Vol. 5, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complementary and integrative approach that has stood the test of time. It uses remedies from the animal, mineral, and plant kingdoms to treat various conditions. Among these, edible fungi are commonly employed for their tonic and immunomodulatory effects, and recent studies have focused on their potential in cancer treatment. Many fungi have shown anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, and stimulating the immune system. In vitro studies have demonstrated reduced colony formation and migration abilities upon exposure to crude or solvent-extracted fungal compounds. In vivo studies using xenograft models confirmed these findings, and clinical trials on cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy suggest possible integration. Chemical analysis has revealed a correlation between the structure of fungal compounds and their anticancer activities, with the geographical origin of the fungi influencing their composition and therapeutic use. While current evidence is promising, researchers have yet to fully understand the molecular mechanisms behind these anticancer effects. This review presents an in-depth analysis of edible fungi as potential sources of novel anti-tumor compounds, based on both Western and Chinese databases.