Ganoderma lucidum: Unutilized natural medicine and promising future solution to emerging diseases in Africa

Molecular networking and Paterno-Büchi reaction guided glycerides characterization and antioxidant activity assessment of Ganoderma lucidum spore oil

Ganoderma lucidum spore oil (GLSO) is a dietary supplement, with glycerides (GLs) recognized as its important active component. However, comprehensive profiling and accurate structural characterization of GLs in GLSO remain underexplored. In this study, 59 GLs from GLSO were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS) and molecular networking (MN). The double bond isomers of these compounds were further resolved by the Paterno-Büchi (PB) reaction coupled with UPLC-Q-TOF MS, resulting in the identification of 36 unsaturated GLs, including 5 pairs of positional isomers. In summary, 64 GLs were characterized, consisting of 9 diacylglycerols (DGs) and 55 triacylglycerols (TGs). Additionally, the compositional variations, antioxidant activities, and relative isomer ratios of CC positional isomers of GLSO from eight different manufacturers were revealed, with 11 GLs correlating with antioxidant activity. This study enhances the understanding of the nutritional value of GLSO and lays a foundation for future quality standard formulation.

Lanostane triterpenoids from Ganoderma calidophilum exhibit potent anti-tumor activity by inhibiting PTP1B

The species Ganoderma calidophilum represents a distinct variety within the genus Ganoderma and used by the indigenous Li ethnic group as a medicinal agent for the prevention and treatment of cancer. However, the precise biological activity and role of G. calidophilum in antitumor treatment remain largely unresolved. Several lanostane triterpenoids have been isolated from G. calidophilum. The enzyme activity analysis revealed that four lanostane triterpenoids exhibited PTP1B inhibition activity, with minimal inhibition towards SHP2, SHP1, PTPN5, PTPRA, STEP and TCPTP. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that these compounds primarily bind to the substrate recognition and entry regions of PTP1B. Further analysis indicated that among them, ganoderic aldehyde A (GAA) is a selective and non-competitive PTP1B inhibitor. GAA inhibited the proliferation, colony formation and migration of C33A and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. GAA has the capacity to induce apoptosis in a cell-type-specific manner, both in a caspase-dependent and -independent manner. PTP1B siRNA significantly reduced the cytotoxic effect of GAA, while overexpression of PTP1B significantly increased cell growth after GAA treatment. These findings confirm that PTP1B is a functional target of GAA. Research into the mechanisms of action of GAA has revealed that it could inhibit the activation of AKT by inhibiting PTP1B, while simultaneously activating p38, which promotes cell death. It is possible to develop specific PTP1B inhibitors based on the lanosterol triterpene skeleton. G. calidophilum has the potential to be developed into functional foods or drugs with the aim of preventing and treating cancer.

Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted debittering of Ganoderma lucidum using response surface methodology, characterization, and evaluation of antioxidant activity

Background

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has gained increasing attention as a potential health care product and food source. However, the bitter taste of G. lucidum has limited its development and utilization for the food industry.

Methonds

The response surface methodology was employed to optimize the inclusion conditions for the debittering of G. lucidum. The effects of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin concentration (12-14 g/mL), ultrasound temperature (20-40 °C and host-guest ratio (1:1-2:1) on response variables were studied. The physical characteristics of inclusion complexes prepared through spray drying and freeze drying were analyzed. The antioxidant activity of the different treated samples was subsequently investigated.

Results

Study results showed that, in comparison to the control group, the inclusion solution displayed a significantly enhanced taste profile under optimal processing conditions, exhibiting an 80.74% reduction in bitterness value. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies indicated the successful formation of inclusion compounds. The moisture content and bulk density of spray-dried powder were found to be significantly superior to those of freeze-dried powder (p < 0.05). In comparison to the diluted solution, the inclusion liquid demonstrated a 20.27%, 30.01% and 36.55% increase in ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), hydroxyl radical scavenging and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging respectively. Further, the DPPH clearance of microencapsulated powder was not significantly different from that of tocopherol at a concentration of 25 mg/mL.

Conclusions

In summary, the study provides theoretical basis and methodological guidance to eliminate the bitterness of G. lucidum, and therefore provide potential options to the use of G. lucidum as a food source.

Benefits of Mushroom-Based Supplements on Growth Performance, Immunocompetence, and Meat Quality in Poultry

The restriction on the use of antibiotics in poultry has led to an increase in the use of natural products that could serve as alternatives to antibiotics. Mushrooms contain bioactive compounds that exhibit antifungal, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties. Hence, they are being tested, revealing as performance-enhancing natural feed additives for livestock. This review focused on the role of different species of mushrooms commonly used in poultry on the performance, immunomodulatory actions, cholesterolemic properties, and meat quality of poultry birds. Different studies reviewed show that mushrooms could positively impact poultry production, improve growth performance, modulate immune response, exert tissue antioxidant activity, influence intestinal morphology, enhance gut microbiome, and improve lipid profile. The variations in their efficacy could be attributed to the variations in physicochemical properties of different species and dosage levels applied in the experiments. However, the use of mushrooms as a natural product supplement is in its infancy, and more basic, pilot and large-scale research is required to make it a viable approach for improving immune responses in the poultry industry.

The impact of continuous cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum on soil nutrients, enzyme activity, and fruiting body metabolites

To explore the impacts of continuous Ganoderma lucidum cultivation on soil physicochemical factors, soil enzyme activity, and the metabolome of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies, this study conducted two consecutive years of cultivation on the same plot of land. Soil physicochemical factors and enzyme activity were assessed, alongside non-targeted metabolomic analysis of the Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies under continuous cultivation. The findings unveiled that in the surface soil layer (0-15 cm), there was a declining trend in organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrase, whereas nitrate nitrogen, electrical conductivity (EC), and salt content exhibited an upward trend. Conversely, in the deeper soil layer (15-30 cm), organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, available potassium, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrase demonstrated a decreasing trend, while nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, pH, EC, salt content, polyphenol oxidase, and soil peroxidase showed an increasing trend. Metabolomic analysis of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies distinguished 64 significantly different metabolites between the GCK and GT groups, with 39 components having markedly higher relative contents in GCK and 25 components having significantly lower relative contents in GCK compared to GT. Moreover, among these metabolites, there were more types with higher contents in the fruiting bodies harvested in the first year (GCK) compared to those harvested in the second year (GT), with pronounced differences. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that GCK exhibited more complex metabolic pathways compared to GT. The metabolites of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies were predominantly influenced by soil physicochemical factors and soil enzyme activity. In the surface soil layer (0-15 cm), the metabolome was significantly affected by soil pH, soil organic matter, available phosphorus, and soil alkaline phosphatase, while in the deeper soil layer (15-30 cm), differences in the Ganoderma lucidum metabolome were more influenced by soil alkaline phosphatase, soil catalase, pH, nitrate nitrogen, and soil sucrase.

Ganoderma adspersum (Ganodermataceae): Investigation of Its Secondary Metabolites and the Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Potential of Its Extracts

Ganoderma is a genus of wood-degrading mushrooms with medicinal importance. Most Ganoderma species have been studied extensively for their secondary metabolites, biological activities, and ecological value. In this study, the biological activities of the extracts of G. adspersum growing wild on Morus alba trees in the region of Western Thrace (Greece) were evaluated, and the petroleum ether, dichloromethanolic, and methanolic extracts were studied further for their secondary metabolites. Six substances were isolated by chromatographic (Clumn Chromatography (C.C.), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)) and spectroscopic methods (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)), which were classified in the following categories: (a) unsaturated fatty acids: cis-oleic acid (1); (b) sterols: ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one (2), ergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol (3), and ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3-ol (4); and (c) lanostane-type triterpenoids: applanoxidic acid G (5) and applanoxidic acid A (6). Finally, the biological activities of the extracts were estimated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic potential. The methanolic extract of G. adspersum showed the highest total antioxidant activity. The results of the antimicrobial activities indicated that all of the extracts had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging between 39.1 and 312.5 μg/mL. The evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of the samples showed once again that the methanolic extract was the most potent among the examined extracts, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 19.22 μg/mL (Hep2c cells), 32.9 μg/mL (RD cells), and 8.94 μg/mL (L2OB cells). Moreover, the bioactivity scores of the isolated secondary metabolites were calculated using the online computer software program Molinspiration. The compounds showed promising bioactivity scores for drug targets.

The role and mechanism of TCM in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases

The constant presence of infectious diseases poses an everlasting threat to the entire world. In recent years, there has been an increased attention toward the application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of emerging infectious diseases, as it has played a significant role. The aim of this article is to provide a concise overview of the roles and mechanisms of TCM in treating infectious diseases. TCM possesses the ability to modulate relevant factors, impede signaling pathways, and inhibit microbial growth, thereby exhibiting potent antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects that demonstrate remarkable efficacy against viral and bacterial infections. This article concludes that the comprehensive regulatory features of Chinese herbal medicines, with their various components, targets, and pathways, result in synergistic effects. The significance of Chinese herbal medicines in the context of infectious diseases should not be underestimated; however, it is crucial to also acknowledge their underutilization. This paper presents constructive suggestions regarding the challenges and opportunities faced by Chinese medicines. Particularly, it emphasizes the effectiveness and characteristics of Chinese medicines in the treatment of infectious diseases, specifying how these medicines' active substances can be utilized to target infectious diseases. This perspective is advantageous in facilitating researchers' pharmacological studies on Chinese medicines, focusing on the specific points of action. The mechanism of action of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of infectious diseases is comprehensively elucidated in this paper, providing compelling evidence for the superior treatment of infectious diseases through Chinese medicine. This information is favorable for advancing the development of TCM and its potential applications in the field of infectious diseases.

Natural Bio-Compounds from Ganoderma lucidum and Their Beneficial Biological Actions for Anticancer Application: A Review

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been known for many centuries in Asian countries under different names, varying depending on the country. The objective of this review is to investigate the scientific research on the natural active bio-compounds in extracts obtained from G. lucidum with significant biological actions in the treatment of cancer. This review presents the classes of bio-compounds existing in G. lucidum that have been reported over time in the main databases and have shown important biological actions in the treatment of cancer. The results highlight the fact that G. lucidum possesses important bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, sterols, proteins, nucleotides, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which have been demonstrated to exhibit multiple anticancer effects, namely immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative, cytotoxic, and antioxidant action. The potential health benefits of G. lucidum are systematized based on biological actions. The findings present evidence regarding the lack of certainty about the effects of G. lucidum bio-compounds in treating different forms of cancer, which may be due to the use of different types of Ganoderma formulations, differences in the study populations, or due to drug-disease interactions. In the future, larger clinical trials are needed to clarify the potential benefits of pharmaceutical preparations of G. lucidum, standardized by the known active components in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

A review of anti-tumour effects of Ganoderma lucidum in gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is the most common cancer in the world and one of the main causes of cancer-related death. Clinically, surgical excision and chemotherapy are the main treatment methods for GI cancer, which is unfortunately accompanied with serious adverse reactions and drug toxicity, bringing irreversible damage to patients and seriously affecting the quality of life. Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has a long history of medicinal and edible use in China. Its bioactive compounds mainly include polysaccharides, triterpenes, and proteins, which have potential anti-tumor activities by inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, inhibiting metastasis, and regulating autophagy. Currently, there is no in-depth review on the anti-tumor effect of G. lucidum in GI cancer. Therefore, this review is an attempt to compile the basic characteristics, anti-GI caner mechanisms, and clinical application of G. lucidum, aiming to provide a reference for further research on the role of G. lucidum in the prevention and treatment of GI cancer from the perspective of traditional Chinese and western medicine.

Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Properties of the Wild Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum Growing in Northern Moroccan Forests

Ganoderma lucidum is an extensively famous medicinal mushroom distributed worldwide. Despite being widely grown in Moroccan forests, there are no studies on its nutritional, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical values. Herein, the objective of this study was to investigate the chemical characterization and antimicrobial properties of G. lucidum methanolic extract. Total phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, ascorbic acid and carotenoid contents were determined by spectrophotometry. The results revealed that the most prevalent bioactive compounds were phenolics and flavonoids, with total values of 154.60 mg GAE/g of dry methanolic extract (dme) and 60.55 mg CE/mg of dme, respectively. A GC-MS analysis identified 80 biologically active molecules, which were mainly divided into the following major groups: sugars (49.49%), organic acids (8.89%), fatty acids (7.75%), amino acids (7.44%), steroids (7.32%), polyphenols (5.92%), and others (13.16%). Additionally, 22 individual phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using HPLC-MS, with emphasis on kaempferol (1714 µg/g of dry weight (dw)), apigenin (1955 µg/g dw) and quercetin (947.2 µg/g dw). The methanolic extract of G. lucidum indicated strong antioxidant capacity by means of the following: DPPH radical-scavenging activity (53.7 µg/mL), β-carotene/linoleate assay (43.75 µg/mL), and reducing power assay (76.62 µg/mL). Furthermore, the extract exhibited potent antimicrobial properties against seven human pathogenic microorganisms, including two bacteria and five fungal strains, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 16 mg/mL. The most sensitive pathogen was Epidermophyton floccosum (MIC = MFC = 1 mg/mL), while Aspergillus fumigatus was the most resistant one (MIC = 16 mg/mL and MFC ≥ 16 mg/mL). Overall, our findings demonstrated valuable nutritional and bioactive compound attributes, and potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, of G. lucidum growing in Moroccan forests. Moreover, these findings suggest that the Moroccan mushroom can be extremely useful for the food and medicinal industries to positively affect socioeconomic status.

Vital Conditions to Remove Pollutants from Synthetic Wastewater Using Malaysian Ganoderma lucidum

Mycoremediation, a fungal-based technology, has seen tremendous growth as an effective alternative to treat industrial wastewater due to its ability to oxidise pollutant loadings. Considering the non-toxic properties and high potential degradation performance of Ganoderma lucidum, this research aims to study the performance of a Malaysian G. lucidum strain, the effect of agitation speed, and different carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio concentrations of synthetic wastewater in degrading chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia. Different agitation speeds (25 rpm, 50 rpm and 100 rpm) and C/N ratios (C10N1, C13.3N1 and C16.7N1) were chosen as parameters to be analysed in this study. The best degradation of COD and ammonia with a percentage removal in the range of 95% to 100% within 30 h of treatment. ANOVA analysis was done using the response surface methodology to verify the obtained results, and it was found that mycoremediation using 100 rpm agitation provided the best results, removing more than 95% of COD and ammonia from synthetic wastewater. The microscopic analysis also showed that the structure of G. lucidum changed after wastewater treatment. This result proved that the Malaysian G. lucidum strain has a good potential in treating synthetic domestic wastewater, especially with high organic content, as a naturally sustainable bioremediation system.