Natural Products and Health Care Functions of Inonotus obliquus
Yiming Wang, Jingsheng Gu, Jiaying Wu, Yuxuan Xu, Yiting Liu, Fengxiu Li, Qiao Liu, Kailun Lu, Ting Liang, Jingwen Hao, Ludan Li, Xiaoying Cao, Jihong Jiang
Abstract
With the increasing attention of modern medicine to natural medicinal agents, Inonotus obliquus (chaga), a macrofungus with remarkable medicinal value, has gradually garnered widespread academic interest. This paper reviews the primary bioactive components of I. obliquus in recent years, including polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and triterpenoids, which exhibit diverse pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activities. It further discusses how these bioactive components enhance human health and disease resistance through distinct biological mechanisms, such as the activation of antioxidant systems, regulation of immune responses, and modulation of apoptosis pathways. Additionally, the article explores the biosynthetic pathways of I. obliquus metabolites and their pharmacological relevance. Finally, we summarize the potential of I. obliquus as a natural medicinal resource and envisage its future applications in clinical drug development. This review aims to provide novel perspectives for the cultivation, utilization, and industrial-scale exploitation of I. obliquus.