Angiogenesis is a physiological process involving the development of new blood vessels from
pre-existing vessels. The normal regulation of angiogenesis is governed by a fine balance
between factors that induce the development of blood vessels and those that inhibit this process.
A disruption of this balance leads to pathological angiogenesis. Tumour cells are known to
induce angiogenesis by secreting various growth factors such as VEGF which induce capillary
growth into the tumour, supplying it with required nutrients and allowing for tumour expansion
and metastasis.
Studies have shown that G. lucidum possesses anti-angiogenic activity and can also inhibit
the production of nitric oxide, an inducing agent of angiogenesis overexpressed in tumours [83].
A study by Cao et al. (2006) showed that a polysaccharide peptide (Gl-PP) isolated from G.
lucidum inhibits the proliferation of human umbilical cord vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC)
in a dose-dependent manner [84]. In human lung carcinoma cells, a high dose of Gl-PP for 18
hours under hypoxic conditions led to a decrease in the amount of secreted VEGF. In HUVECs,
Gl-PP led to a reduction in Bcl-2 expression and an increase in Bax expression which induces