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Ganoderma lucidum 灵芝 (Lingzhi, Ganoderma)
Abstract
Ganoderma, also referred to as Lingzhi in Chinese, is the dried fruiting body of both (Leyss. Ex Fr.) Karst (Chizhi) and G.
Zhao, Xu et Zhang (Zizhi) belonging to the family of Polyporaceae. Lingzhi has been recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopeia (2010) (Pharmacopoeia Committee of P. R. China in Pharmacopoeia of People’s Republic of China (I). Chemical Industry Publishers, Beijing, pp 174, 2010) as one of the most popular Chinese herbal medicines, and is frequently used as an ingredient in dietary supplements.
... A number of studies have proven numerous pharmacological effects. G. lucidum has immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory activity, acts as an anticholesterol and analgesic, has hemopreventive, antitumor, radioprotective, antibacterial, antiviral (including anti-HIV), hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, sleep promoting, antiaging, antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties, positive effects on diabetes, etc. (Halpern, 2007;Dong and Han, 2015). The main pharmacological effects of G. lucidum ethanol extract are shown in Fig. 6.2. ...
... Zou et al. (2003) used fungus Hydnum erinaceus and ginseng, besides G. lucidum, to produce health wine with unique taste and improve functionality. Many other herbs, such as Huang qi, Shan yao (Dioscorea opposita), Wu wei zi (Schisandra chinensis), and Rou cong rong (Cistanche deserticola or Cistanche tubulosa) can also be used in combination with fungus G. lucidum to prepare herbal wine (Dong and Han, 2015). For the production of the Chinese plant brand Essenshu, over 30 types of fungi and herbs are used. ...
... Lingzhi herb wine is traditionally used for balancing the body and slowing down the aging process (Dong and Han, 2015). In addition, this alcoholic beverage can be consumed for memory enhancement and body strengthening. ...
... The substances responsible for chemopreventive and/or tumoricidal activity of Ganoderma genus are mainly polysaccharides and triterpenes, but their cytotoxic capacity depends highly on the extraction and purification methods (Yuen et al., 2005). Numerous compounds of crude extract have a synergistic effect, resulting in an increase in biological activity of the extract (Dong et al., 2015). However, isolated biomolecules may reduce anti-tumor activity compared to the crude extract, which was proved by the study of Ma et al. (2011). ...
In this study, the nuraceutical and the pharmacological properties of the crude extract of a wild mushroom, Ganoderma adspersum (Schulz.) Donk collected from Tunisia, were investigated. The antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral (HSV-1) activities as well as antiproliferative potential against humain breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in vitro were studied. The fruiting body of Ganoderma revealed high protein and carbohydrates contents as well as a rich minerals composition and a low fat content. The crude extract exhibited a strong scavenging activity against ABTS+ radicals (IC50 = 9.75 μg/mL) and a powerful antibacterial activity against all tested Gram-positive bacteria. In this respect, the tested extract displayed an acceptable cytotoxicity limit towards normal Vero cells with a maximum non-toxic concentration value (MNTC) of 1.53 mg/mL as well as a proliferation ability which reached 108.19 % and 113.83 mg/mL at MNTC and 0.781 mg/mL concentrations, respectively. In addition, at concentration of 1.5 mg/mL, the extract exhibited an antiviral capacity against the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) with a potent selective index of 40 and a high percentage of protection of 84.7 % as well as a significant inhibition of MCF-7 cancer cells (16. 23 % ± 0.08). Our results corroborate the dietetic profile of G. adspersum as well as the medicinal potential of its crude extract, which could promote beneficial effects on human health. This is the first report on the antiviral HSV-1 and anticancer properties of a hydroalcholic extract of G. adspersum which highlights its potential as a natural source of bioactive components that can be isolated and tested in vivo.
Ganoderma lucidum, known as the “mushroom of immortality,” is a white rot fungus renowned for its medicinal properties, attributed to its bioactive compounds. Although species with similar morphological traits to G. lucidum are found across the globe, precise identification is made possible through DNA barcoding and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Global cultivation and wild harvesting of G. lucidum are both done in response to the growing market needs. Artificial cultivation is typically performed on sawdust, but other woody substrates and the wood log method are also employed. This cultivation leverages the fungus’s ecological role in converting industrial and agricultural solid wastes into biomass, thereby producing functional food and potential pharmaceutical sources. The review consolidates research on various aspects of, including cultivation methods (sawdust, agricultural waste, wood logs, and submerged fermentation), and the current global market conditions.
Introduction
The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ganoderma lingzhi culture (GLC) as a fermented feed on growth performance, serum biochemical profile, meat quality, and intestinal morphology and microbiota in Sanhuang broilers. In addition, the association between gut bacteria and metabolites was investigated via untargeted metabolomic analysis.
Methods
A total of 192 Sanhuang broilers (112 days old) with an initial body weight of 1.62 ± 0.19 kg were randomly allocated to four treatments, six replicate pens per treatment with 8 broilers per pen. The four treatments contain a control diet (corn-soybean meal basal diet, CON), a positive control diet (basal diet + 75 mg/kg chlortetracycline, PCON), and the experimental diets supplemented with 1.5 and 3% of GLC, respectively. The trial includes phase 1 (day 1–28) and phase 2 (day 29–56).
Results
The results showed that broilers in PCON and GLC-added treatments showed a lower FCR (P < 0.05) in phase 2 and overall period and a higher ADG (P < 0.05) in phase 2. On day 56, the concentrations of serum SOD (P < 0.05), and HDL (P < 0.05) and cecal SCFA contents (P < 0.05) were increased in broilers fed GLC diets. Broilers fed GLC also showed a higher microbiota diversity and an elevated abundance of SCFA-related bacteria in the caecum. The association between intestinal bacteria and metabolites was investigated via correlation analysis. The differential metabolites in the caecum, such as L-beta-aspartyl-L-aspartic acid and nicotinamide riboside, were identified.
Conclusion
In summary, dietary GCL supplementation could increase growth performance to some extent. Moreover, GLC might benefit broilers' health by improving serum HDL content, antioxidant status, SCFAs contents, bacterial diversity, and probiotic proliferation in the caecum.
The genus Ganoderma includes intrinsic wood rotting fungi of economic importance, which are spotted widely across the globe. The various species of Ganoderma possess pathogenicity as well as therapeutic and aesthetic qualities. It is commonly referred as ‘medicinal mushroom’ across the Asia due to the presence of many chemical compounds with significant dietary and curative values. Besides the forementioned utilities, Ganoderma is an important phytopathogen that causes basal stem rot in oil palm, coconut, and areca nut trees, as well as many other trees in the forest environment, such as oak and maple. The fungus is a soil-borne facultative parasite that produces chlamydospores and basidiospores while living saprophytically on decaying roots and stumps. This chapter focuses on the Ganoderma covering biodiversity, molecular characterisation, detection, pathology including aetiology, epidemiology, mode of dissemination, and management, and economic and ecological implications. Despite the fact that in the diseases caused by Ganoderma spp., the primary cause of disease has been well researched, but early detection and management approaches are still in their immature stage. Future research priorities should include gaining a comprehensive understanding of the aetiology and epidemiology of diseases on diverse hosts, as well as addressing existing ambiguity in species nomenclature.KeywordsBiodiversityBasal stem rotCharacterisation
Ganoderma
Integrated disease managementMushroom
Reishi owes an exceptional value in nutritional, cosmeceutical, and medical treatments; however, none of the studies has provided its future‐driven critical assessment. This study documents an up‐to‐date review (2015–2020, wherever applicable) and provide valuable insights (preclinical and clinical evidence‐based) with comprehensive and critical assessments. Various databases ‘Google scholar’, ‘Web of Science’, ‘ScienceDirect’, ‘PubMed’, ‘Springer Link’, books, theses, and library resources were used. The taxonomic chaos of G. lucidum and its related species was discussed in detail with solution‐oriented emphasis. Reishi contains polysaccharides (α/β‐D‐glucans), alkaloids, triterpenoids (ganoderic acids, ganoderenic acids, ganoderol, ganoderiol, lucidenic acids), sterols/ergosterol, proteins (LZ‐8, LZ‐9), nucleosides (adenosine, inosine, uridine), and nucleotides (guanine, adenine). Some active drugs are explored at an optimum level to make them potential drug candidates. The pharmacological potential was observed in diabetes, inflammation, epilepsy, neurodegeneration, cancer, anxiety, sedation, cardiac diseases, depression, hepatic diseases, and immune disorders; however, most of the studies are preclinical with a number of drawbacks. In particular, quality clinical data are intensely needed to support pharmacological activities for human use. The presence of numerous micro‐, macro, and trace elements imparts an essential nutritional and cosmeceutical value to Reishi, and various marketed products are available already, but the clinical studies regarding safety and efficacy, interactions with foods/drinks, chronic use, teratogenicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity are missing for Reishi. Reishi possesses many valuable pharmacological activities, and the number of patents and clinical trials is increasing for Reishi. Yet, a gap in research exists for Reishi, which is discussed in detail in the forthcoming sections.
Ganoderma species are some of the best known fungi due to their significant role as traditional medicine in numerous cultures, especially in Asia. Their medicinal significance has been verified by science, with novel compounds and applications continuing to be discovered. However, their utility for humans is not only limited to health and medicine. Due to their ecological roles as wood-decaying fungi and plant pathogens, additional uses exist in mycoremediation and agriculture, while the various ethnomycological roles they play provide further clues as to their potential in industry and allied sectors. Complementation with nanotechnology further provides novel opportunities. This chapter summarizes the potential of Ganoderma as exploited currently by humans and how species impact our daily lives, and also investigates novel applications and further opportunities. A staggering number of publications exist on Ganoderma species and this chapter is not at all meant to be exhaustive, but does aim to summarize as comprehensively as possible the diversity of uses these versatile fungi can provide.
Macrofungi have great economic value and are traded at world market fetching billions of dollars per annum. This high cost is probably because most species cannot be cultivated but are in great demand for gourmet cooking in many European countries and North America (Yun and Hall 2004; Karwa et al. 2011). As per the retail market, C. cibarius and B. edulis have estimated 1.67 billion USD and more than 250 million USD per annum, respectively. A. caesarea is also in demand in international market. Major countries demanding these species include China, the United States, France, Italy, Spain Canada, and Germany (Hall et al. 2003; Arora and Dunham 2008). Both wild and cultivated macrofungi with use value to mankind contribute tremendously to world economy. The sporocarps are sold fresh or dried in local markets or traded distantly on large scale at national and international level (Gold et al. 2008; Turtiainen and Nuutinen 2012; Bulam et al. 2018). Occurrence of macrofungi in wild is a natural and chance phenomenon. To take advantages of useful macrofungi, these must be made available to the rapidly growing human population and that too at cheaper prices. Moreover, the extraction and purification of fungal metabolites for use as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals require large-scale production of fungal biomass. To obtain this meet, several species of useful wild fungi are under cultivation in different regions of the world. The most common mushrooms in cultivation worldwide are A. bisporus, Cordyceps sinensis, L. edodes, Pleurotus spp., Auricularia spp., and F. velutipes, G. lucidum, and Poria cocos. China leads mushroom production followed by Italy, the United States, Netherlands, and Poland (Feeney et al. 2014; Grimm and Wösten 2018). According to an estimate, mushroom production in China keeps on increasing with 4,826,000–7,786,368 tonnes of mushrooms produced during 2010–2016. Current data shows that the global mushroom market had a value of 35 billion USD in 2015. During the period from 2016 to 2021, this market is expected to grow more by 9.2%, reaching nearly 60 billion USD in 2021 (Raman et al. 2018). The consumption increased from 1 to 4.7 kg of cultivated edible mushrooms per capita during 1997–2013 (Royse et al. 2017). This consumption keeps on increasing in the coming years, resulting in annual sales going from 34 to 60 billion USD (https://www.zionmarketresearch.com). Post harvest technology is applied to both the produce of field collection and cultivation yield of macrofungi for its protection, processing, distribution, marketing, and utilization as per the needs and demands of the consumers (Thakur 2018). Extracts of many edible/medicinal macrofungi are marketed as DSs for their immunostimulatory and other health-promoting properties (Table 8.1).
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum (SSGL), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, on growth performance, antioxidant ability, and immunity of broilers. Three hundred male broilers with similar body weights (40.0 ± 1.0 g) at 1 d of age were assigned randomly to 4 treatments. Each treatment contained 5 replicates of 15 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments were corn–soybean meal basal diet supplemented with SSGL at the concentrations of 0 (control), 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg diet. The results showed that diets supplemented with SSGL significantly increased (P
Ganoderma lucidum, commonly referred to as Lingzhi, has been used in Asia for health promotion for centuries. The anti-cancer effects of G. lucidum have been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition, the observed anti-cancer activities of Ganoderma have prompted its usage by cancer patients alongside chemotherapy.The main two bioactive components of G. lucidum can be broadly grouped into triterpenes and polysaccharides. Despite triterpenes and polysaccharides being widely known as the major active ingredients, the different biological pathways by which they exert their anti-cancer effect remain poorly defined. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of action may lead to more widespread use of Ganoderma as an anti-cancer agent.The aim of this paper is to summarise the various bioactive mechanisms that have been proposed for the anti-cancer properties of triterpenes and polysaccharides extracted from G. lucidum. A literature search of published papers on NCBI with keywords “Ganoderma” and “cancer” was performed. Among those, studies which specifically examined the anti-cancer activities of Ganoderma triterpenes and polysaccharides were selected to be included in this paper.We have found five potential mechanisms which are associated with the anti-cancer activities of Ganoderma triterpenes and three potential mechanisms for Ganoderma polysaccharides. In addition, G. lucidum has been used in combination with known anti-cancer agents to improve the anti-cancer efficacies. This suggests Ganoderma’s bioactive pathways may compliment that of anti-cancer agents. In this paper we present several potential anti-cancer mechanisms of Ganoderma triterpenes and polysaccharides which can be used for the development of Ganoderma as an anti-cancer agent.
Ganoderma is a kind of fungus which has long been used as a folk remedy for promoting health and longevity in Asian countries. Polysaccharide is considered as one of the main bioactive substances in Ganoderma. The isolation, structural features and bioactivities of Ganoderma polysaccharides have been investigated extensively in the past three decades. α or β-(1→3)-, (1→6)-glucans and heterosaccharides with different combinations of glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose, fucose as well as arabinose are extracted from different species, and molecular weight ranges from thousands to millions of Dalton. They have shown various important bioactivities, such as immunomodulatory, antitumor, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-hypertensive, and so on. The purpose of this present work is to summarize the most recent development of polysaccharides from Ganoderma in the aspects of isolation processes, structural features and bioactivities, and to state a view for future direction.
Recently a series of triterpenoids were isolated from ganoderma spores and have drawn the attention of chemists and pharmacists. The aim of this review is to summarize the triterpenoids and their bioactivities of ganoderma spores. The chemical and biological literatures of ganoderma spores dealing with the structural analysis and bioactivity assay were selected. Triterpenoids isolated from ganoderma spores showed significantly anti-HIV-1 protease, anti-tumor, and anti-complement activities. Triterpenoids are the main active constituents of ganoderma spores and show various bioactivities for its medicinal use. In addition, biological activities of ganoderma spores still need further assessment before they can be accepted not only by the traditional Asian medicine community, but also by western science and medicine.
Ganoderma lucidum (Ling Zhi) is a basidiomycete white rot macrofungus which has been used extensively as "the mushroom of immortality" in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries for 2000 years. A great deal of work has been carried out on therapeutic potential of Ganoderma lucidum. The basidiocarp, mycelia and spores of Ganoderma lucidum contain approximately 400 different bioactive compounds, which mainly include triterpenoids, polysaccharides, nucleotides, sterols, steroids, fatty acids, proteins/peptides and trace elements which has been reported to have a number of pharmacological effects including immunomodulation, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, chemo-preventive, antitumor, chemo and radio protective, sleep promoting, antibacterial, antiviral (including anti-HIV), hypolipidemic, anti-fibrotic, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-androgenic, anti-angiogenic, anti-herpetic, antioxidative and radical-scavenging, anti-aging, hypoglycemic, estrogenic activity and anti-ulcer properties. Ganoderma lucidum has now become recognized as an alternative adjuvant in the treatment of leukemia, carcinoma, hepatitis and diabetes. The macrofungus is very rare in nature rather not sufficient for commercial exploitation for vital therapeutic emergencies, therefore, the cultivation on solid substrates, stationary liquid medium or by submerged cultivation has become an essential aspect to meet the driving force towards the increasing demands in the international market. Present review focuses on the pharmacological aspects, cultivation methods and bioactive metabolites playing a significant role in various therapeutic applications.
Preclinical studies have established that the Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLPS) fractions have potent anti-tumor activity, which has been associated with the immuno-stimulating effects of GLPS. However, it is unclear whether GLPS has immuno-modulating effects in humans in vivo. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ganopoly, the polysaccharides fractions extracted from G. lucidum, on the immune function of advanced-stage cancer patients. Thirty-four advance-stage cancer patients were entered onto this study, and treated with 1800 mg Ganopoly, three times daily orally before meals for 12 weeks. Immune parameters (cytokines, T cell subsets, mitotic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and natural killer activity) were compared between baseline and after 12-week treatment. Thirty patients are assessable for their immune functions. Treatment of Ganopoly for 12 weeks resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the mean plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL-2), IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-gamma, whereas the levels of IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased. A marked variability among patients with advanced-stage cancer was observed in the numbers of each lymphocyte subset at baseline. The mean absolute number of CD56+ cells was significantly (P < 0.05) increased after 12-week treatment of Ganopoly, whereas the numbers of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ were just marginally increased compared to baseline levels, with the CD4:CD8 T cell ratios unchanged. PHA responses after 12-week treatment with Ganopoly were enhanced in most patients, when compared to pretreatment baselines (P < 0.05). In addition, Ganopoly treatment resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the mean NK activity compared to baselines (34.5 +/- 11.8% vs 26.6 +/- 8.3%). The present study indicates that Ganopoly enhanced the immune responses in patients with advanced-stage cancer. Clinical evaluations of response and toxicity are ongoing.
Cancer is one of the most common severe diseases in Canadian children, and chemotherapy treatment leads to numerous, potentially fatal, adverse side effects including febrile neutropenia and leukopenia. In an attempt to prevent opportunistic infections, Ganoderma lucidum, a mushroom that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years, is being used by some people as an adjunctive to chemotherapy to help boost the immune system. Although extensive research is being conducted to determine its immunostimulatory properties, there is essentially no data on toxicity.
The purpose of this study was to determine toxicity of low and high concentrations of 3 different extracts of G. lucidum (GL, Reishi and PSGL) on the viability of 1) Jurkat E6.1 cells, 2) LG2 cells, and 3) PBMCs isolated from a) healthy adults, b) healthy children, and c) paediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy.
When Jurkat E6.1 and LG2 cells were treated with increasing concentrations of the 3 extracts, both time- and concentration- dependent decreases in cell viability were observed. However, when human PBMCs were treated with the same extracts, variable results were obtained. Although there was no consistent pattern, toxicity was observed in PBMCs.
This is the first study that examines the toxicity of 3 different extracts of G. lucidum in both adultsâ and children's PBMCs. Contrary to previous belief, our results suggest that extracts of G. lucidum should be used with caution as there appears to be potential for toxicity.
Preclinical studies have established that the polysaccharide fractions of Ganoderma lucidum (Ling Zhi, reishi mashroom) have potential antitumor activity. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that G. lucidum polysaccharides enhanced host immune functions (e.g., enhanced natural killer cell activity) in patients with advanced solid tumor, although objective response was not observed. A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the G. lucidum polysaccharides, Ganopoly®, in patients with advanced lung cancer. Sixty-eight patients with histologically confirmed advanced lung cancer were enrolled. Eligibility criteria included con. rmation of diagnosis, objective measurable disease, a Karnofsky performance score і60, life expectancy of 12 weeks or greater, no recent or concomitant anticancer therapy, and informed consent. Patients were evaluated with respect to their extent of disease and quality of life (Karnofsky score), and hematologic and selected immunological and biochemical studies at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment with oral Ganopoly or placebo at 600 mg three times daily. Patients in both groups were similar with respect to age, sex, treatment history, and lung tumor histology.
Several β-D-glucans, appertaining to the same molecular species but having different degrees of branching, were isolated from water and alkali extracts of the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi). The purified glucans that were mostly water-insoluble had a backbone of (1→3)-linked D-glucose residues, attached mainly with single D-glucosyl units at O-6 and also with a few short (1→4)-linked glucosyl units at O-2 positions. However, their degrees of branching appeared to differ in the range of d.b. 1/3-1/23, depending on the extracted glucan fractions. In addition to the β-glucans, the fruiting body contained water-soluble heteropolysaccharides, comprising D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, L-(or o)-arabinose, D-xylose, and L-fucose.
A branched (1→3)-β-D-glucan was also isolated from the culture filtrate of G. lucidum grown in a glucose-yeast extract medium. The extracellular β-D-glucan was less soluble in water after purification, but soluble in dilute alkali. This glucan has essentially the same structure as that of hot-water extracted polysaccharide from the fruiting body. The repeating unit of the glucan contains a backbone chain of (1→3)-linked D-glucose residues, five out of sixteen D-glucose residues being substituted at O-6 positions with single D-glucosyl units and one D-glucose residue at O-2 positions probably with a cellobiose unit.
The hot-water extractable fruiting body glucan and the extracellular glucan of the culture of growing mycelium showed relatively high growth-inhibition activities against Sarcoma 180 solid tumor in mice, when administered by- successive intraperitoneal injections. When the moderately branched glucans were modified to D-glucan-polyols by periodate oxidation and borohydride reduction, they exhibited higher antitumor activities, confirming the previous conclusion that the attachment of polyol groups to the (1→3)-linked backbone significantly enhances its host-mediated antitumor effect.
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- Nie
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- Ma
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- Gao