, as well as enhancing the effect of chemotherapy. The mechanisms by which they acted included regulating anti-apoptotic proteins, inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, inhibiting the ERK1/2 pathway, modulating microRNAs and regulating p-glycoprotein. These results highlight the potential of mushroom extracts to modulate multiple mechanisms in order to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. This work sheds light on the use of mushroom extracts as an aid to chemotherapy to combat chemoresistance. Although studies are limited, the diversity of mushrooms and their bioactive compounds show promising results for innovative strategies to treat cancer more effectively. It is crucial to carry out further studies to better understand the therapeutic potential of mushroom extracts to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy in cancer cells.

Bioactivity Profiling of Daedaleopsis confragosa (Bolton) J. Schröt. 1888: Implications for Its Possible Application in Enhancing Women’s Reproductive Health

“…Additionally, many lignicolous fungal species like G. lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Lentinula edodes, and Trametes versicolor possess anticancer properties since they contain highmolecular-weight polysaccharides, mostly β-glucans, which have been proven to stimulate innate immune cells, such as monocytes, natural killers (NK) cells, and dendritic cells, having direct antitumor effects [14]. Among these, many other species, such as Agaricus bisporus, Antrodia cinnamomea, Cordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris, and Pleorotus ostreatus, demonstrated anticancer properties against breast cancer [14], specifically in the estrogendependent cell lines, via a direct antiproliferative effect and reduction in the generation of reactive oxygen species [15][16][17]. In particular, the fungal extracts improved the chemotherapy efficacy in cancer cells by sensitizing the cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs, inducing apoptosis and antiproliferation [14].…”

“…Among these, many other species, such as Agaricus bisporus, Antrodia cinnamomea, Cordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris, and Pleorotus ostreatus, demonstrated anticancer properties against breast cancer [14], specifically in the estrogendependent cell lines, via a direct antiproliferative effect and reduction in the generation of reactive oxygen species [15][16][17]. In particular, the fungal extracts improved the chemotherapy efficacy in cancer cells by sensitizing the cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs, inducing apoptosis and antiproliferation [14]. However, fungi are well-known to act as biological response modifiers by bolstering the immune system, so more attention should be focused on their role in enhancing women's health, specifically regarding the anticancer effects on breast or cervical tumors [14].…”

“…In particular, the fungal extracts improved the chemotherapy efficacy in cancer cells by sensitizing the cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs, inducing apoptosis and antiproliferation [14]. However, fungi are well-known to act as biological response modifiers by bolstering the immune system, so more attention should be focused on their role in enhancing women's health, specifically regarding the anticancer effects on breast or cervical tumors [14]. A case-control study on the consumption of dietary fungi and breast cancer risk showed that fungi may decrease the breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women [18], while previous data suggest that it can be related to lower risk for breast cancer among premenopausal women as well; this relation may be more robust among women with hormone receptor-positive tumors [19].…”