Abstract
Meroterpenoids are secondary metabolites partially derived from the terpenoid biosynthetic pathway, and are widely distributed in plants, animals, and fungi. These natural products possess complex backbone structures and diverse bioactivities. Ganoderma meroterpenoids (GMs) form a distinct group of meroterpenoids were characterized by the presence of 1,2,4-trisubstituted phenyl and polyunsaturated terpene moieties. Various Ganoderma species have been extensively studied, leading to the discovery of several structurally unique meroterpenoids with significant pharmacological activities. After the first isolation and identification of GMs in 2 000, over 300 compounds from 14 species have been characterized for their structures and biological activities. The structures and activities of some GMs from different Ganoderma species vary greatly, probably due to significant differences in the genome and transcriptome of different Ganoderma species. We predicted the related enzymes based on the reported Ganoderma genome and proposed the biosynthetic pathway related to GMs. The results presented in this review provide a scientific foundation for the comprehensive exploration and utilization of diverse Ganoderma resources.