1. 17852504 (2007)

• Our previous studies showed that Ganoderma lucidum bio-transformed 20-30% of inorganic selenium from substrate to organic forms by preferentially incorporating selenium into proteins.
• In the present study, four kinds of protein extracts from selenium-enriched G. lucidum were prepared with different extracting solvents, which contain water-soluble, alkaline-soluble, salt-soluble and alcohol-soluble protein extracts, and the effects on antioxidant activity of characterizations of protein extracts were studied.
• Results showed that water-soluble extract showed strongest antioxidant properties among all extracts as suggested by spin trapping experiment due to its characterizations, followed by the alkaline-soluble>the salt-soluble >the alcohol-soluble protein extracts, a result demonstrating that selenium content and amino acids composition of the protein extracts play important and direct roles in enhancing their antioxidant activities, and the protein distribution and sugar content have an indirect effect by influencing the characters and structures.

2. 17666849 Chem. Pharm. Bull. (2007) Genes: DBL

• In the present study, the antioxidant activity of hot water extract (decoction) of Chaga was precisely compared with those of other medicinal fungi (Agaricus blazei Mycelia, Ganoderma lucidum and Phellinus linteus) showing Chaga had the strongest antioxidant activity among fungi examined in terms of both superoxide and hydroxyl radicals scavenging activities.
• Further determination of the antioxidant potential of isolated fruiting body (brown part) and Sclerotium (black part) revealed the 80% MeOH extract of fruiting body had the highest potential as high as that of Chaga decoction.
• Finally, seven antioxidant components were isolated and purified from the 80% MeOH extract of Chaga fruiting body, and their chemical structures were determined as small phenolics as follows: 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy benzoic acid 2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl ethyl ester (BAEE), protocatechic acid (PCA), caffeic acid (CA), 3,4-dihybenzaladehyde (DB), 2,5-dihydroxyterephtalic acid (DTA), syringic acid (SA) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone (DBL).

3. 17907228 Arthritis Rheum. (2007) Genes: RANTES CD8 IL-18 ACR CD4 interleukin-18 interferon-gamma monokine induced by IFNgamma Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 IFNgamma

• OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of popular Chinese herbs used in a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combination of Ganoderma lucidum and San Miao San (SMS), with purported diverse health benefits including antioxidant properties in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• However, no significant antioxidant, antiinflammatory, or immunomodulating effects could be demonstrated.

4. 16964420 Int J Mol Med. (2006) Genes: NF-kappaB AP-1 c-fos ERK1 Interleukin-8

• Ganoderma lucidum is an Asian medicinal mushroom that has been used for the past two thousand years for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer.
• G. lucidum is currently popular as a dietary supplement in the form of tea, powder or extract.
• We have previously demonstrated that G. lucidum suppresses growth, angiogenesis and invasiveness of highly invasive and metastatic breast cancer cells.
• The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of G. lucidum on oxidative stress-induced metastatic behavior of poorly-invasive MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
• We show that G. lucidum inhibits oxidative stress-induced migration of MCF-7 cells by the down-regulation of MAPK signaling.
• G. lucidum suppressed oxidative stress stimulated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (Erk1/2), which resulted in the down-regulation of expression of c-fos, and in the inhibition of transcription factors AP-1 and NF-kappaB.
• The biological effect of G. lucidum on cell migration was mediated by the suppression of secretion of interleukin-8 from MCF-7 cells exposed to oxidative stress.
• In summary, our results suggest that G. lucidum inhibits the oxidative stress-induced invasive behavior of breast cancer cells by modulating Erk1/2 signaling and can be potentially considered as an antioxidant in adjuvant cancer therapy.

5. 16713154 J Ethnopharmacol. (2006) Genes: NPD GPT CAT SOD

• The antimutagenic activity of the methanolic extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.)
• The prior administration of extract markedly inhibited mutagenicity induced by B[a]P. The results indicated that the methanolic extract of Ganoderma lucidum occurring in South India possessed significant antimutagenic activity.
• The extract also profoundly inhibited lipid peroxidation induced by B[a]P. The results revealed that Ganoderma lucidum extract restored antioxidant defense and prevented hepatic damage consequent to the challenge by B[a]P.

6. 16614703 Exp Oncol. (2006) Genes: GLE-1

• AIM: Ganoderma lucidum is a commonly used Chinese herb and an important ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulations for immune dysfunction related illnesses.
• In this study, we investigated the effects of Ganoderma lucidum extract using SW 480 human colorectal cancer cell line.
• MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two different fractions of Ganoderma lucidum extract, i.e., a fraction containing mainly polysaccharides (GLE-1), and a triterpenoid fraction without polysaccharides (GLE-2) were analyzed.
• CONCLUSION: Ganoderma lucidum extract inhibits proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and possesses antioxidant properties.

7. 15898702 Phytomedicine. (2005)

• Here, we report on the combination of a cat's claw water extract (C-Med-100, carboxy alkyl esters = active ingredients) + medicinal mushroom extracts (Cordyceps sinensis, Grifola blazei, Grifolafrondosa, Trametes versicolor and Ganoderma lucidum, polysaccharides = active ingredients) + nicotinamide + zinc into a formulation designed to optimize different modes of immunostimulatory action, and yet that would avoid metabolic antioxidant competition yielding less than expected efficacious effects.

8. 16335796 Mol Cell Biochem. (2005) Genes: INOS

• Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, Linzhi or Reishi) is a traditional herbal medicine which is commonly used as health supplement.
• The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of G. lucidum on iNOS-mediated NO production in macrophages.
• Treatment of macrophages with G. lucidum extract (100 microg/ml) completely abolished LPS-induced iNOS mRNA expression and NO production.
• Such an inhibitory effect of G. lucidum was mediated via its antioxidant action against LPS-induced superoxide anion generation in macrophages.
• These results suggest that G. lucidum may exert a therapeutic effect against atherosclerosis via ameliorating iNOS-mediated NO overproduction in macrophages.

9. 16323548 Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. (2005) Genes: SOD

• OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on blood lipid and lipoperoxidation from the experimental hyperlipidemic rats.
• METHOD: 50 rats were randomly divided into normal group, hyperlipidemia control group, experimental group 1, 2 and 3 in which the rats were treated with ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides at dosages of 200 mg x kg(-1) and 400 mg x kg(-1) and 800 mg x kg(-1) respectively.
• RESULT: Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides could significantly decrease the serum contents of TC, TG, LDL-c in the experimental hyperlipidemic rats (P < 0.01), and markedly increase the level of serum HDL-C (P < 0.05), Mean Level of blood LPO in the experimental groups treated by ganoderma lacidum polysaccharides at different dosages were much lower than that in hyper lipidema group, and the GSH-Px and SOD activities of blood in the group of ganoderma were much higher than those in hyperlipidema group.
• CONCLUSION: Ganoderma can regulate lipid metabolism, enhance the antioxidation and reduce the lipid peroxidation in the rats with hyperlipidemia.

10. 16156953 Redox Rep. (2005)

• Ganoderma lucidum, an oriental fungus, is widely used for the promotion of health and longevity and is reported to have antioxidant and genoprotective properties.
• The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of G. lucidum on human lymphocytic DNA ex vivo using the comet assay, and to explore the mechanism of action and the effect of dose.
• Results showed that G. lucidum has a genoprotective effect at low concentration (0.0001% w/v), but damaged DNA at higher concentrations.
• The mechanism of damage appeared to be mediated by hydrogen peroxide, which was generated in vitro by G. lucidum, as the effect was ameliorated by the presence of catalase.
• At concentrations at which no damage was induced, G. lucidum appeared to confer protection against subsequent oxidant challenge to cells.
• The production of hydrogen peroxide by G. lucidum and its cytotoxic effects should be considered as a factor in future studies.
• However, the protective effect of G. lucidum at low concentration may explain, in part, some of the reported health benefits of this herb.

11. 16233584 J Biosci Bioeng. (2004) Genes: SOD tyrosinase ACE

• The goal of this study was to develop a high value Korean traditional rice wine possessing the pharmaceutical functionality of Ganoderma lucidum.
• The effects of the fruiting body of G. lucidum on the alcohol fermentation of Korean traditional rice wine, yakju, were investigated.
• Optimal fermentation conditions for the preparation of G. lucidum-yakju consisted of the koji added at 15% and a fermentation period of 15 d at 25 degrees C. The effects of the amount of G. lucidum added on the acceptability and functionality of G. lucidum-yakju were investigated.
• G. lucidum GL-1 yakju brewed by adding 0.1% G. lucidum into the mash showed the best acceptability and its angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and SOD-like activity were 63% and 42%, respectively, both of which are higher than those of yakju.
• The high ACE inhibitory activity of G. lucidum GL-1 yakju was found to result from ganoderic acid K in G. lucidum on the basis of physical and spectral data.
• However, the fibrinolytic activity and antioxidant activity of G. lucidum GL-1 yakju were very low, while tyrosinase inhibitory activity was not determined.
• From these results, G. lucidum GL-1 yakju may become a new functional Korean traditional rice wine with antihypertensive properties.

12. 15742340 Phytother Res. (2004)

• The hot water extract of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum was shown to have antioxidative effect against heart toxicity.
• Ganoderma lucidum, at doses of 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg (p.o.) was administered.
• The results of this study showed that Ganoderma lucidum exhibited a dose-dependent antioxidative effect on lipid peroxidation and superoxide scavenging activity in mouse heart homogenate.
• Additionally, this result indicated that heart damage induced by ethanol shows a higher malonic dialdehyde level compared with heart homogenate treated with Ganoderma lucidum.
• It is concluded that the antioxidative activity may therefore contribute to the cardioprotective effect of Ganoderma lucidum, and may therefore protect the heart from superoxide induced damage.

13. 15479035 J Agric Food Chem. (2004)

• The present study investigates the antioxidant activities of peptides isolated from the medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum.
• G. lucidum has been shown to possess potent antioxidant activity with little or no side effects.
• Polysaccharide, polysaccharide-peptide complex, and phenolic components of G. lucidum have been proposed to be responsible for this antioxidant effect.
• However, research has shown that the G. lucidum peptide (GLP) is the major antioxidant component of G. lucidum.
• The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of this peptide using different oxidation systems.
• GLP showed potent antioxidant activities in both lightproof soybean oil and lard systems, assessed by lipid peroxidant value.
• Compared to butylated hydroxytoluene, GLP showed a higher antioxidant activity in the soybean oil system.
• GLP showed substantial antioxidant activity in the rat liver tissue homogenates and mitochondrial membrane peroxidation systems.
• On the basis of these results, it is concluded that GLP is the major constituent responsible for the antioxidant activity of G. lucidum.
• GLP could play an important role in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in biological systems through its antioxidant, metal chelating, and free radical scavenging activities.

14. 14987072 J Nat Prod. (2004) Genes: BRM

• Finally, numerous compounds with cardiovascular, phytotoxic, immunomodulatory, analgesic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, insecticidal, and nematocidal activities, isolated from polypores, are also presented.
• In fact many of the fungi mentioned in this paper have long been used in herbal medicine, including polypores such as Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi or Ling Zhi), Laetiporus sulphureus (Chicken-of-the-Woods), Trametes versicolor (Yun Zhi), Grifola umbellata (Zhu Lin), Inonotus obliquus (Chaga), and Wolfiporia cocos (Hoelen).

15. 14756912 Br J Nutr. (2004)

• Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a woody mushroom highly regarded in traditional medicine and is widely consumed in the belief that it promotes health and longevity, lowers the risk of cancer and heart disease and boosts the immune system.
• The present double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over intervention study investigated the effects of 4 weeks Lingzhi supplementation on a range of biomarkers for antioxidant status, CHD risk, DNA damage, immune status, and inflammation, as well as markers of liver and renal toxicity.
• It was performed as a follow-up to a study that showed that antioxidant power in plasma increased after Lingzhi ingestion, and that 10 d supplementation was associated with a trend towards an improved CHD biomarker profile.
• No significant change in any of the variables was found, although a slight trend toward lower lipids was again seen, and antioxidant capacity in urine increased.

16. 14630595 Int J Food Sci Nutr. (2004) Genes: SOD FRAP

• Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) is a popular Chinese herb with an impressive array of reputed health benefits, including antioxidant properties.
• The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro antioxidant capacity of Lingzhi, absorption and systemic distribution of Lingzhi antioxidants, and effects of short-term (10 days) supplementation on biomarkers of antioxidant status, coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and DNA damage.
• Results showed that the total antioxidant capacity (as the FRAP value) of an aqueous suspension of Lingzhi was 360 micromol/g. Ingestion of Lingzhi caused a significant post-ingestion increase (mean+/-SEM 23+/-3 micromol/L; P<0.05) in plasma antioxidant capacity, with peak response at 90 min.
• Average increase of 29+/-11% (P<0.05) in urine antioxidant capacity was seen within 3 hours of ingestion.
• After 10 days' supplementation with 0.72 g per day of Lingzhi, fasting plasma lipid standardised alpha-tocopherol concentration and urine antioxidant capacity increased (P<0.05).
• Results indicate that Lingzhi intake causes an acute increase in plasma antioxidant capacity.
• The pattern of biomarker response after supplementation indicated possible benefit in terms of antioxidant status and CHD risk, but further study is needed to elucidate the nature and longer-term effects of the absorbable antioxidants from Lingzhi.

17. 12631441 Redox Rep. (2003)

• Cells were incubated, separately, for 30 min with aqueous extracts (1.5% w/v) of lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum), ginger (Zingiber officianale), ginseng (Panax ginseng), and green tea (Camellia sinensis).
• Results indicate that lingzhi and ginger contain antioxidant component(s) that act within the cell membrane and slow lipid peroxidation in situ.

18. 12358482 J Agric Food Chem. (2002)

• Three species of medicinal mushrooms are commercially available in Taiwan, namely, Ganoderma lucidum (Ling-chih), Ganoderma tsugae (Sung-shan-ling-chih), and Coriolus versicolor (Yun-chih).
• Methanolic extracts were prepared from these medicinal mushrooms and their antioxidant properties studied.
• At 0.6 mg/mL, G. lucidum, G. lucidum antler, and G. tsugae showed an excellent antioxidant activity (2.30-6.41% of lipid peroxidation), whereas C. versicolor showed only 58.56%.
• At 4 mg/mL, reducing powers were in the order G. tsugae (2.38) approximately G. lucidum antler (2.28) > G. lucidum (1.62) > C. versicolor (0.79).
• The scavenging effect of methanolic extracts from G. lucidum and G. lucidum antler on hydroxyl radical was the highest (51.2 and 52.6%) at 16 mg/mL, respectively.
• At 2.4 mg/mL, chelating effects on ferrous ion were in the order G. lucidum antler (67.7%) > G. lucidum (55.5%) > G. tsugae (44.8%) > C. versicolor (13.2%).
• Total phenols were the major naturally occurring antioxidant components found in methanolic extracts from medicinal mushrooms.
• Overall, G. lucidum and G. tsugae were higher in antioxidant activity, reducing power, scavenging and chelating abilities, and total phenol content.

19. 12230945 Acta Pharmacol Sin. (2002)

• AIM: To study the protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides peptide (GLPP) on the mice peritoneal macrophages injured by reactive oxygen species (ROS), derived from tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH) in vitro and in vivo.
• CONCLUSION: GLPP had significant scavenging ROS and antioxidant effects.

20. 11789593 Am J Chin Med. (2001)

• The antioxidative effect of hot water extract of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum on ethanol-induced free radical generation had been studied.
• In order to further investigate the hepatic and renal protective mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum, rates of lipid peroxidation were determined.
• The hot water extract of Ganoderma lucidum dose-dependently exhibited antioxidative effect on mouse liver and kidney lipid peroxidation; our results indicated that hepatic and renal homogenates have a higher malonic dialdehyde level in an ethanol administered group than in the Ganoderma lucidum treated group.
• It was concluded that the hepatic and renal protective mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum, might be due at least in part to its prominent superoxide scavenging effect.

21. 11351361 Phytother Res. (2001)

• Ganoderma lucidum has been used in traditional oriental medicine and has potential antiinflammatory and antioxidant activities.
• In the present study, we tested the amino-polysaccharide fraction (designated as 'G009') from Ganoderma lucidum for the ability to protect against oxidative damage induced by ROS.
• These findings suggest that G009 from Ganoderma lucidum possesses chemopreventive potential.

22. 10479768 Phytother Res. (1999)

• Ganoderma lucidum was studied for its antioxidative activity by bioassay guided isolation in conjunction with in vitro tests.
• The two fractions and Ex1 were screened for their antioxidative effect against pyrogallol induced erythrocyte membrane oxidation and Fe (II)-ascorbic acid induced lipid peroxidation.
• All tested samples showed antioxidative activities in a dose dependent manner and the terpene fraction was found to possess the highest effect compared with the others.

23. 10425278 Int J Mol Med. (1999)

• The fruit bodies of Ganoderma lucidum have been used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases in the Orient.
• Using agarose gel electrophoresis, we have evaluated the potential of Ganoderma lucidum extract as a radioprotector and antioxidant defense against oxygen radical-mediated damage.
• Although the evidence presented here is based on in vitro using isolated DNA, the results clearly demonstrate that the hot-water extract of Ganoderma lucidum shows good radioprotective ability, as well as protection against DNA damage induced by metal-catalyzed Fenton reactions and UV irradiation.
• We also found that the water-soluble polysaccharide isolated from the fruit body of Ganoderma lucidum was as effective as the hot-water extract in protecting against hydroxyl radical-induced DNA strand breaks, indicating that the polysaccharide compound is associated with the protective properties.