Effect and Mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum Spores on Alleviation of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in a Pilot in vivo Study

Ganoderma lucidum-Derived Meroterpenoids Show Anti-Inflammatory Activity In Vitro

Ganoderma lucidum, known as the "herb of spiritual potency", is used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases, but the responsible constituents for its therapeutic effects are largely unknown. For the purpose of obtaining insight into the chemical and biological profiling of meroterpenoids in G. lucidum, various chromatographic approaches were utilized for the title fungus. As a result, six undescribed meroterpenoids, chizhienes A-F (1-6), containing two pairs of enantiomers (4 and 5), were isolated. Their structures were identified using spectroscopic and computational methods. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activities of all the isolates were evaluated by Western blot analysis in LPS-induced macrophage cells (RAW264.7), showing that 1 and 3 could dose dependently inhibit iNOS but not COX-2 expression. Further, 1 and 3 were found to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production using the Greiss reagent test. The current study will aid in enriching the structural and biological diversity of Ganoderma-derived meroterpenoids.

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.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides ameliorate lipopolysaccharide-induced acute pneumonia via inhibiting NRP1-mediated inflammation

CONTEXT

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP), from Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. (Ganodermataceae), are reported to have anti-inflammatory effects, including anti-neuroinflammation and anti-colitis. Nevertheless, the role of GLP in acute pneumonia is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the protective role of GLP against LPS-induced acute pneumonia and investigate possible mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

GLP were extracted and used for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis after acid hydrolysis and PMP derivatization. Sixty C57BL/6N male mice were randomly divided into six groups: Sham, Model, LPS + GLP (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/d administered intragastrically for two weeks) and LPS + dexamethasone (6 mg/kg/d injected intraperitoneally for one week). Acute pneumonia mouse models were established by intratracheal injection of LPS. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was examined to evaluate lung lesions. ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR were employed to assess inflammatory factors expression. Western blots were carried out to measure Neuropilin-1 expression and proteins related to apoptosis and autophagy.

RESULTS

GLP suppressed inflammatory cell infiltration. In BALF, cell counts were 1.1 × 10⁶ (model) and 7.1 × 10⁵ (100 mg/kg). Release of GM-CSF and IL-6 was reduced with GLP (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) treatment. The expression of genes IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and Saa3 was reduced. GLP treatment also suppressed the activation of Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), upregulated the levels of Bcl2/Bax and LC3 and led to downregulation of the ratio C-Caspase 3/Caspase 3 and P62 expression.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

GLP could protect against LPS-induced acute pneumonia through multiple mechanisms: blocking the infiltration of inflammatory cells, inhibiting cytokine secretion, suppressing NRP1 activation and regulating pneumonocyte apoptosis and autophagy.

Effects and Mechanism of Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides in the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) have renal protection effect but there was no study on the diabetic nephropathy. This study was designed to investigate its effect and mechanism using a diabetic rat model induced by streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, i.p.). The diabetic rats were treated with GLP (300 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks. The blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, body weight, and the levels of blood creatinine, urea nitrogen, and urine protein were assessed. And renal pathologies were assessed by the tissue sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson’s trichome, and periodic acid-Schiff. The expression of phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3 kinase (p-PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), the autophagy proteins beclin-1, LC3-II, LC3-I, and P62; the apoptosis-related proteins caspase-3 and caspase-9; and the inflammation markers IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-ɑ were assessed. Results showed that GLP alleviated the impairment of renal function by reducing urinary protein excretion and the blood creatinine level and ameliorated diabetic nephropathy. The expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR in the diabetic kidney were significantly reduced in the GLP treatment group compared to the without treatment group. GLP treatment activated the autophagy indicators of beclin-1 and the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I but reduced p62 and also inhibited the expression of caspase-3, caspase-9 and IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-ɑ. In conclusion, the effect of GLP amelioration diabetic nephropathy may be via the PI3k/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by inhibition of the apoptosis and inflammation and activation of the autophagy process.

Health-Promoting of Polysaccharides Extracted from Ganoderma lucidum

Medicinal mushrooms are rich sources of pharmacologically active compounds. One of the mushrooms commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine is Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. Ex Fr.) Karst. In Asian countries it is treated as a nutraceutical, whose regular consumption provides vitality and improves health. Ganoderma lucidum is an important source of biologically active compounds. The pharmacologically active fraction of polysaccharides has antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antineurodegenerative and antidiabetic activities. In this review, we summarize the activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP).

Mechanisms and Therapeutic Prospects of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Through the Inflammatory Response

The incidence of heart failure (HF) continues to increase rapidly in patients with diabetes. It is marked by myocardial remodeling, including fibrosis, hypertrophy, and cell death, leading to diastolic dysfunction with or without systolic dysfunction. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a distinct myocardial disease in the absence of coronary artery disease. DCM is partially induced by chronic systemic inflammation, underpinned by a hostile environment due to hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. The detrimental role of leukocytes, cytokines, and chemokines is evident in the diabetic heart, yet the precise role of inflammation as a cause or consequence of DCM remains incompletely understood. Here, we provide a concise review of the inflammatory signaling mechanisms contributing to the clinical complications of diabetes-associated HF. Overall, the impact of inflammation on the onset and development of DCM suggests the potential benefits of targeting inflammatory cascades to prevent DCM. This review is tailored to outline the known effects of the current anti-diabetic drugs, anti-inflammatory therapies, and natural compounds on inflammation, which mitigate HF progression in diabetic populations.