THE ROLE OF MUSHROOMS AND THEIR BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

Background: Cancer remains one of the most significant global health concerns, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates. Conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies are widely used but often come with significant limitations, including severe side effects, resistance development, and compromised quality of life. The search for safer and more effective complementary therapies has led to growing interest in natural compounds with anticancer potential. Medicinal mushrooms have long been valued in traditional medicine for their nutritional and therapeutic properties, offering a promising alternative for cancer prevention and treatment. Body: Mushrooms are a rich source of bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, sterols, and lectins, which exhibit diverse pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and tumor-suppressive effects. Notable species, including Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Maitake (Grifola frondosa), and Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), have been extensively studied for their ability to enhance immune function, induce apoptosis, and inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that mushroom-derived compounds can influence key cancer-related pathways, including immune regulation, oxidative stress reduction, and cell cycle arrest, suggesting their potential as adjunct therapies alongside conventional treatments. Conclusion: The existing body of research provides compelling evidence supporting the anticancer potential of medicinal mushrooms. However, challenges such as standardization of bioactive compounds, dose optimization, and regulatory validation remain. Further large-scale clinical trials and mechanistic studies are essential to fully harness their therapeutic benefits and facilitate their integration into conventional cancer treatment strategies. Medicinal mushrooms hold promise as natural, well-tolerated agents that could complement existing therapies and improve patient outcomes in oncology.