Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi), a traditional medicinal mushroom, is renowned for its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, primarily attributed to its bioactive components such as polysaccharides and triterpenoids. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which Ganoderma lucidum modulates immune responses, particularly in the context of gut–liver–brain axis disorders. Polysaccharides enhance immune function by activating macrophages, natural killer cells, and T cells, thereby promoting phagocytosis and cytokine production. Triterpenoids contribute through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, inhibiting inflammatory mediators and protecting tissues from damage. Ganoderma lucidum also influences immune regulation via key signaling pathways, including NF-κB and MAPK, and supports immune tolerance, potentially reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases. Additionally, it modulates gut microbiota, which further impacts systemic immunity. Importantly, polysaccharides and triterpenoids demonstrate promising clinical application prospects in metabolic diseases, inflammatory conditions, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer immunotherapy, attributed to their multi-target immunomodulatory activities and prebiotic properties. Despite promising applications in treating metabolic, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, further research is needed to fully elucidate the molecular mechanisms and potential of Ganoderma lucidum in precision medicine. This comprehensive analysis underscores the value of Ganoderma lucidum as a multifaceted immunomodulatory agent.

Natural products play important roles in the pathogenesis of many human malignancies, including colorectal cancer, and can act as a gene regulator in many cancers. They regulate malignant cell growth through many cellular signal pathways, including Rac family small GTPase 1 (RAC1)/PI3K/AKT (α-serine/threonine-protein kinase), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Wnt/β-catenin pathway, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), the Notch pathway, Hippo pathway, and Hedgehog pathway. In this review, we describe the epigenetic roles of several natural products, e.g., platycodin D (PD), ginsenoside Rd, tretinoin, Rutin, curcumin, clove extract, betulinic acid, resveratrol, and curcumin, in colorectal cancer, including their impact on colorectal cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, and anti-chemotherapeutic resistance. The aim is to illustrate the epigenetic mechanisms of action of natural products in cancer prevention and treatment, and to provide (1) a theoretical basis for the study of the role of epigenetics in influencing colorectal cancer; (2) new directions for studying the occurrence, development, and prognosis of colorectal cancer; and (3) new targets for treating and preventing colorectal cancer.

Diseases are evolving as living standards continue to improve. Cancer is the main cause of death and a major public health problem that seriously threatens human life. Colorectal cancer is one of the top ten most common malignant tumors in China, ranking second after gastric cancer among gastrointestinal malignant tumors, and its incidence rate is increasing dramatically each year due to changes in the dietary habits and lifestyle of the world’s population. Although conventional therapies, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, have profoundly impacted the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), drug resistance and toxicity remain substantial challenges. Natural products, such as dietary therapeutic agents, are considered the safest alternative for treating CRC. In addition, there is substantial evidence that natural products can induce apoptosis, inhibit cell cycle arrest, and reduce the invasion and migration of colon cancer cells by targeting and regulating the expression and function of miRNAs. Here, we summarize the recent research findings on the miRNA-regulation-based antitumor mechanisms of various active ingredients in natural products, highlighting how natural products target miRNA regulation in colon cancer prevention and treatment. The application of natural drug delivery systems and predictive disease biomarkers in cancer prevention and treatment is also discussed. Such approaches will contribute to the discovery of new regulatory mechanisms associated with disease pathways and provide a new theoretical basis for developing novel colon cancer drugs and compounds and identifying new therapeutic targets.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of the arteries, causing them to narrow. If this occurs in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels may be completely blocked, resulting in myocardial infarction; if it occurs in the blood vessels of the brain, the blood vessels may be blocked, resulting in cerebral infarction, i.e., stroke. Studies have shown that the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis involves the processes of inflammation, lipid infiltration, oxidative stress, and endothelial damage, etc. SIRT, as a key factor regulating the molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging, has an important impact on the pathogenesis of plaque formation, progression, and vulnerability. Statistics show that AS accounts for about 50 per cent of deaths in Western countries. Currently, oral medication is the mainstay of AS treatment, but its development is limited by side effects, low bioavailability and other unfavourable factors. In recent years, with the rapid development of nano-preparations, researchers have combined statins and natural product drugs within nanopreparations to improve their bioavailability. Based on this, this paper summarises the main pathogenesis of AS and also proposes new oral nanoformulations such as liposomes, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and nanocapsules to improve their application in the treatment of AS.

Ongoing research is gradually broadening the idea of cancer treatment, with attention being focused on nanoparticles to improve the stability, therapeutic efficacy, targeting, and other important metrics of conventional drugs and traditional drug delivery methods. Studies have demonstrated that drug delivery carriers based on biomaterials (e.g., protein nanoparticles and lipids) and inorganic materials (e.g., metal nanoparticles) have potential anticancer effects. Among these carriers, self-assembled proteins and peptides, which are highly biocompatible and easy to standardize and produce, are strong candidates for the preparation of anticancer drugs. Breast cancer (BC) and cervical cancer (CC) are two of the most common and deadly cancers in women. These cancers not only threaten lives globally but also put a heavy burden on the healthcare system. Despite advances in medical care, the incidence of these two cancers, particularly CC, which is almost entirely preventable, continues to rise, and the mortality rate remains steady. Therefore, there is still a need for in-depth research on these two cancers to develop more targeted, efficacious, and safe therapies. This paper reviews the types of self-assembling proteins and peptides (e.g., ferritin, albumin, and virus-like particles) and natural products (e.g., soy and paclitaxel) commonly used in the treatment of BC and CC and describes the types of drugs that can be delivered using self-assembling proteins and peptides as carriers (e.g., siRNAs, DNA, plasmids, and mRNAs). The mechanisms (including self-assembly) by which the natural products act on CC and BC are discussed. The mechanism of action of natural products on CC and BC and the mechanism of action of self-assembled proteins and peptides have many similarities (e.g., NF-KB and Wnt). Thus, natural products using self-assembled proteins and peptides as carriers show potential for the treatment of BC and CC.