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.

Compositional studies: antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew

Capparis decidua is one of the traditional remedies used for various medicinal treatments in Pakistan. This study presents the determination of proximate composition, amino acids, fatty acids, tocopherols, sterols, glucosinolate and phenolic content in extracts obtained from different aerial parts of C. decidua, as well as their antidiabetic and antioxidant activity. All examined extracts were prominently rich in phenolics and glucosinates, and they showed potent antidiabetic and antihemolytic activity. The present study could be helpful in developing medicinal preparations for the treatment of diabetes and related symptoms.