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Review

Recent developments in the pharmacological spectrum of pachymic acid from Poria cocos
Yesol Kang1
,
Yeonie Yoo1
,
Chan-Hyuk Kwon2
,
Sumi Lee3*
,
Min Woo Ha14*
1Jeju Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
2Seoul Shingil Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic, Seoul 07362, Republic of Korea
3School of Pharmacy and Institute of New Drug Development, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54907, Republic of Korea
4SynBioChem convergence Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
*Corresponding Author
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Abstract

Pachymic acid (PA) is a major triterpenoid component extracted from Poria cocos (PC), a fungus used in traditional medicine. PA has attracted attention due to its wide range of beneficial biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and metabolic regulatory functions. Numerous studies have demonstrated its therapeutic potential, showing that PA suppresses inflammatory responses, inhibits cancer cell proliferation, and regulates autophagy by acting on multiple cellular signaling pathways such as NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and AMPK. In addition, PA exhibits low cytotoxicity and possesses structural characteristics common in natural product-derived drug candidates, making it a promising candidate for development. While a milestone review in 2022 consolidated the pharmacological understanding of PA, the rapid influx of new data and certain findings previously overlooked in earlier reports necessitate a contemporary synthesis. In this review, we provide a non-redundant and updated overview by analyzing literature published between 2022 and 2025, while incorporating significant data not fully captured in previous reviews. Based on these findings, we discuss the evolving pharmacological profiles of PA and its prospective applications in therapeutic development.

Keywords
Pachymic acid
Poria cocos
Triterpenoid
Pharmacological activities
Molecular mechanisms
References
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Information
  • Publisher :Jeju Journal of Island Sciences
  • Publisher(Ko) :제주섬과학회지
  • Journal Title :Jeju Journal of Island Sciences
  • Journal Title(Ko) :제주섬과학회지
  • Received Date : 2026-03-31
  • Revised Date : 2026-05-07
  • Accepted Date : 2026-05-11
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.23264/JJIS.2026.3.2.031
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