Mycochemical Diversity and Therapeutic Potential of Hymenochaetoid Fungi from Central Asia: Regional and Global Perspectives

Abstract

Central Asia harbors a rich yet understudied assemblage of wood‐inhabiting Hymenochaetoid fungi. This review delivers the first comprehensive synthesis of 43 poroid species representing 18 genera documented across montane forests, steppes, and xeric habitats. Drawing on literature from 1977 to August 2025, we evaluate their taxonomic diversity, secondary metabolites, and pharmacological activities. Key metabolite classes include polysaccharides (notably β ‐glucans), lanostane‐type triterpenoids, phenolic acids, styrylpyrone derivatives, sterols, and sesquiterpenoids. These compounds display a broad spectrum of bioactivities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, immunomodulatory, anti‐inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and hypoglycemic effects. While globally recognized taxa such as Inonotus obliquus and Phellinus igniarius are well studied, most Central Asian endemics remain poorly characterized, highlighting a substantial untapped reservoir of therapeutic potential. Key challenges include unresolved taxonomy, nonstandardized metabolomic methodologies, limited mechanistic pharmacology, and insufficient ethnomycological and conservation data. To address these gaps, we propose a roadmap integrating multilocus phylogenomics, harmonized metabolomic workflows (LC‐MS/MS, GC–MS, NMR), and targeted in vitro, in vivo, and in silico pharmacological studies, supported by community‐based ethnomycological surveys and IUCN‐aligned conservation strategies. Future progress will require coupling these approaches with advanced omics technologies and AI‐enabled drug discovery to accelerate the translation of fungal metabolites into clinical candidates and nutraceuticals. At the same time, climate‐responsive conservation frameworks are urgently needed to safeguard this unique fungal reservoir. By linking biodiversity with translational pharmacology, this review positions Central Asian Hymenochaetoid fungi as a promising frontier for global natural product discovery and sustainable biotechnological innovation.

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