The mechanistic role of Poria cocos in cancer treatment: Antitumor activity and adjuvant potential in chemotherapy

Abstract

Poria cocos is a prominent traditional fungal medicine that has been utilized in China for over a millennium. Its major bioactive constituents include triterpenes and polysaccharides, along with other minor components such as steroids, histidine, choline, amino acids, and essential minerals, which exhibit diverse pharmacological mechanisms, including antitumor, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects.

Globally, cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, accounting for approximately nine million deaths annually. Despite advances in current conventional therapies, complete tumor eradication remains elusive, and these treatments are often accompanied by severe adverse effects.

To comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic potential of poria cocos, publications from 2002 to 2025 were systematically reviewed from PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. This review elucidates the antitumor properties of poria cocos on various cancers, including lung, colorectal, breast, and gastric cancers. Furthermore, it highlights its adjuvant role in enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents through multiple mechanisms, such as inhibition of cellular proliferation and metastasis, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and modulation of immune, inflammatory, and oxidative signaling pathways.

Collectively, these findings demonstrate the promising antitumor and adjuvant potential of poria cocos in cancer therapy. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to determine optimal dosages, toxicity profiles, and clinical efficacy. Rigorous quality control, standardization, and well-designed clinical trials are essential to validate its safety and effective clinical application.