Originating from sporoderm-broken Ganoderma lucidum spores, Ganoderma lucidum spore oil(GLSO) is prepared by supercritical fluid extraction. Chemical composition studies show that GLSO mainly contains nonpolar substances, such as fatty acids, triglycerides, and steroids. GLSO is also famous for its edible and medical functions. It possesses various pharmacological effects, including anti-tumor, immune boosting, anti-fatigue, antioxidant property, and organ protection. This paper systematically summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of GLSO, aiming to provide a reference for its future research and application.
Reishi/chemistry* ; Spores, Fungal/chemistry* ; Humans ; Animals ; Oils/isolation & purification* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*

OBJECTIVETo reveal the quality variation of polysaccharides, triterpenoids and proteins in spores and fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum from producing areas, different varieties, harvesting parts and periods, and wall-breaking treatments.

METHODSpores and fruiting bodies from varieties of Longzhi No. 1 and Hunong No. 1 were collected as test samples, together with wall-broken spores sold in domestic main producing areas. The anthrone-sulfuric acid colorimetric method was used to determine the content of total polysaccharides. The vanillin-glacial acetic acid-perchloric acid colorimetric method was used to determine the content of total triterpenoids. The Lowry method was used to determine the content of total proteins.

RESULTThe content ranges of total polysaccharides, total triterpenoids, and total proteins from 6 domestic main producing areas were 0.40% - 2.25%, 1.36%-3.15% and 0.74% -1.91% respectively. The content ranges of total polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and proteins in the fruiting bodies from 2 varieties cultured in Zhejiang were 0.25% -1.42%, 0.44% -1.42% and 1.82% -3.67% respectively. In addition, the ranges of samples from wall-unbroken spores were 0.41% - 0.91%, 0.09% - 0.12%, 0.78% - 0.90% respectively and wall-broken spores are 1.03% - 2.25%, 1.89% - 3.15%, 0.96% - 1.04% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThere are significant differences in the contents of main chemical ingredients of wall-broken G. lucidum spores saled in the markets. The samples from Zhejiang contain high content of total polysaccharides and triterpenoids, and samples from Fujian contains more proteins. Between the 2 major varieties cultured in Zhejiang, Longzhi No. 1 contains higher content of triterpenoids, but Hunong No. 1 has more polysaccharides. Contents of triterpenoids and polysaccharides from wall-broken spores are much higher than those of fruiting bodies. The stipes from fruiting bodies contains more polysaccharides than those of the pileus, while the triterpenoids contents are higher in the pileus than stipes. The pileus and stipes collected in the second year contain higher content of polysaccharides than the first year's samples, but the contents of triterpenoids are lower. Wall-breaking treatment would significantly improve the extraction and dissolution rate of total triterpenoids and polysaccharides.

Fungal Proteins ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Spores, Fungal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; analysis

BACKGROUNDAspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is a ubiquitous saprophytic fungus responsible for the majority of invasive mold infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplantation or with persistent neutropenia. This study aimed to determine the role of E-cadherin for adhesion and endocytosis of A. fumigatus blastospores in the human epithelial cell line A549.

METHODSA. fumigatus blastospores were incubated with the total protein of A549 to investigate the binding of E-cadherin and blastospores followed by an affinity purification procedure. After establishing the adhesion model, the adhesion and endocytosis of A. fumigatus blastospores by A549 cells were evaluated by down-regulating E-cadherin of A549 cells using blocking antibody or small interfering RNA (siRNA).

RESULTSE-cadherin was adhered to the surface of A. fumigatus blastospore. Adhesion and endocytosis of the blastospores were reduced by blocking or down-regulating E-cadherin in A549 cells.

CONCLUSIONSE-cadherin is a receptor for adhesion and endocytosis of A. fumigatus blastospores in epithelial cells. This may open a new approach to treat this fungal infection.

Aspergillus fumigatus ; cytology ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Endocytosis ; physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Fungal Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Protein Binding ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Spores, Fungal ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of glossy ganoderma spore oil on the proliferation, apoptosis, expression of miR-21 and its target genes of human lung adenocarcinoma SPC-A1 cell line, and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODThe SPC-A1 cells were treated with glossy ganoderma spore oil for 24 and 48 hours. The inhibition growth efficacy was determined using cell count kit (CCK-8). Cell morphological changes were observed by light microscopy. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of miR-21, PTEN and PDCD4 were determined by Real-time PCR.

RESULTGlossy ganoderma spore oil concentration-dependently inhibited the SPC-A1 cell's proliferation. When the concentration of glossy ganoderma spore oil attained to 0.2%, the cells' morphology changed obviously. Glossy ganoderma spore oil could induce the apoptosis of SPC-A1 cells at low concentration. Glossy ganoderma spore oil down-regulated the expression of miR-21 and up-regulated the expression of PTEN and PDCD4 significantly.

CONCLUSIONglossy ganoderma spore oil could inhibit the proliferation obviously and cause the changes of cell morphology. Furthermore, glossy ganoderma spore oil induced apoptosis of SPC-A1 cell through down-regulating the expression of miR-21 and up-regulating tumor suppressors.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ganoderma ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spores, Fungal ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDSjögren syndrome (SS) is a systematic autoimmune disease, on which traditional therapeutic agents show limited effect. More effective agents with longer-lasting and fewer side effects are needed in the clinic. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ganoderma lucindum spores (GLS) on sialoadenitis of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice.

METHODSThirty-two female NOD mice were assigned randomly into 4 groups: low-dose GLS-treated (L-GLS) group and high-dose GLS-treated (H-GLS) group, a dexamethasone group, and a normal saline (NS) control group. Stimulated total saliva flow rate (STFR), area of lymphocytic infiltration in submandibular glands and ratios of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood as well as apoptosis of these subsets and serum IgG level were tested after 10 weeks of treatments. Differences among the groups were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student-Newman-Keuls Test (SNK) was used between each two groups and a P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSSTFR of the high-dose GLS group increased significantly after a 10-week treatment compared with those of the NS control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of sialoadenitis in GLS-treated NOD mice groups showed no significant difference compared with the control group (P > 0.05), but the area of lymphocytic foci in both the H-GLS and L-GLS groups decreased significantly to 50% of the NS control group (P < 0.05); the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocytes and apoptosis of B lymphocytes of NOD mice with sialoadenitis were less and apoptosis of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes were significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.05). After pretreatment with H-GLS before sialoadenitis onset, the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocyte and the serum IgG levels of NOD mice decreased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPretreatment with H-GLS can relieve symptoms of sialoadenitis in NOD mice. GLS has some protective effects on sialoadenitis in NOD mice through increasing STFR and decreasing the area of lymphocytic foci by regulating the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T and apoptosis of B lymphocytes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Random Allocation ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Spores, Fungal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of ganoderma lucidum spores (GLS) on mitochondrial calcium ion and cytochrome C in the epididymal cells of type 2 diabetes rats.

METHODSFifty adolescent rats were randomly divided into a model group (n=20), a GLS group (n=20) and a control group (n=10). The animals of the former two groups were injected with 2% STZ via vena caudalis for one time to induce type 2 diabetes. Then the model group was given high-fat-sugar diet, the GLS group high-fat-sugar diet + GLS (250 mg/kg x d), and the control group normal diet + CA-citrate sodium buffer. The bilateral epididymides were obtained 10 weeks later and the contents of mitochondrial calcium and cytochrome C detected.

RESULTSType 2 diabetes models were successfully constructed. The content of mitochondrial calcium in the epididymal cells was significantly higher in the model group ([3.279 +/- 0.502] mg/L) than in the control group ([2.606 +/- 0.048] mg/L, P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the GLS group ([2.693 +/- 0. 196] mg/L) and the control (P > 0.05). In the model group, the content of mitochondrial cytochrome C ([3.213 +/- 1.511] micromol/L) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) while that of cytoplasm cytochrome C ([2.484 +/- 0.661] micromol/L) significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in the control ([5.688 +/- 1.679] micromol/L and [1.574 +/- 0.329] micromol/L, respectively). In the GLS group, the content of mitochondrial cytochrome C ([5.258 +/- 1.560] micromol/L) was higher, with no significant difference (P > 0.05), and that of cytoplasm cytochrome C ([1.727 +/- 0.396] micromol/L) significantly lower than in the model group (P < 0.05), but the difference between the GLS and the control group was not significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWith disequilibrium of calcium homeostasis and damage to mitochondria, there might be excessive apoptosis in the epididymal cells of type 2 diabetes rats. Ganoderma lucidum spores could protect epididymal cells and counteract their apoptosis in diabetic condition.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; therapy ; Epididymis ; cytology ; pathology ; Male ; Mitochondria ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reishi ; physiology ; Spores, Fungal

AIMTo study the structure and anti-tumor activity of polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum spore treated with microwave.

METHODSDEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-50 column chromatography were used to isolate and purify the polysaccharide whose structure was characterized by using chemical and spectral methods.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONOne polysaccharide, named Lzps-1 was obtained from the water extract, with its molecular weight estimated by HPGPC to be 8000. Its structure was investigated to be glucan. The total polysaccharides, Lzps processed antitumor activity against sarcoma 180 and Lewis lung cancer in mice and enhanced the NK cell activity. Lzps-1 is obtained for the first time from Ganoderma spore Lzps has anti-tumor activity.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung ; pathology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; Mice ; Molecular Weight ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Sarcoma 180 ; pathology ; Spores, Fungal ; chemistry