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

Unlocking the Potential of Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis): Botanical Overview, Therapeutic Applications, and Nanotechnological Advances

Background:Ganoderma lucidum (GL), commonly known as the "Lingzhi" or "Reishi" mushroom, has long been recognized for its potential health benefits and medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine. The unique potential combination of bioactive compounds present in GL, such as triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and peptides, has inspired interest in leveraging their therapeutic potential In recent years, the emerging field of nanotechnology has opened up new possibilities for using the remarkable properties of GL at the nanoscale. Objetive: The main objective of this review is to explore the unique potential of GL in traditional and innovative therapies, particularly in cancer treatment, and to assess how nanotechnology-based strategies can enhance its therapeutic applications.is to explore. Results: Nanotechnology-based strategies have been investigated for the efficient extraction and purification of bioactive compounds from GL. Additionally, nanocarriers and nanoformulations have been developed to protect these sensitive bioactive compounds from degradation, ensuring their stability during storage and transportation. The use of GL-based nanomaterials has shown promising results in several biomedical applications, namely due to their anticancer activity by targeting cancer cells, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting tumor growth. Conclusions: The combination of GL and nanotechnology presents an exciting frontier in the development of novel therapeutic and biomedical applications. Nevertheless, further research and development in this interdisciplinary field are warranted to fully exploit the synergistic benefits offered by GL and nanotechnology. Future prospects include the development of robust clinical trials focused on GL nanotechnology-based cancer therapies to clarify mechanisms of actions and optimize formulations, ultimately leading to innovative solutions for human health and well-being.

Sexual spores in mushrooms: bioactive compounds, factors and molecular mechanisms of spore formation

Throughout the life cycle of mushrooms, countless spores are released from the fruiting bodies. The spores have significant implications in the food and medicine industries due to pharmacological effects attributed to their bioactive ingredients. Moreover, high concentration of mushroom spores can induce extrinsic allergic reactions in mushroom cultivation workers. Therefore, it is important to study the bioactive ingredients of medicinal mushroom spores and molecular mechanisms of spore formation to develop healthcare products utilizing medicinal mushroom spores and breed sporeless/low- or high-spore-producing strains. This review summarizes the bioactive compounds of mushroom spores, the influence factors and molecular mechanisms of spore formation. Many bioactive compounds extracted from mushroom spores have a wide range of pharmacological activities. Several exogenous factors such as temperature, humidity, light, nutrients, and culture matrix, and endogenous factors such as metabolism-related enzymes activities and expression levels of genes related to sporulation individually or in combination affect the formation, size, and discharge of spores. The future research directions are also discussed for supplying references to analyze the bioactive compounds of spores and the molecular mechanisms of spore formation in mushrooms.

Pharmacological Activities and Safety of Ganoderma lucidum Spores: A Systematic Review

Ganoderma lucidum is traditionally used to prevent and treat some diseases such as liver disorders, hypertension, insomnia, diabetes, and cancer. G. lucidum spore extracts are also reported to share similar bioactivities as extracts from its other parts. However, there is no systematic review that elucidates its pharmacological effect. Our aim is to comprehensively summarise current evidence of G. lucidum spore extracts to clarify its benefits to be applied in further studies. We searched five primary databases: PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Global Health Library (GHL), System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE), and Google Scholar on September 13, 2021. Articles were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. A manual search was applied to find more relevant articles. Ninety studies that reported the pharmacological effects and/or safety of G. lucidum spores were included in this review. The review found that G. lucidum spore extracts showed quite similar effects as other parts of this medicinal plant including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, and immunomodulation. G. lucidum sporoderm-broken extract demonstrated higher efficiency than unbroken spore extract. G. lucidum extracts also showed their effects on some genes responsible for the body's metabolism, which implied the benefits in metabolic diseases. The safety of G. lucidum should be investigated in depth as high doses of the extract could increase levels of cancer antigen (CA)72-4, despite no harmful effect shown on body organs. Generally, there is a lot of potential in the studies of compounds with pharmacological effects and new treatments. Sporoderm breaking technique could contribute to the production of extracts with more effective prevention and treatment of diseases. High doses of G. lucidum spore extract should be used with caution as there was a concern about the increase in CA.

Modeling and optimization of the protocol of complex chromatography separation of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors from Ganoderma lucidum spore

INTRODUCTION

The spores of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum possess hepatoprotective properties. The main components, triterpenes, are particularly beneficial, making the screening and preparation of active triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum significant.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to screen and verify cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors from G. lucidum spores, establish a rapid online hyphenated technique for the preparation of active ingredients, and analyze the structures of the active ingredients.

METHODS

Ultrafiltration LC combined with an enzyme inhibition assay and molecular docking was employed to screen and evaluate cyclooxygenase-2 ligands, which were prepared by pressurized liquid extraction coupled online with countercurrent chromatography and semi-preparative LC. The structures of the compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

RESULTS

Six cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, namely, ganoderic acids I, C₂ , G, B, and A and ganoderenic acid A, were screened and evaluated. They were prepared using the online hyphenated technique, following which their structures were identified.

CONCLUSION

This study provides opportunities for the discovery and development of new therapeutic drugs from other natural resources, as the present instrumental setup achieved efficient and systematic extraction and isolation of natural products compared with reference separation methods, thus exhibiting significant potential for industrial applications.