Irpex lacteus: A Multifaceted Fungal Powerhouse—Exploring its Industrial Applications, Secondary Metabolites, and Biological Activities

Irpex lacteus (Fr.) Fr. (white rot, milk-white toothed polypore) is a wood-decaying fungus belonging to Irpicaceae family. This fungus has been utilized as a folk remedy for hypertension, edema, and oliguria, and its polysaccharide fraction (Yishenkang) is clinically used to cure glomerulonephritis in China. Irpex lacteus biosynthesizes different classes of secondary metabolites, including sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, alkaloids, furan derivatives, azaphilones, and xanthones. Irpex lacteus has the potential to produce various enzymes with wide biotechnological relevance. The current review surveyed the reported metabolites from I. lacteus, including their structures and biological properties, as well as their biosynthetic pathways. Also, the biotechnological and industrial importance of I. lacteus has been discussed. In this work, 213 secondary metabolites were reported from this fungus from 1981 to June 2024. Meanwhile, these metabolites` bioactivities mainly involve antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, nematocidal, antifeedant, and anti-acetylcholinesterase. Interestingly, sesquiterpenoids constitute the main chemical compounds reported from I. lacteus, accounting for 46 percent (99 compounds). Irpex lacteus possesses marked potential applications in lignin degradation, bioremediation, bio-bleaching, ethanol production, and milk clotting.