Ganoderma Lucidum

The operating conditions for a shake-flask culture of Ganoderma lucidum were studied. Of the carbon sources examined, brown sugar and malt extract most effectively promoted mycelial growth and the production of polysaccharide, while yeast extract and skim milk were the most effective nitrogen sources. Adding safflower seed oil to the medium significantly promoted the formation of mycelium. Additionally, supplying CaCO 3 promoted both the mycelial growth and the polysaccharide production. The optimal initial pH and incubation temperature were 6.5 and 34 • C, respectively. The medium composition was then optimized using a systematic method that integrated the Taguchi array method and the steepest ascent method. The mycelium yield and the polysaccharide production were considered as two product quality variables. A desirability function was applied to combine these two qualities as a single objective function. The steepest ascent method was demonstrated effectively and efficiently to approach the neighborhood of the optimum. The optimum medium composition was found to be 1.88 g l −1 CaCO 3 , 71.4 g l −1 brown sugar, 12.

Δεν είναι τυχαίο άλλωστε ότι αιώνες πριν, το Ganoderma lucidum αναφερόταν ως το φάρμακο
που μπορούσε να εξασφαλίσει σε κάποιον αιώνια νεότητα και μακροζωία. Ηταν επίσης γνωστό
και ως το «Μυστικό των Αυτοκρατόρων» αφού λόγω της σπανιότητάς του αποτελούσε την τροφή
των βασιλέων και ειδικότερα της δυναστείας των Μινγκ οι οποίοι το θεωρούσαν κλειδί για να
κατακτήσουν την αθανασία.....

Fruiting bodies of some wild and cultivatable mushrooms contain medicinal compounds which are being used in traditional medicines and cosmetics. There are numerous potential medicinal products from mushrooms that could be used in cosmeceuticals (products applied topically, such as creams, lotions, and ointments) or nutricosmetics (products that are ingested orally). This paper provides a review of the fungi presently used in cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics with some examples of cosmetic types and products. Species presently used, or patented to be used, in cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics include Agaricus subrufescens (= A. blazei, A. brasiliensis) Choiromyces maeandriformis Cordyceps sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Hypsizygus ulmarium, Inonotus obliquus, Lentinula edodes, Polyporus spp., Trametes versicolor, Tremella fuciformis, Tuber spp., Schizophyllum commune and many other lesser used taxa. Cosmetics incorporating fungi include those for skin care such as anti-aging, anti-oxidants, skin revitalizing, skin whitening and hair products. The mushrooms presently used are traditionally known to produce medicinal compounds and thus were the first to be incorporated in cosmetic applications. There are, however, numerous other mushroom species that are untested, undescribed or not yet cultivatable and that have huge potential for use in the cosmetic industry. Some fungi are also used in biotransformation and the products such as lactic acid and ceramides could potentially be used in cosmetics.

Drying kinetics of Ganoderma lucidum was investigated in an air impingement dryer at the drying temperature of 55 -70 o C with a constant air velocity of 15 m/s. The drying time decreased significantly with the increase of drying temperature. The experimental drying curves showed only a falling rate period. The experimental results were fitted to 10 thin-layer drying models and it was found that modified Page models best described the drying curves. The moisture effective diffusivity ranged from 1.96×10 -9 to 6.01×10 -9 m 2 /s calculated using the Fick's second law of diffusion. Activation energy for moisture diffusion of the Ganoderma lucidum samples was found to be 69.05 kJ/mol. Ganoderma lucidum samples dried at 65 o C revealed the highest polysaccharide content than dried at other temperatures.

This research work was carried out to compare the color stripping efficiency of optimized biological method with the chemical stripping, commonly employed in the textile industries. Knitted fabric dyed with Reactive black B dye in 2, 4 and 6% shades strengths was subjected to chemical and biological stripping processes individually. Biological stripping process was found many fold superior to chemical one. It was noted that shade strength does not showed any pronounced effect on the bursting strength of fabric but biological and chemical treatment affect the quality of fabrics in terms of bursting strength/durability of fabric. White rot fungus Ganoderma lucidum IBL-05 showed good potential for decolorization/color stripping of cotton fabric dyed with Reactive black B under optimized set of conditions. The chemical stripping technology is inferior to biological stripping process regarding the quality of fabric and percent color removal from cotton fabric dyed with Reactive black B dye.

This Research based on the COVID 19 and the approach to knockdown the virus through balancing the immunity function of the patient and strengthens the body immune to fight the virus.
This paper written on the 16 years direct experience treated based on the real time result and testimonial from patient who has been treated base on this AM treatment that is Ganotherapy and holistic human system. Here I would like to elaborate more on the treatment and analysis been made to each patient.
To knockdown the virus we need to improve the immunity function of the body not to find cure for the diseases. We have to work backwards prepare the system to fight disease not to find cure for the disease.

In this study, we studied the effects of exogenic application of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide on oxidative stres and hyperlipidemia using induced diabetics rats.
Therefore we used 60 Wistar albino rats aged 4-5 months and divided them into 6 groups, with 10 rats in each group. We did not apply any control to control groups and Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide, whereas with a trial group animals we applied an intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg dose of Streptozocine. Among diabetic control animals we created the groups to which we applied as follows 60, 120 and 180 mg/kg of polysaccharides. During the entire experiment the rats were fed ad-libitum. In addition, to synchronize the diabetic control group during the study, they were given the physiological saline orally. At the end of the study, we took some samples out of total oxidant and total antioxidant levels and measured them with the spectrophotometer, thereafter we used the autoanalyser to measure the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL cholesterol and pancreatic amylase.
We examined the blood of diabetic fasting rats and the effect was that their glucose level was increased significantly. (p<0.05), nonetheless the dose of 60, 120 and 180 mg/kg of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides did not reduce the blood glucose level (p>0.05)With the diabetic rats, the dose of 60, 120 and 180 mg/ kg of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharidesarides effected in the increase of serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, and HDL cholesterol levels, although it was not a significant change (p>0.05), instead, we observed a staistically significant decrease of LDL cholesterol level (p<0.05) According to this study we concluded that polysaccharides effects in the decrease of hyperlimidemia with regard to diabetes.
During the study we applied Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides exogenously (60, 120, 180 mg/kg) and it did not affect the level of total antioxidant in diabetes significantly (p>0.05), however with a dose of 180 mg/kg the total oxidant level in pancreas and liver tissues was reduced significantly and has been considered as crucial fact.
The collected data supported our view on histopathologic examination. Based on all the information, we used one type of fungus Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides which did not influence the blood glucose level in diabetes, whereas with regard to LDL and total oxidants it played a significant role in reducing its levels.
Key Word: Type I diabetes, Ganoderma lucidum, Polysaccharide, Oxidative stress, Lipid profile

Fruiting bodies of some wild and cultivatable mushrooms contain medicinal compounds which are being used in traditional medicines and cosmetics. There are numerous potential medicinal products from mushrooms that could be used in cosmeceuticals (products applied topically, such as creams, lotions, and ointments) or nutricosmetics (products that are ingested orally). This paper provides a review of the fungi presently used in cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics with some examples of cosmetic types and products. Species presently used, or patented to be used, in cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics include Agaricus subrufescens (= A. blazei, A. brasiliensis) Choiromyces maeandriformis Cordyceps sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Hypsizygus ulmarium, Inonotus obliquus, Lentinula edodes, Polyporus spp., Trametes versicolor, Tremella fuciformis, Tuber spp., Schizophyllum commune and many other lesser used taxa. Cosmetics incorporating fungi include those for skin care such as anti-aging, anti-oxidants, skin revitalizing, skin whitening and hair products. The mushrooms presently used are traditionally known to produce medicinal compounds and thus were the first to be incorporated in cosmetic applications. There are, however, numerous other mushroom species that are untested, undescribed or not yet cultivatable and that have huge potential for use in the cosmetic industry. Some fungi are also used in biotransformation and the products such as lactic acid and ceramides could potentially be used in cosmetics.

Το γανόδερμα είναι το κορυφαίο προσαρμογόνο βότανο. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι:
Ομαλοποιεί και επαναφέρει όλες τις λειτουργίες του οργανισμού μας στα φυσιολογικά επίπεδα, λαμβάνοντας το σωστό δοσολογικό σχήμα (ανάλογα τις ανάγκες του κάθε οργανισμού)....

Αυξάνει την δύναμη, την αντοχή και την πνευματική διαύγεια. Ενισχύει το ανοσοποιητικό σύστημα. Ρυθμίζει την πίεση Μειώνει την κακή χοληστερίνη Μειώνει τα επίπεδα σακχάρων στο αίμα Εξισορροπεί τα επίπεδα χοληστερόλης Βοηθά στην διαχείριση της απώλειας βάρους. Αναστρέφει τα αποτελέσματα της παχυσαρκίας, του διαβήτη και της αρθρίτιδας.

Four white-rot fungi isolated in Pakistan were used for decolorization of widely used reactive textile dyestuffs. Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Coriolus versicolor, Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus were grown in defined nutrient media for decolorization of Drimarene Orange K-GL, Remazol Brilliant Yellow 3GL, Procion BluePX-5R and Cibacron Blue P-3RGR for 10 days in shake flasks. Samples were removed every day, centrifuged and the absorbances of the supernatants were read to determine percentage decolorization. It was observed that P. chrysosporium and C. versicolor could effectively decolorize Remazol Brilliant Yellow 3GL, Procion BluePX-5R and Cibacron Blue P-3RGR. Drimarene Orange K-GL was completely decolorized (0.2 g/l after 8 days) only by P.chrysosporium, followed by P. ostreatus (0.17 g/l after 10 days). P. ostreatus also showed good decolorization efficiencies (0.19–0.2 g/l) on all dyes except Remazol Brilliant Yellow (0.07 g/l after 10 days). G. lucidum did not decolorize any of the dyestuffs to an appreciable extent except Remazol Brilliant Yellow (0.2 g/l after 8 days).

The effect of light of different wavelengths-blue, red, yellow, and white-and the effect of darkness, which was used as the control, on the mycelial biomass production of medicinal Ling Zhi or Reishi mushroom Ganoderma lucidum was studied under submerged culture conditions. Optimum production was obtained at wavelengths between 425 and 475 nm, which correspond to the blue light, followed in order by white light, darkness, red light, and yellow light. In addition, the culture medium used was compared, in terms of cost, with media reported in the literature and resulted in a relatively inexpensive medium.

A gene phylogeny of 29 isolates of the G. lucidum complex collected in temperate and subtropical areas was produced by parsimony analysis from nucleotide sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal gene and from divergent domain D2 of the large ribosomal subunit gene, and serves as hypothesis of natural relationships between taxa. Results were compared with morphologicaL ecologicaL cultural and mating data. They show that extensive convergence or parallelism of morphological characters has occurred during Ganoderma evolution, but also that remarkable morphological difference may occur with little divergence time. Monophyletic groups correlate fairly well with geographical origin of the taxa and/or host relationships. Phylogenetically related isolates have similar culture characteristics, but they may share these characteristics with distant taxa. Therefore, culture characters are less polymorphic than morphological characters between recently diverged taxa, but are useless in recognizing monophyletic groups. Isolates belonging to the same biological species were monophyletic with one exception. A species concept based on monophyly and potential evidence of genetic isolation is proposed, and taxonomy of the G. lucidum complex is revised. Collections

To determine the anti-complement activity of natural triterpenes, chromatographic separation of the EtOAc-soluble fraction from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum led to the isolation of three steroids and five triterpenoids. They were identified as ergosterol peroxide (1), ergosterol (2), genoderic acid Sz (3), stella sterol (4), ganoderic aic C1 (5), ganoderic acid A (6), methyl ganoderate A (7), and lucidenic acid A (8) based on spectroscopic evidence and physicochemical properties. These compounds were examined for their anti-complement activity against the classical pathway of the complement system. Compounds 2 and 3 showed potent anti-complement activity with IC 50 values of 52.0 and 44.6 µM, respectively. Compound 1 exhibited significant inhibitory activity with an IC 50 value of 126.8 µM, whereas compounds 4-8 were inactive. Our findings suggested that in addition to the ketone group at C-3, the ∆ 7(8) , ∆ 9(11) -lanostadiene type triterpene also plays an important role in inhibiting the hemolytic activity of human serum against erythrocytes.

Aim of the study: The final goal of this work was to study the toxic and apoptosis effects induced by fractions from Ganoderma lucidum [Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.; Ganodermataceae Donk] on NB4 human leukemia cells. Materials and methods: Two aqueous extracts and a methanol-extracted column-chromatography semipurified fraction were obtained from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting body. Flow cytometry analyses were used to measure cell viability, cell cycle and DNA fragmentation and to quantify apoptosis. Western-blot analyses were used to quantify changes in apoptosis proteins and intracellular kinases. Results: Aqueous extracts slightly reduce cell viability and induce DNA fragmentation in NB4 cells. Methanol-extracted semipurified fraction at dilutions down to 15% or 40% of the initial fraction concentration reduced significantly the viability of these leukemia cells (treated for 19 h) with induction of DNA fragmentation and induction of apoptosis. Overmore, the dilution down to 15% of the initial E3 concentration induced a reduction of p53 levels, of the Bcl2/Bax relationship as well as reduced levels of both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated Akt (Protein kinase Akt, protein kinase B) and Erk (Erk1 and 2). Conclusions: Induction of apoptosis and alterations in signal transduction kinases (Akt and Erk) are produced by active fractions from Ganoderma lucidum on human leukemia cells. These data could be of important relevance from the viewpoint of antitumor actions of compounds from Ganoderma lucidum. Eventual therapy applications in leukemia cells might be developed.

Ganoderic acid Df, a new lanostane-type triterpenoid, was isolated from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum. Its structure was characterized as 7β, 11β-dihydroxy-3, 15, 23-trioxo-5αlanosta-8-en-26-oic acid by 1D-and 2D-NMR spectra. This compound exhibited potent human aldose reductase inhibitory activity, with an IC 50 of 22.8 μM in vitro. A carboxyl group of this compound's side chain is essential for eliciting inhibitory activity because its methyl ester is much less active.

The DNA repair ability of a cell is vital to the integrity of its genome and thus to its normal functioning and that of the organism. The repair-enhancing property of polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum which belongs to the polyporaceae family was determined by comet assay in human peripheral blood leukocytes. Comet parameters were studied at 2 Gy gamma irradiation with 15 min intervals. The comet parameters after 2 Gy exposures to c-radiation were reduced to nearly normal levels after 120 min of exposure. The polysaccharides from G. lucidum enhance the repair process, which is a promising approach for protection from radiation exposure, but a detailed study of the molecular mechanism is needed for further application.

a b s t r a c t ␣-Glucosidase inhibitor has considerable potential as a diabetes mellitus type 2 drug because it prevents the digestion of carbohydrates. The search for the constituents reducing ␣-glucosidase activity led to the finding of active compounds in the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum. The CHCl 3 extract of the fruiting body of G. lucidum was found to show inhibitory activity on ␣-glucosidase in vitro. The neutral fraction, with an IC 50 of 88.7 g/ml, had stronger inhibition than a positive control, acarbose, with an IC 50 of 336.7 g/ml (521.5 M). The neutral fraction was subjected to silica gel column chromatography and repeated p-HPLC to provide an active compound, (3ˇ,24E)-lanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-3,26-diol (ganoderol B). It was found to have high ␣-glucosidase inhibition, with an IC 50 of 48.5 g/ml (119.8 M).

The in vivo and in vitro radioprotective property of the polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum were determined by survival studies, induction of micronucleus in reticulocytes of mice, strand breaks in plasmid pBR322 DNA and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (TBARS assay). Polysaccharides were administered as a single dose after whole body exposure to 10 Gy 60 Co ␥-radiation to Swiss albino mice. At a dose of 500 g/kg body wt, the polysaccharides were most effective in protecting animals from radiation induced loss of lethality. Administration of 500 g/kg body wt to animal exposed to 10 Gy gamma radiation resulted in more than 60% survival on the 30th day compared to the dose of 300 mg/kg/body wt administration of amifostine, a clinically used radioprotective drug. The induction of micronuclei was reduced by the administration of polysaccharides. The decrease in micronuclei induction was dose dependent. Thus following 4 Gy exposure the micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes (MNCE) was reduced from 28.16 ± 3.049 to 16.0243 ± 2.074 and 6.30 ± 2.422 by polysaccharides at doses of 250 g/kg body wt and 500 g/kg body wt, respectively, and to 10.4 ± 2.581 by amifostine at a dose of 300 mg/kg body wt. The results indicate the significant protective effect of Ganoderma polysaccharides against radiation induced damages. The findings thus suggest the potential use of Ganoderma polysaccharides as novel radioprotective agent.

Νευροπροστατευτική επίδραση της προεργασίας με Ganoderma lucidum σε
εγκεφαλική κάκωση ισχαιμίας επαναιμάτωσης
σε ιππόκαμπο επίμυος.
Ganoderma lucidum είναι μια παραδοσιακή κινεζική ιατρική, το οποίο έχει αποδειχθεί
ότι έχει τόσο αντιοξειδωτική
και αντιφλεγμονώδεις
επιδράσεις, και αισθητά μειώνει
τόσο την περιοχή εμφράγματος και νευρωνική απόπτωση του ισχαιμικου φλοιού. Η
παρούσα μελέτη στοχεύει να διερευνήσει τις προστατευτικές επιδράσεις και τους
μηχανισμούς της προεργασίας με Ganoderma lucidum (από ενδογαστρική χορήγηση)
σε εγκεφαλική κάκωση ισχαιμίας επαναιμάτωσης
σε αρουραίους.

Cyanide, a hazardous substance, is released into the environment as a result of natural processes of various industrial activities which is a toxic pollutant according to Environmental Protection Agency. In nature, some microorganisms are responsible for the degradation of cyanide, but there is only limited information about the degradation characteristics of Basidiomycetes for cyanide. The aim of the present study is to determine cyanide degradation characteristics in some Basidiomycetes strains including Polyporus arcularius (T 438), Schizophyllum commune (T 701), Clavariadelphus truncatus (T 192), Pleurotus eryngii (M 102), Ganoderma applanatum (M 105), Trametes versicolor (D 22), Cerrena unicolor (D 30), Schizophyllum commune (D 35) and Ganoderma lucidum (D 33). The cyanide degradation activities of P. arcularius S. commune and G. lucidum were found to be more than that of the other fungi examined. The parameters including incubation time, amount of biomass, initial cyanide concentration, temperature, pH and agitation rate were optimized for the selected three potential fungal strains. The maximum cyanide degradation was obtained after 48 h of incubation at 30°C by P. arcularius (T 438). The optimum pH and agitation rate were measured as 10.5 and 150 rev/min, respectively. The amount of biomass was found as 3.0 g for the maximum cyanide biodegradation with an initial cyanide concentration of 100 mg/L. In this study, agar was chosen entrapment agent for the immobilization of effective biomass. We suggested that P. arcularius (T 438) could be effective in the treatment of contaminated sites with cyanide due to capability of degrading cyanide.

1. ΚΑΡΚΙΝΟΣ: Το μανιτάρι Reishi βοηθά στην μείωση του κίνδυνου από καρκίνο και ακόμα βοηθάει απίστευτα στην καταπολεμησή του. Περιέχει περισσότερους από 154 τύπους αντιοξειδωτικών και περιέχει β-γλουτάνη, lentinan (πολυσακχαρίτης), οργανικό γερμάνιο, τα οποία δρουν μαζί και έτσι αποτελούν το καλύτερο όπλο ενάντια στον καρκίνο. 2. ΑΣΘΕΝΕΙΕΣ ΚΑΡΔΙΑΣ: Το Reishi βοηθά στη βελτίωση για πρόληψη καρδιακών αθενειών και εμφραγμάτων. Επιδρά στον έλεγχο της κυκλοφορίας του αίματος, στη μείωση των λιπιδίων στο αίμα και εμποδίζει την αρτηριοσκλήρωση επειδή περιέχει αδενοσίνη και τριτερπένια. 3. ΑΝΤΙ ΓΗΡΑΝΣΗ: Το Reishi περιέχει πολλά αντιοξειδωτικά όπως πολυφαινόλες, φλαβονοειδή, βιταμίνη C κλπ. Αυτά όλα επιτίθενται στις ελεύθερες ρίζες και το οργανικό γερμάνιο βο-ηθά στην οξυγόνωση πράγμα που σημαίνει ότι βοηθά στην μάχη ενάντια στην γήρανση και δίνουν μακροβιότητα. 4. ΕΛΕΓΧΟΣ ΒΑΡΟΥΣ: Το Reishi βοηθά το σώμα στο να χάσει βάρος, να κάψει λίπος και δίνει ένα φυσικό διεγερτικό μεταβολισμό λόγω της σύμπραξης όλων των συστατικών του. Με την ενεργοποίηση του μεταβολισμού αρχίζουν να καίνε πιο πολύ από το αποθηκευμένο λίπος. 5. ΕΝΕΡΓΕΙΑ: Η ενέργεια που δίνει το Reishi τονώνει τόσο το σώμα όσο και το μυαλό, επειδή το οργανικό γερμάνιο είναι το καλύτερο μανιτάρι που βοηθά στην οξυγόνωση των κυττάρων που βελτιώνουν την συνολική ενέργεια 6. ΕΠΙΔΕΡΜΙΔΑ: Τα αντιοξειδωτικά του Reishi προστατεύουν την επιδερμίδα από τιε επικίνδυνες δράσεις των ελευθέρων ριζών οι οποίες είναι και η αιτία για τις ρυτίδες και την γήρανση του δέρματος. Το reishi επίσης βοηθά στην αντιμετώπιση του καρκίνου του δέρματος. 7. ΑΡΘΡΙΤΙΔΑ: Το Reishi βοηθά στο να εμποδίσει να μειώσει τον κίνδυνο και να πολεμήσει την ρευματοειδή αρθρίτιδα. Αυτό διότι υπάρχει παράλληλη δράση των τρτερπενίων, του ορ-γανικού γερμάνιου και των ρυθμιστών του ανοσοποιητικού που επιτρέπουν το έλεγχο των φλεγμονών το ανοσοποιητικό σύστημα προσαρμόζεται ανάλογα 8. ΟΣΤΑ: Λόγω της παρουσίας του ασβέστιου και της Βιταμίνης D και άλλων συστατικών που βοηθούν την απορρόφησης του ασβέστιου βελτιώνοντας τα οστά, η καθημερινή κατανάλωση του μανιταριού Reishi βοηθάει στην διατήρηση της πυκνότητας των οστών 9. ΧΟΛΗΣΤΕΡΟΛΗ: Το Reishi βοηθάει στο να μειωθούν τα επίπεδα της χοληστερόλης και επίσης βελτιώνει την αναλογία μεταξύ της κακής και της καλής χοληστερόλης μειώνοντας το επίπεδο της κακής επειδή ακριβώς περιέχει τριτερπένια και αδενοσίνη. 10. ΠΑΧΥΣΑΡΚΙΑ: Το Reishi βοηθάει στην ανάπτυξη της παχυσαρκίας επειδή σταματά την μετακί-νηση της γλυκόζης στα κύτταρα λίπους. Αυτοί που ακολουθούν υγιεινή δίαιτα, ασκούνται τακτικά και καταναλώνουν reishi είναι σχεδόν αδύνατο να γίνουν παχύσαρκοι. 11. ΔΙΑΒΗΤΗΣ: Το Reishi βελτιώνει τον μεταβολισμό σε σχέση με τα λιπίδια και την γλυκόζη και ε-μποδίζει τις απότομες αυξήσεις του επιπέδου σακχάρου του αίματος εξισορροπώντας έτσι τον γενικό μεταβολισμό.

Congestive heart failure s u m m a r y Background & aims: Post-mitotic cells such as brain and heart cells are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damages during ageing. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on the antioxidant status in the mitochondria of heart and brain of aged mice. Methods: The effect was evaluated by estimating the activities of manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) as well as levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the heart and brain mitochondria of aged mice after oral administration of ethanolic extract of G. lucidum (50 and 250 mg/kg), once daily for 15 days. The effect was compared with that of aged and young control animals. DL-a-lipoic acid (100 mg/kg) was taken as the positive control. Results: Administration of G. lucidum extract significantly (p < 0.05) elevated the levels of GSH as well as activities of Mn SOD, GPx, and GST and decreased significantly (p < 0.05) the levels of lipid peroxidation, AOPP and ROS.

Ganoderma lucidum mushroom has long been used as a potent medicinal plant in the far East, but its ethnomedicinal importance in Nigeria is yet to be fully realized. The effects of the aqueous extract on blood glucose levels of alloxan induced and normal Wistar rats have been investigated. Three doses of the extract (250, 500 and 1000 mg/Kg) were administered intraperitoneally. The dose of 250 mg/Kg of the extract did not significantly alter the blood glucose levels of both normal and alloxan induced diabetic Wistar rats. However, the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/Kg of the extract did significantly (p<0.05) decrease the blood glucose levels of alloxan diabetic Wistar rats at 4, 8 and 24 h. In normal rats, the dose of 1000 mg/Kg of the extract significantly (p<0.05) decrease the blood glucose levels at 8 and 24 h only. In conclusion, the dose of 1000 mg/Kg of the extract has shown both significant (p<0.05) hypoglycemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects in Wistar rats.

The effect of initial medium pH on biomass, extracellular and intracellular polysaccharide, and ligninolytic enzyme production by Ganoderma lucidum was investigated at different pH values after 7 and 14 days of cultivation. Maximal production of biomass was recorded at pH 4.5 and 5.0; maximal production of extracellular polysaccharides at pH 7.0 and 3.0; and maximal production of intracellular polysaccharides at pH 7.0 and 5.5. Ligninolytic enzymes were not produced at any pH of the medium. Maximal biomass production was obtained on the 11 th day of cultivation; maximal extracellular polysaccharide production on the 7 th day; and maximal intracellular polysaccharide production on the 6 th and 10 th day of cultivation.

A high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS) analytical method was developed for detection of the nucleosides and nucleobases in two species of Lingzhi, the dried sporophore of Ganoderma lucidum and G. sinense. The method, combining advantages of both DAD and MS, was successfully used to qualitatively identify for six nucleosides namely, adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, inosine, thymidine, uridine and five nucleobases namely, adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, thymine and uracil in Lingzhi samples. Quantitative analyses showed that uridine was the most abundant nucleoside in these Lingzhi samples and the contents of nine target analytes were found to be different in pileus and stipes of the fruiting bodies and among the different species of G. spp. The established method might apply as an alternative approach for the quality assessment of Lingzhi.

The anti-neuraminidase activity of different dilutions of methanolic soluble fraction of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) extract was tested against avian influenza virus (H5N2 strain) using chicken red blood cell (RBC). The endpoint titre of anti-neuraminidase activity of the methanolic fraction of GL was determined by observing the wells that do not elute after long incubation (≥ 1 hour) at room temperature or overnight at 4 o C. Elusion inhibitory activities of the extract were observed at viral dilutions of up to 1:32 compared to control. The methanolic soluble fraction of GL extract has anti-neuraminidase activity by inhibition of elusion, and may be a potential agent against avian flu.

We investigate a flash-assisted extraction of dihydroquercetin (DHQ) from wood sawdust of Larix gmelinii by response surface methodology. Box-Behnken design optimized the extraction conditions, and the highest DHQ yield (6.15 %) was obtained under optimal extraction conditions: FAE time (3 min), extraction time (3 h), solid-to-liquid (g/mL) ratio (1:15), and ethanol concentration (75 %). After purification, the DHQ purity was 96 % as determined by HPLC and was further characterized by FTIR. Purified DHQ's antioxidant activities were confirmed in vitro by determining DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and reducing Fe 3 + power. In the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity assays, DHQ displayed prominent antioxidant activities with low IC 50 values (11.568 and 12.475 μg/mL, respectively). In reducing Fe 3 + power assay, high DHQ absorbance values showed that DHQ had higher reducing power than butylated hydroxyl toluene and had nearly the same consistent power as ascorbic acid at the same doses.