Ganoderma spore powder contains little triterpenoids

Acupuncture for migraine: A systematic review and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVES

This meta-analysis aimed to explore the relationship between the dose of acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and its effects on migraine.

METHODS

Eight databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of penetrating manual acupuncture for migraine published in English and Chinese from inception to June 20, 2024. The robust-error meta-regression (REMR) approach and non-linear meta-regression with restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to investigate the dose-response association between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and the frequency of migraine attacks. The potential nonlinear relationships was tested by restricting the regression coefficient to zero and a P value＜0.1. The statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 17.0. The risk of bias was independently assessed by two reviewers using the Cochrane tool. The reporting quality for acupuncture procedures was evaluated by STRICTA criteria.

RESULTS

Thirty-two RCTs involving 1562 participants were included, and the results showed a J-shaped dose-response association between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and migraine attack frequency. After 16 acupuncture sessions, the change in the frequency of migraine attacks was 3.95 (95 %CI: 3.13 to 4.77). Three sessions of acupuncture a week resulted in a significant decrease in the frequency of migraine attacks, reaching 4.04 (95 % CI: 2.49 to 5.58). After two months of acupuncture, the frequency of migraine attacks decreased significantly, showing a difference of 4.05 (95 % CI: 3.61 to 4.49). Subsequently, the improvement trend gradually flattened, yielding diminishing benefits to patients. The risk of bias showed that seven studies were rated as "low risk", two were rated as "high risk", and the others were rated as "unclear risk". The reporting quality of RCTs of acupuncture for migraine remain suboptimal.

CONCLUSIONS

A non-linear dose-response relationship was found between acupuncture sessions, acupuncture frequency, and acupuncture duration and migraine attack frequency. The results of our study recommend 16 sessions of acupuncture with a frequency of 3 sessions/week and a treatment duration of 1.5 to 2 months.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

This meta-analysis has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023400493).

Protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum spores on estradiol benzoate-induced TEC apoptosis and compromised double-positive thymocyte development

Backgroud: Thymic atrophy marks the onset of immune aging, precipitating developmental anomalies in T cells. Numerous clinical and preclinical investigations have underscored the regulatory role of Ganoderma lucidum spores (GLS) in T cell development. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this regulation remain elusive. Methods: In this study, a mice model of estradiol benzoate (EB)-induced thymic atrophy was constructed, and the improvement effect of GLS on thymic atrophy was evaluated. Then, we employs multi-omics techniques to elucidate how GLS modulates T cell development amidst EB-induced thymic atrophy in mice. Results: GLS effectively mitigates EB-induced thymic damage by attenuating apoptotic thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and enhancing the output of CD4+ T cells into peripheral blood. During thymic T cell development, sporoderm-removed GLS (RGLS) promotes T cell receptor (TCR) α rearrangement by augmenting V-J fragment rearrangement frequency and efficiency. Notably, biased Vα14-Jα18 rearrangement fosters double-positive (DP) to invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell differentiation, partially contingent on RGLS-mediated restriction of peptide-major histocompatibility complex I (pMHCⅠ)-CD8 interaction and augmented CD1d expression in DP thymocytes, thereby promoting DP to CD4+ iNKT cell development. Furthermore, RGLS amplifies interaction between a DP subpopulation, termed DPsel-7, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), likely facilitating the subsequent development of double-negative iNKT1 cells. Lastly, RGLS suppresses EB-induced upregulation of Abpob and Apoa4, curbing the clearance of CD4+Abpob+ and CD4+Apoa4+ T cells by mTECs, resulting in enhanced CD4+ T cell output. Discussion: These findings indicate that the RGLS effectively mitigates EB-induced TEC apoptosis and compromised double-positive thymocyte development. These insights into RGLS's immunoregulatory role pave the way for its potential as a T-cell regeneration inducer.

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.

Impact of Sulfur Fumigation on the Chemistry of Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Chinese Yam)

Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Chinese yam; derived from the rhizome of Dioscorea opposita Thunb.) (DR), commonly consumed as a food or supplement, is often sulfur-fumigated during post-harvest handling, but it remains largely unknown if and how sulfur fumigation impacts the chemistry of DR. In this study, we report the impact of sulfur fumigation on the chemical profile of DR and then the molecular and cellular mechanisms potentially involved in the chemical variations induced by sulfur fumigation. The results show that sulfur fumigation significantly and specifically changed the small metabolites (molecular weight lower than 1000 Da) and polysaccharides of DR at both qualitative and quantitative levels. Multifaceted molecular and cellular mechanisms involving chemical transformations (e.g., acidic hydrolysis, sulfonation, and esterification) and histological damage were found to be responsible for the chemical variations in sulfur-fumigated DR (S-DR). The research outcomes provide a chemical basis for further comprehensive and in-depth safety and functional evaluations of sulfur-fumigated DR.

Two-dimensional code enables visibly mapping herbal medicine chemome: an application in Ganoderma lucidum

BACKGROUND

Chemical profile provides the pronounced evidence for herbal medicine (HM) authentication; however, the chemome is extremely sophisticated. Fortunately, two-dimensional (2D) code, as a quick response means, is conceptually able to store abundant information, exactly fulfilling the chemical information storage demands of HMs.

METHODS

We here attempted to denote both MS[Formula: see text] and MS[Formula: see text] dataset of HM with a single 2D-code chart. Measurement of Ganoderma lucidum that is one of the most famous HMs with LC-MS/MS was employed to illustrate the "coding-decoding" workflow for the conversion amongst MS/MS dataset, 2D-code, and chemical profile, and to evaluate the applicability as well. After data acquisition, and m/z value of each deprotonated molecular signal was divided into integer and decimal portions, corresponding to x and y coordinates of 2D-plot, respectively. On the other side, m/z values of all its fragment ions were exactly assigned to serial x values sharing an identical y value being equal to the precursor ion. 2D-code was thereafter produced by plotting these defined dots at a 2D-chart. Regarding a given 2D-code map, the entire chart (x coordinate: 0-600; y coordinate: 0-600) was fragmented into two regions by the line of y=x. MS[Formula: see text] spectral signals always located below the line, whereas all fragment ions lay at the left zone. After extracting information from the edges of each square frame, m/z values of both precursor ion and fragment ions could be harvested and putatively deciphered to a compound through applying some empirical mass fragmentation rules.

RESULTS

The entire code of Ganoderma lucidum fruit bodies therefore corresponded exactly to a compound set. The elution program, even the employment of direct infusion, couldn't significantly impact the code, and dramatical differences occurred between different species and amongst different parts of Ganoderma lucidum as well. Not only ganoderic acid cluster but also certain primary metabolites served as the diagnostic compounds towards species differentiation.

CONCLUSION

2D-code might be a meaningful, practical visual way for rapid HM recognition because it is convenient to achieve the conversion amongst MS/MS dataset, 2D-barcode plot, and the chemome.

Sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum alleviates liver injury induced by DBP and BaP co-exposure in rat

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) are ubiquitous contaminants in environment and foodstuffs, which increase the chance of their combined exposure to humans in daily life. However, the combined effects of DBP and BaP on liver and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we explored the combined effects of DBP and BaP on liver and the potential mechanisms in a rat model. We found that DBP and BaP co-exposure activated the MyD88/NF-κB pathway through increasing TLR4 acetylation (TLR4ac) level, leading to the imbalance of pro-inflammatory factors (CXCL-13, IL-6 and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10), ultimately resulting in liver tissue damage and functional changes. Sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum (SSGL) had strong alleviating effects on liver injury induced by DBP and BaP co-exposure. Our study found that SSGL suppressed TLR4ac-regulated MyD88/NF-κB signaling to reduce the release of pro-inflammatory factors, and promote the secretion of IL-10, thus alleviating liver injury caused by DBP and BaP co-exposure. In conclusion, SSGL contributed to liver protection against DBP and BaP-induced liver injury in rats via suppressing the TLR4ac-regulated MyD88/NF-κB signaling.