Pharmacological effects of natural Ganoderma and its extracts on neurological diseases: A comprehensive review

Triterpenes from antler-shaped fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum and their hepatoprotective activities

Seven previously undescribed triterpenes (1-7), as well as one triterpene (8) previously described as a synthetic product, were isolated from the antler-shaped fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum. Their structures were established based on comprehensive spectroscopy analysis. At a concentration of 10 μM, (24E)-3-oxo-15α-acetoxy-lanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-26-al (3) and (24R,25S)-3-oxo-lanosta-7,9(11)-dien-25-ethoxyl-24,26-diol (5) provided significant protection against acetaminophen-induced necrosis in human HepG2 liver cancer cells, and the cell survival rates were 69.7 and 76.1% respectively, similar to that of the positive control (glutathione, 72.1%). Based on the present results, these compounds could be potential hepatoprotective agents.

Antibacterial lanostane triterpenoids from Ganoderma tsugae

A phytochemical investigation on the 80% EtOH extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma tsugae resulted into the isolation of two previously undescribed lanostane triterpenoids, 7,11-dioxo-3β-acetyloxy-26,27-dihydroxy-lanosta-8,24-diene (1) and 7,20-dioxo-3β-acetyloxy-11β,15α-dihydroxy-22,23,24,25,26,27-hexanorlanosta-8-ene (2), togeher with one known lanostane triterpenoid ganodermanontriol (3). Structural elucidation of all the compounds were performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy. All the triterpenoids were in vitro evaluated for their antibacterial activities against six pathogenic microorganisms. Compound 3 exhibited some activities against three Gram positive bacteria with MIC values less than 30 μg/ml.

Rapid Discovery of Aβ42 Fibril Disintegrators from Ganoderma lucidum via Ligand Fishing and Their Neuroprotective Effects on Alzheimer's Disease

An amyloid-β (Aβ) fibril is a vital pathogenic factor of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ fibril disintegrators possess great potential to be developed into novel anti-AD agents. Here, a ligand fishing method was employed to rapidly discover Aβ42 fibril disintegrators from Ganoderma lucidum using Aβ42 fibril-immobilized magnetic beads, which led to the isolation of six Aβ42 fibril disintegrators including ganodermanontriol, ganoderic acid DM, ganoderiol F, ganoderol B, ganodermenonol, and ergosterol. Neuroprotective evaluation in vitro exhibited that these Aβ42 fibril disintegrators could significantly mitigate Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity. Among these six disintegrators, ergosterol and ganoderic acid DM with stronger protecting activity were further selected to evaluate their neuroprotective effect on AD in vivo. Results showed that ergosterol and ganoderic acid DM could significantly alleviate Aβ42-induced cognitive dysfunction and hippocampus neuron loss in vivo. Moreover, ergosterol and ganoderic acid DM could significantly inhibit Aβ42-induced neuron apoptosis and Nrf2-mediated neuron oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo.

Lanostane triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma amboinense

Lanostane-type triterpenoids are the main characteristic constituents in Ganoderma mushrooms. Phytochemical analysis on the ethanol extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma amboinense led to isolation and identification of twelve previously undescribed lanostane triterpenoids (1-12). Their chemical structures were determined by HR-ESI-MS, IR, and NMR spectroscopic analysis, NMR calculation, as well as X-ray crystallography. All isolates were evaluated for the α-glucosidase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds 1, 5, 6, and 11 showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values ranging from 33.5 μM to 96.0 μM. Moreover, compound 12 showed anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 value of 21.7 ± 2.1 μM.

Research progress on the treatment of epilepsy with traditional Chinese medicine

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system is a medical system that has been expanding for thousands of years that was formed by the extensive clinical practice experience of many physicians and the accumulation of personal medication habits in China. In TCM, there is a history of long-term medication for epilepsy, the main treatment for epilepsy is TCM drugs and its prescription, supplemented by TCM modalities such as acupuncture therapy, moxibustion therapy, tuina, emotion adjustment therapy, etc. PURPOSE: With the modernization of TCM, the active ingredients and molecular mechanisms of TCM for epilepsy treatment have been gradually revealed. This review aimed to comprehensively summarize the TCM treatment of epilepsy, focusing on the current TCM drugs and some TCM formulae for the treatment of epilepsy, and to discuss the research progress of TCM for the treatment of epilepsy, and to provide a reference to develop future related studies in this field.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mechanism of action of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) was interpreted from different perspectives by searching online databases and querying various materials identify drugs used in both modern medicine and TCM systems for the treatment of epilepsy. We collected all relevant TCM for epilepsy literature published in the last 30 years up to December 2022 from electronic databases such as PubMed, CNKI and Web of Science, and statistically analyzed the literature for the following keyword information. The search terms comprise the keywords "TCM", "phytochemistry", "pharmacological activity", "epilepsy" and "traditional application" as a combination. Scientific plant names were provided by "The Plant List" (www.theplantlist.org).

RESULTS

Epilepsy is a complex and serious disease of the brain and nervous system. At present, the treatment of epilepsy in modern medicine is mainly surgery and chemotherapy, but there are many serious side effects. By summarizing the treatment of epilepsy in TCM, it is found that there are various methods to treat epilepsy in TCM, mainly TCM drugs and its formulae. Many TCM drugs have antiepileptic effects. Now found that the main effective TCM drugs for the treatment of epilepsy are Curcumae Longae Rhizoma, Scorpio, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis and Ganoderma, etc. And the main compounds that play a role in the treatment of epilepsy are curcumin, gastrodin, ligustrazine, baicalin and rhynchophylline, etc. These TCM drugs have played an important role in the treatment of epilepsy in TCM clinic. However, the chemically active components of these TCM drugs are diverse and their mechanisms of action are complex, which are not fully understood and need to be further explored.

CONCLUSIONS

TCM treats epilepsy in a variety of ways, and with the discovery of a variety of potential bioactive substances for treatment of epilepsy. With the new progress in the research of other TCM treatment methods for epilepsy, TCM will have greater potential in the clinical application of epilepsy.

Regulatory Effects of Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, and American ginseng Extract Formulation on Gut Microbiota and Fecal Metabolomics in Mice

The bioactivities of Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, and American ginseng have been extensively studied and documented. However, the effects of their complexes on the structural properties of intestinal microbiota and fecal metabolism remain unclear. Therefore, this paper aims to present a preliminary study to shed light on this aspect. In this study, an immunocompromised mouse model was induced using cyclophosphamide, and Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, and American ginseng extract formulation (referred to as JGGA) were administered via gavage to investigate their modulatory effects on gut microbiota and fecal metabolism in mice. The effects of JGGA on immune enhancement were explored using serum test kits, hematoxylin-eosin staining, 16SrDNA high-throughput sequencing, and UHPLC-QE-MS metabolomics. The findings revealed potential mechanisms underlying the immune-enhancing effects of JGGA. Specifically, JGGA administration resulted in an improved body weight, thymic index, splenic index, carbon scavenging ability, hypersensitivity, and cellular inflammatory factor expression levels in mice. Further analysis demonstrated that JGGA reduced the abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, while increasing the abundance of Bacteroidetes. Additionally, JGGA modulated the levels of 30 fecal metabolites. These results suggest that the immune enhancement observed with JGGA may be attributed to the targeted modulation of gut microbiota and fecal metabolism, thus promoting increased immunity in the body.

Ganoderma lucidum: Novel Insight into Hepatoprotective Potential with Mechanisms of Action

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been widely used for its health benefits as an edible and traditional medicinal mushroom for thousands of years in Asian countries. It is currently used as a nutraceutical and functional food owing to its major bioactive compounds, polysaccharides and triterpenoids. G. lucidum exhibits a broad range of hepatoprotective impacts in various liver disorders, such as hepatic cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcohol-induced liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatic fibrosis, and liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and α-amanitin. G. lucidum protects the liver through a broad range of mechanisms that include the modulation of liver Phase I and II enzymes, the suppression of β-glucuronidase, antifibrotic and antiviral actions, the regulation of the production of nitric oxide (NO), the maintenance of hepatocellular calcium homeostasis, immunomodulatory activity, and scavenging free radicals. G. lucidum could signify an encouraging approach for the management of various chronic hepatopathies, and its potential mechanisms make it a distinctive agent when used alone or with other drugs and applied as a functional food, nutraceutical supplement, or adjuvant to modern medicine. This review summarizes the hepatoprotective properties of G. lucidum with its various mechanisms of action on different liver ailments. Biologically active substances derived from G. lucidum are still being studied for their potential benefits in treating different liver ailments.

Exploring the Potential Medicinal Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum: From Metabolic Disorders to Coronavirus Infections

Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom that has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine for centuries. It has been found to have a wide range of medicinal properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting effects. Recent research has focused on the potential benefits of G. lucidum in treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, as well as its possible role in preventing and treating infections caused by the coronavirus. Triterpenoids are a major group of bioactive compounds found in G. lucidum, and they have a range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These compounds have been found to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels in animal models of diabetes. Additionally, G. lucidum polysaccharides have been found to reduce bodyweight and improve glucose metabolism in animal models of obesity. These polysaccharides can also help to increase the activity of certain white blood cells, which play a critical role in the body’s immune response. For coronavirus, some in vitro studies have shown that G. lucidum polysaccharides and triterpenoids have the potential to inhibit coronavirus infection; however, these results have not been validated through clinical trials. Therefore, it would be premature to draw any definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of G. lucidum in preventing or treating coronavirus infections in humans.

Lanostane triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma hainanense and their cytotoxic activity

Three undescribed lanostane triterpenoids, 24E-en-11-oxo-ganoderiol D (1), 11β-hydroxy-ganoderiol D (2), and 11β-hydroxy-lucidone H (3) were isolated from the 80% EtOH extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma hainanense. Structural elucidation of all the compounds were performed by spectral methods such as 1 D and 2 D (¹H-¹H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy. All the triterpenoids were in vitro evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against six mammary adenocarcinoma cell lines (MCF7, MDA-MB-231, SK-BR-3, BT-20, HCC38, and AU565). As a result, compound 3 exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against all tested cell lines with IC₅₀ values less than 20 μM.

Multiple Fingerprint-Activity Relationship Assessment of Immunomodulatory Polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum Based on Chemometric Methods

Polysaccharides with molecular weights ranging from 1.75 × 10³ to 1.14 × 10⁴ g/mol were obtained from the fruit bodies of Ganoderma lucidum. The multiple fingerprints and macrophage immunostimulatory activity of these fractions were analyzed as well as the fingerprint-activity relationship. The correlation analysis of molecular weight and immune activity demonstrated that polysaccharides with molecular weights of 4.27 × 10³~5.27 × 10³ and 1 × 10⁴~1.14 × 10⁴ g/mol were the main active fractions. Moreover, the results showed that galactose, mannose, and glucuronic acid were positively related to immunostimulatory activity. Additionally, partial least-squares regression and grey correlation degree analyses indicated that three peaks (P2, P3, P8) in the oligosaccharide fragment fingerprint significantly affected the immune activity of the polysaccharides. Hence, these ingredients associated with activity could be considered as markers to assess Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides and their related products, and the study also provides a reference for research on the spectrum-effect relationship of polysaccharides in the future.

Antimicrobial lanostane triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma applanatum

A chemical investigation on the 90% EtOH extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma applanatum led to the isolation of three new lanostane triterpenoids, designated as 25-methoxy-11-oxo-ganoderiol D (1), 3-oxo-25-methoxy-24,26-dihydroxy-lanosta-7,9(11)-diene (2), and 3β-acetyloxy-lucidone H (3). Structural elucidation of all the compounds were performed by spectral methods such as 1 D and 2 D (¹H-¹H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy. All the triterpenoids were in vitro evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against six pathogenic microorganisms. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited some activities against three Gram positive bacteria with MIC values less than 60 μg/ml.

Highly oxygenated chemical constitutes and rearranged derivatives with neurotrophic activity from Ganoderma cochlear

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The morphological characteristics of Ganoderma cochlear (Blume & T. Nees) Bres were identical to G. sinsense J.D. Zhao, L.W. Hsu & X.Q. Zhang, however, with the fungus stipe lying in the back of the pileus. Fruiting bodies and spores of G. cochear have been traditionally used for smoothing, sleeping improvement, memory impairment, anti-aging, and prolonging life. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chromic progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with loss of memory and cognition. Hallmarks of AD include aging, amyloid-β plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, neuron loss, neuronal degeneration, network disruption, cognitive dysfunction, inflammation and oxidation stress. In this study, norlanostanoids from G. cochear are identified as potential neurotrophic chemists related to the memory impairment usage to slow down pathogenetic process and restore neural circuits for AD.

AIM OF STUDY

Chemical and biological investigations in this study uncovered the potential constituents related to the traditional usage of G. cochlear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The extract of the mushrooms was purified using various column chromatography techniques and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The structures of the isolates were elucidated by combination of spectral, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The neurotrophic activity was evaluated by the differentiation state of PC12 cells, and the dose-dependent and time-dependant expression of growth-associated protein (GAP-43) was analyzed by western blotting.

RESULTS

Ganorbifates J-T (1-11), eleven previously undescribed triterpenoids together with five known trinorlanostanoids (12-16) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of G. Cochlear. Among them, ganorbifates N-O (5-6) had a demethylation at C-28 compared to the classic skeleton of 3,4-seco-25,26,27-trinorlanostanoids to form a new group of 3,4-seco-25,26,27,28-tetranorlanostanoids. Based on this, a novel skeleton of ganorbifate M (4) was further established by the arrangement of C-29 from C-4 to C-7. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of compounds 4-6 was proposed. Eight of the sixteen isolates showed neurotrophic activity with the concentration of 10 μM. Furthermore, compound 15 exhibited a dose-dependent neurogenic activity, and also strengthened the expression of the growth-associated protein (GAP-43) in NGF-induced PC-12 cells, whereas 11 showed an inhibitory effect at higher concentration.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrated that 3,4-seco-norlanostanoids had reliable potential in promoting the outgrowth of PC-12 cells and could be used in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease, which is consist with the beneficial effects of G. Cochlear.

Deep Learning Paradigm for Cardiovascular Disease/Stroke Risk Stratification in Parkinson’s Disease Affected by COVID-19: A Narrative Review

Background and Motivation: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most serious, non-curable, and expensive to treat. Recently, machine learning (ML) has shown to be able to predict cardiovascular/stroke risk in PD patients. The presence of COVID-19 causes the ML systems to become severely non-linear and poses challenges in cardiovascular/stroke risk stratification. Further, due to comorbidity, sample size constraints, and poor scientific and clinical validation techniques, there have been no well-explained ML paradigms. Deep neural networks are powerful learning machines that generalize non-linear conditions. This study presents a novel investigation of deep learning (DL) solutions for CVD/stroke risk prediction in PD patients affected by the COVID-19 framework. Method: The PRISMA search strategy was used for the selection of 292 studies closely associated with the effect of PD on CVD risk in the COVID-19 framework. We study the hypothesis that PD in the presence of COVID-19 can cause more harm to the heart and brain than in non-COVID-19 conditions. COVID-19 lung damage severity can be used as a covariate during DL training model designs. We, therefore, propose a DL model for the estimation of, (i) COVID-19 lesions in computed tomography (CT) scans and (ii) combining the covariates of PD, COVID-19 lesions, office and laboratory arterial atherosclerotic image-based biomarkers, and medicine usage for the PD patients for the design of DL point-based models for CVD/stroke risk stratification. Results: We validated the feasibility of CVD/stroke risk stratification in PD patients in the presence of a COVID-19 environment and this was also verified. DL architectures like long short-term memory (LSTM), and recurrent neural network (RNN) were studied for CVD/stroke risk stratification showing powerful designs. Lastly, we examined the artificial intelligence bias and provided recommendations for early detection of CVD/stroke in PD patients in the presence of COVID-19. Conclusion: The DL is a very powerful tool for predicting CVD/stroke risk in PD patients affected by COVID-19.

Identification of a Novel Metabolic Target for Bioactive Triterpenoids Biosynthesis in Ganoderma lucidum

Triterpenoids are crucial active ingredients of Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) with various health benefits. Yet the low biosynthesis greatly restricts their industrial applications, novel metabolic engineering strategies are needed to further enhance Ganoderma triterpenoids production. Transcription factors play vital roles in the metabolic regulation of terpenoids, which are still scarce to study in G. lucidum. Herein, a transcription factor GlbHLH5 (GenBank No. MZ436906.1) potential for metabolic regulation of Ganoderma triterpenes was identified for the first time. MeJA could increase Ganoderma triterpenoids biosynthesis, and GlbHLH5 significantly responded to MeJA induction, suggesting GlbHLH5 is a new target for Ganoderma triterpenoids overproduction. The regulatory effect of the newly identified target was further validated by homologous gene overexpression and silence in G. lucidum. It’s demonstrated that overexpression of GlbHLH5 significantly increased triterpenoids accumulation and the key enzyme genes transcription in the biosynthetic pathway, while silencing it displayed the opposite effect, indicating GlbHLH5 could positively regulate the triterpenoids biosynthesis by activating the synergistic expression of key enzyme genes in the biosynthetic pathway. Consequently, GlbHLH5 was identified as a positive regulator and novel metabolic target for Ganoderma triterpenoids biosynthesis, it sheds new lights on the regulatory effect regulation and synthetic biology of Ganoderma triterpenoids.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Edible Mushroom Extracts: Assessment of Fungal Resistance

Antimicrobial efficacy of the water or methanolic extracts of three medicinal mushrooms Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Agaricus blazei Murrill, and Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst were investigated against yeast and filamentous fungal pathogens as well as against commensal and pathogenic bacteria. The methanolic extract of T. camphoratus (TcM) exhibited both potent antifungal and antibacterial activity, while the water extract of T. camphoratus (TcW) showed limited antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Neither the methanolic nor water extracts of A. blazei and G. lucidum exhibited antimicrobial activity. In the risk assessment testing monitoring the development of fungal tolerance to mushroom extracts in food matrices, two P. expansum mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) mutants exhibited a tolerance to TcM. In a proof-of-concept bioassay using the natural benzoic salicylaldehyde (SA), P. expansum and A. fumigatus MAPK antioxidant mutants showed similar tolerance to SA, suggesting that natural ingredients in TcM such as benzoic derivatives could negatively affect the efficacy of TcM when antioxidant mutants are targeted. Conclusion: TcM could be developed as a food ingredient having antimicrobial potential. The antimicrobial activity of TcM operates via the intact MAPK antioxidant signaling system in microbes, however, mutants lacking genes in the MAPK system escape the toxicity triggered by TcM. Therefore, caution should be exercised in the use of TcM so as to not adversely affect food safety and quality by triggering the resistance of antioxidant mutants in contaminated food.

Cardiovascular/Stroke Risk Stratification in Parkinson's Disease Patients Using Atherosclerosis Pathway and Artificial Intelligence Paradigm: A Systematic Review

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a severe, incurable, and costly condition leading to heart failure. The link between PD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not available, leading to controversies and poor prognosis. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already shown promise for CVD/stroke risk stratification. However, due to a lack of sample size, comorbidity, insufficient validation, clinical examination, and a lack of big data configuration, there have been no well-explained bias-free AI investigations to establish the CVD/Stroke risk stratification in the PD framework. The study has two objectives: (i) to establish a solid link between PD and CVD/stroke; and (ii) to use the AI paradigm to examine a well-defined CVD/stroke risk stratification in the PD framework. The PRISMA search strategy selected 223 studies for CVD/stroke risk, of which 54 and 44 studies were related to the link between PD-CVD, and PD-stroke, respectively, 59 studies for joint PD-CVD-Stroke framework, and 66 studies were only for the early PD diagnosis without CVD/stroke link. Sequential biological links were used for establishing the hypothesis. For AI design, PD risk factors as covariates along with CVD/stroke as the gold standard were used for predicting the CVD/stroke risk. The most fundamental cause of CVD/stroke damage due to PD is cardiac autonomic dysfunction due to neurodegeneration that leads to heart failure and its edema, and this validated our hypothesis. Finally, we present the novel AI solutions for CVD/stroke risk prediction in the PD framework. The study also recommends strategies for removing the bias in AI for CVD/stroke risk prediction using the PD framework.

Ganoderma lucidum aqueous extract inducing PHGPx to inhibite membrane lipid hydroperoxides and regulate oxidative stress based on single-cell animal transcriptome

In this study, the single-cell eukaryotic model organism Tetrahymena thermophila was used as an experimental material to reveal the anti-aging mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum aqueous extract. After treatment with the G. lucidum aqueous extract, the logarithmic phase was extended, and the maximum density of T. thermophila increased to 5.5 × 10⁴ cells/mL. The aqueous extract was more effective than the main active monomers of G. lucidum. The membrane integrity in the cell including mitochondria and nucleus appeared improvement after treatment with the G. lucidum aqueous extract, which observed by ammonia silver staining and transmission electron microscopy. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment of the differentially expressed genes in transcriptome showed that the G. lucidum aqueous extract promoted the biological metabolic process of membrane components. According to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), the glutathione metabolism process was enhanced in both growth phases. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis illustrated that phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) played a key role in the anti-aging mechanism. The results suggested that G. lucidum aqueous extract improved the GPX activity as well as reduced the malondialdehyde content and cell damage. More importantly, the expression of PHGPx was promoted to reduce the oxidation degree of the membrane lipids and enhance the integrity of the membrane to achieve anti-aging effects.

Structures of ganorbifates C-I, seven previously undescribed lanostanoids from the mushroom Ganoderma orbiforme, and insights of computed biosynthesis with DFT

Ganorbifates C-I, seven undescribed biosynthetically related polyoxygenated 3,4-seco-27-norlanostanoid congeners, were isolated from the edible mushroom, Ganoderma orbiforme. Ganorbifate C features a unique cyclobutene ring constructed at C19/C11, and both D and E incorporate an unusual cyclopropane ring formed by C-19/C-9 linkage. Their structures, including the absolute configurations, were determined by spectroscopic methods and ECD calculations. The proposed Norrish-Yang cyclization-based key biosynthetic pathway for ganorbifates C-E is revealed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The computational studies uncover the formation of both cyclobutene and cyclopropane rings in the isolates and the stereoselectivity centers of these steps are consistent with those in the natural products. All compounds exhibited NO generation inhibition in LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells, among them ganorbifate C was the most promising one with the IC₅₀ values of 4.37 μM.

((±)-Spiroganoapplanin A, a complex polycyclic meroterpenoid dimer from Ganoderma applanatum displaying the potential against Alzheimer’s disease

A pair of meroterpenoid dimers, (±)-spiroganoapplanain A (1) represents a new subtype of Ganoderma meroterpenoid dimers with a 6/5/5/6/5/6 hexacyclic system were isolated from Ganoderma applanatum. Their structures were determined...

Antidepressant-like effect of Ganoderma lucidum spore polysaccharide-peptide mediated by upregulation of prefrontal cortex brain-derived neurotrophic factor

A 28-kDa polysaccharide-peptide (PGL) with antidepressant-like activities was isolated from spores of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. It was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose. Its internal amino acid sequences manifested pronounced similarity with proteins from the mushrooms Lentinula edodes and Agaricus bisporus. The monosaccharides present in 28-kDa PGL comprised predominantly of glucose (over 90%) and much fewer galactose, mannose residues, and other residues. PGL manifested antidepressant-like activities as follows. It enhanced viability and DNA content in corticosterone-injured PC12 cells(a cell line derived from a pheochromocytoma of the rat adrenal medulla with an embryonic origin from the neural crest containing a mixture of neuroblastic cells and eosinophilic cells) and reduced LDH release. A single acute PGL treatment shortened the duration of immobility of mice in both tail suspension and forced swimming tests. PGL treatment enhanced sucrose preference and shortened the duration of immobility in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Chronic PGL treatment reversed the decline in mouse brain serotonin and norepinephrine levels but did not affect dopamine levels. PGL decreased serum corticosterone levels and increased BDNF mRNA and protein levels and increased synapsin I and PSD95 levels in the prefrontal cortex. This effect was completely blocked by pretreatment with the BDNF antagonist K252a, indicating that PGL increased synaptic proteins in a BDNF-dependent manner.Key points• An antidepressive polysaccharide-peptide PGL was isolated from G. lucidum spores.• PGL protected PC12 nerve cells from the toxicity of corticosterone.• PGL upregulated BDNF expression and influenced key factors in the prefrontal cortex.

Exploring the Protective and Reparative Mechanisms of G. lucidum Polysaccharides Against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Skin Fibroblasts

BACKGROUND

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is one of China's traditional medicinal materials. G. lucidum polysaccharide has a wide range of promising pharmacological applications. However, there are many kinds of G. lucidum and they contain different kinds of polysaccharides. The biological mechanism through which Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) is able to protect human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) from H2O2-induced oxidative damage is still unclear.

METHODS

Six polysaccharides were obtained from G. lucidum to evaluate their free radical scavenging ability (DPPH free radical, ABTS free radical, hydroxyl-free radical, superoxide anion-free radical) in vitro, and their protective and reparative effects on oxidative damage induced by H2O2 in human skin fibroblasts. One polysaccharide was selected to detect oxidative damage markers and gene expression in the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in HSFs.

RESULTS

All six polysaccharides showed the ability to scavenge free radicals and enhance the tolerance of human skin fibroblasts to H2O2 damage. Among them, GLP1 was selected and separated into two components (GLP1I and GLP1II). The results showed that GLP1, GLP1I and GLPII could significantly reduce the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The protective effect of GLP1II was stronger than that of positive control vitamin C. In addition, GLP1, GLP1I and GLP1II could significantly increase the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). And GLP1I works best in both ways. Meanwhile, Nrf2, a key regulator of keAP1-NRF2/ARE signaling pathway, was activated, while Keap1, a negative regulator, was inhibited, thus promoting the expression of downstream antioxidant enzyme genes (GSTs, GCLs, Nqo1, and Ho-1).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that GLP could protect human skin fibroblasts from oxidative damage caused by H2O2 peroxide by enhancing enzyme activity and activating Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. GLP will act as a natural antioxidant to protect the skin from oxidative stress damage.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Treating Epilepsy

Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of use for treating epilepsy. Because of the side effects of Western antiepileptic therapy and the quest for more accessible treatment, complementary and alternative medicines have become popular. Traditional Chinese medical diet therapy appears to be safe and effective. We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Library through November 2020 for the use of traditional Chinese medicine in clinical settings, including plants, fungi, and animals. Combinations of keywords included “epilepsy,” “seizure,” “antiepileptic,” “anticonvulsive,” “Chinese herbal medicine,” “Chinese herb,” and each of the Latin names, English names, and scientific names of herbs. We also summarized the sources and functions of these herbs in Chinese medicine. Different herbs can be combined to increase antiepileptic effects through various mechanisms, including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, GABAergic effect enhancement, modulation of NMDA channels and sodium channel, and neuroprotection. Despite reports of their anticonvulsive effects, adequate experimental evidence and randomized controlled clinical trials are required to confirm their antiepileptic effects.

Structure and chain conformation of bioactive β-D-glucan purified from water extracts of Ganoderma lucidum unbroken spores

Two polysaccharide fractions (GLSB50 and GLSB70) with total sugar content of 82.07 wt% and 53.79 wt%, respectively, were obtained from the water extracts of unbroken Ganoderma lucidum spores by sequential ethanol precipitation treatment. Compared with GLSB70, GLSB50 exhibited better activity on stimulation of humoral immune responses in immunosuppressed mice. A novel β-D-glucan (GLSB50A-III-1) with weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 1.93 × 105 g/mol was purified from GLSB50 through chromatography separation. The exponent α value of Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation was calculated to be 0.13, indicating that GLSB50A-III-1 presented globular spheres conformation in aqueous solution. Structural analysis showed that GLSB50A-III-1 mainly consisted of (1 → 3), (1 → 4), (1 → 6)-linked β-d-glucose residues in the backbone, with two single β-D-Glcp attached at O-6 of β-(1 → 3) and β-(1 → 4)-linked residues separately as side chains. The repeat unit of GLSB50A-III-1 was deduced as follows.

(±)-Gancochlearols J - N, renoprotective meroterpenoids from Ganoderma cochlear

Five pairs of meroterpenoid enantiomers, (±)-gancochlearols J - N (1-5), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma cochlear. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations of gancochlearols J - M (1-4) were assigned by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Biological evaluation showed that (-)-1 and (-)-2 could inhibit renal fibrosis in TGF-β1-induced rat kidney proximal tubular cells (NRK-52e).

Ganorbifates A and B from Ganoderma orbiforme, determined by DFT calculations of NMR data and ECD spectra

Ganorbifate A featuring an unprecedented 6/6/6/5/5 pentacyclic system, and ganorbifate B with an unusual 6/4/6/5/8/5 ring system were isolated from the fruiting body of Ganoderma orbiforme. Their structures were established using extensive spectroscopic analysis, including DFT calculations of NMR data and ECD spectra.

Self-Medication with Ganoderma lucidum ("Reishi") to Combat Parkinson's Disease Symptoms: A Single Case Study

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disease for which only symptomatic treatments, mainly focused on motor symptoms. In contrast, conventional pharmacological treatments do not address cognitive impairment and emotional dysfunction. Together with potential treatment side effects, these can cause distress, lower the quality of life, and increase motor impairment in patients. Preclinical research suggests that the Traditional Chinese Medicine Ganoderma lucidum (“Reishi”) can alleviate symptoms in neurological disorders like PD. However, no clinical research to date has addressed this. An (unmedicated) patient, 50 years of age and diagnosed with PD for 5 years, approached the author as he decided to initiate self-treatment with Reishi, lasting 3 months. He wanted to evaluate the effects and decide to continue self-treatment or not. He agreed to be followed during this period, using questionnaires asking him about his (non-)motor symptoms. The most notable finding was the increase in Mindfulness, 3 months after self-treatment started. The motor symptoms stayed stable, there were no extreme changes in quality of life, and emotion regulation seemed to deteriorate over time while slightly improving at the 3-month assessment. While the findings do not allow firm conclusions seen the nature (N = 1) of this study, the small positive changes in some facets of affective behavior and the patient's experience, combined with the evidence from preclinical research, warrant clinical studies in this patient population.

Extraction of triterpenoid compounds from Ganoderma Lucidum spore powder through a dual-mode sonication process

Development of drug products from natural sources enable advantageous treatment and therapy options. Bioactive compounds in Ganoderma lucidum spore powder (GLSP) are known for vast antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Herein, we studied the use of dual-probe ultrasound to extract triterpenoids from GLSP and further investigated the bioactivity of resulting products. FTIR results confirm the presence of key peaks although dual-probe ultrasound varied extraction efficacy. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize extraction conditions (55:28 for solvent to solid ratio, 10.38 s of ultrasound time and 94% v/v of ethanol concentration). HPLC-Q-TOF-MS confirmed the presence of nine different compounds and in vitro tests confirm good biocompatibility. Extracts are shown to inhibit DPPH radicals, reaching a maximum (61.09 ± 1.38%) at triterpenoid concentrations of 600 µg/mL. Dual-mode assisted extraction provides an enhanced approach for active embedded fiber production on a scale favorable to industry when using optimized process parameters. Furthermore, triterpenoid extracts show antibacterial properties on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with potential in antibacterial and anticancer applications.

Applanaic acids A-C, three new highly oxygenated lanostane triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma applanatum

Three new highly oxygenated lanostane triterpenoids, applanaic acids A-C (1-3), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Ganoderma applanatum. Among them, applanaic acid B (2) possessed the Δ¹⁷⁽²⁰⁾-double bond connection between the side chain and the tetracyclic skeleton, which was not common in the natural lanostane triterpenoids. Their structures were determined by 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic analysis. Compound 3 showed a weak acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitory activity with 33.5% inhibition rate at 50 μM.[Figure: see text].

Identification of novel phytocannabinoids from Ganoderma by label-free dynamic mass redistribution assay

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Located throughout the body, cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) are therapeutic targets for obesity/metabolic diseases, neurological/mental disorders, and immune modulation. Phytocannabinoids are greatly important for the development of new medicines with high efficacy and/or minor side effects. Plants and fungi are used in traditional medicine for beneficial effects to mental and immune system. The current research studied five fungi from the genus Ganoderma and five plants: Ganoderma hainanense J.D. Zhao, L.W. Hsu & X.Q. Zhang; Ganoderma capense (Lloyd) Teng, Zhong Guo De Zhen Jun; Ganoderma cochlear (Blume & T. Nees) Bres., Hedwigia; Ganoderma resinaceum Boud.; Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat.; Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae); Cynanchum otophyllum C. K. Schneid. (Asclepiadaceae); Coffea arabica L. (Rubiaceae); Prinsepia utilis Royle (Rosaceae); Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Brassicaceae). They show immunoregulation, promotion of longevity and maintenance of vitality, stimulant effects on the central nervous system, hormone balance and other beneficial effects. However, it remains unclear whether cannabinoid receptors are involved in these effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This work aimed to identify components working on CB1 and CB2 from the above plants and fungi, as novel phytocannabinoids, and to investigate mechanisms of how these compounds affected the cells. By analyzing the structure-activity relationship, we could identify the core structure for future development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-two natural compounds were screened on stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines, CHO-CB1 and CHO-CB2, with application of a label-free dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) technology that measured cellular responses to compounds. CP55,940 and WIN55,212-2 were agonist probe molecules, and SR141716A and SR144528 were antagonist probes. Pertussis toxin, cholera toxin, LY294002 and U73122 were signaling pathway inhibitors. The DMR data were acquired by Epic Imager software (Corning, NY), processed by Imager Beta 3.7 (Corning), and analyzed by GraphPad Prism 6 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA).

RESULTS

Transfected CHO-CB1 and CHO-CB2 cell lines were established and characterized. Seven compounds induced responses/activities in the cells. Among the seven compounds, four were purified from two Ganoderma species with potencies between 20 and 35 μM. Three antagonists: Kfb68 antagonized both receptors with a better desensitizing effect on CB2 to WIN55,212-2 over CP55,940. Kga1 and Kfb28 were antagonists selective to CB1 and CB2, respectively. Kfb77 was a special agonist and it stimulated CB1 in a mechanism different from that of CP55,940. Another three active compounds, derived from the Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Brassicaceae), were also identified but their effects were mediated through mechanisms much related to the signaling transduction pathways, especially through the stimulatory G_s protein.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified four natural cannabinoids that exhibited structural and functional diversities. Our work confirms the presence of active ingredients in the Ganoderma species to CB1 and CB2, and this finding establishes connections between the fungi and the cannabinoid receptors, which will serve as a starting point to connect their beneficial effects to the endocannabinoid system. This research will also enrich the inventory of cannabinoids and phytocannabinoids from fungi. Yet due to some limitations, further structure-activity relationship studies and mechanism investigation are warranted in future.

Traditional uses, chemical components and pharmacological activities of the genus Ganoderma P. Karst.: a review

In recent years, some natural products isolated from the fungi of the genus Ganoderma have been found to have anti-tumor, liver protection, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, anti-oxidation, anti-viral, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects. This review summarizes the research progress of some promising natural products and their pharmacological activities. The triterpenoids, meroterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, steroids, alkaloids and polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum and other species of Ganoderma were reviewed, including their corresponding chemical structures and biological activities. In particular, the triterpenes, polysaccharides and meroterpenoids of Ganoderma show a wide range of biological activities. Among them, the hydroxyl groups on the C-3, C-24 and C-25 positions of the lanostane triterpenes compound were the necessary active groups for the anti-HIV-1 virus. Previous study showed that lanostane triterpenes can inhibit human immunodeficiency virus-1 protease with an IC₅₀ value of 20–40 μM, which has potential anti-HIV-1 activity. Polysaccharides can promote the production of TNF α and IFN-γ by macrophages and spleen cells in mice, and further inhibit or kill tumor cells. Some meroterpenoids contain oxygen-containing heterocycles, and they have significant antioxidant activity. In addition, Ganoderma has been used as a medicine to treat diseases for more than 2000 years, and we also reviewed its traditional uses.

In recent years, some natural products isolated from the fungus of the genus Ganoderma have been found to have anti-tumor, liver protection, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, anti-oxidation, anti-viral, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects.

The Beneficial Effects of Raffinee in Permanent Occulted Stroke Mice

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of disability and mortality globally. Although thrombolytic therapy is routinely adopted in cases of ischemic stroke, various alternative natural neuroprotectants are also used as effective adjuvant therapies to recover neurofunction following ischemic stroke. Raffinee, a natural fermented product with strong antioxidant and neuroprotective activities, has antiatherogenic effects in animals and has exhibited neuroprotective effects in a clinical trial by recovering motor and sensory function following spinal cord lesion. This study reveals the advantageous effects of Raffinee on PC12 cells by decreasing hypoxia-induced apoptosis in mice with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) by increasing the levels of neurotrophic factors such as S100β, reducing serum inflammatory factors such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9/MMP-2 ratio, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 level, and increasing IL-10 levels. Significantly reduced brain infarct volume along with a favorable survival ratio was observed for pMCAO mice that received Raffinee, suggesting a neuroprotective potential of Raffinee in cases of acute ischemic stroke by suppressing apoptosis.

Neuropharmacological Effect and Clinical Applications of Ganoderma (Lingzhi)

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, Lingzhi) is a kind of medical mushroom with various pharmacological compounds. It has been used for clinical applications for thousands of years as a highly nutritious and significantly effective medicinal herb. Compared with its immunomodulatory effect, there are a few studies on the neuropharmacological actions of Ganoderma, and the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. As far as we know, Ganoderma regulate the central nervous system (CNS) at least in part through its immunomodulatory activity. The neuropharmacological effects of G. lucidum mainly include but not limited to sedative and hypnotic, neuroprotective, antinociceptive and analgesic, antiepileptic, and antidepressant effects. Clinical trials of G. lucidum in the patients with these disorders are still rare. To date, there are no Ganoderma-related drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this chapter, we will summarize and elucidate recent progress of such effects of Ganoderma and its ingredients from both the preclinical and clinical points of view.

Optimization extraction and functional properties of soluble dietary fiber from pineapple pomace obtained by shear homogenization-assisted extraction

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the extraction conditions for shear homogenization-assisted extraction of soluble dietary fiber from pineapple pomace (s-SDF), and the absorption capacities and antioxidant activities of the obtained s-SDF were also investigated. The optimum extraction conditions consisted of a cutting speed of 9000 rpm, a cutting time of 20 min, a cellulase content of 5.0%, a hydrolysis time of 120 min, a pH value of 4.5, a hydrolysis temperature of 50 °C, and a raw material to water ratio of 1 : 45 g mL⁻¹. Under these conditions, the theoretical and actual extraction yields of s-SDF were 8.80% and 8.76%, respectively. An absorption capacity analysis indicated that s-SDF exhibited higher absorption abilities to sodium cholate, cholesterol and fat. In addition, s-SDF possessed higher antioxidant activities, showing a positive concentration effect relationship for DPPH˙, ABTS⁺, ·OH and O₂⁻˙. The concentration of 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ scavenged 76.72% DPPH˙, 58.40% ABTS⁺, 23.47% ·OH and 48.47% O₂⁻˙, respectively, and the reduction power was 0.70. These results indicated that pineapple pomace is a potential source of natural dietary fiber and a potential functional food ingredient.

Shear homogenization-assisted extraction method was successfully applied to extract soluble dietary fiber from pineapple pomace, and the absorption capacities and antioxidant activities of the obtained s-SDF were also investigated.