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Decontextualised Chinese medicines
Published in Vivienne Lo, Michael Stanley-Baker, Dolly Yang, Routledge Handbook of Chinese Medicine, 2022
Michael Heinrich, Ka Yui Kum, Ruyu Yao
The basidiomycete white rot fungus, Ganoderma lucidum, lingzhi 靈芝, is best known in the global North under its Japanese name Reishi (as well as Munnertake, Sachitake and, in Korean, Youngzhi). For centuries, this and related species have been used for medicinal purposes, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea. A wide variety of uses have been reported including for migraine, hypertension, arthritis, bronchitis, asthma, anorexia, gastritis, haemorrhoids, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, nephritis, dysmenorrhoea, constipation, lupus erythematosus, hepatitis and cardiovascular problems. According to some researchers, it is used for dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, dyspnoea, consumptive cough and asthma. It is practically impossible to establish how widespread the respective uses have been. Whatever the specific use, the cultural importance of this species has been the driving force for developing potential leads from this taxon. Phytochemical research has focussed on bioactive lingzhi polysaccharides and triterpenes, especially ganodermic acid. Extracts from Ganoderma have been investigated as potential antitumor and antiviral agents and, less so as possible antibacterial agents for antibacterial activity (against Gram-positive bacteria). However, its use as a food remains key to its commercial success.
Fungi and Water
Published in Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy, Food and Lifestyle in Health and Disease, 2022
Chuong Pham-Huy, Bruno Pham Huy
Lingzhi or Reishi is the Chinese or Japanese name, respectively, of the species Ganoderma lucidum which is a medicinal mushroom of the genus Ganoderma, family Ganodermataceae, division Basidiomycetes (78). Worldwide, more than 250 Ganoderma species have been described. However, in therapeutic practices and literature citations, Ganoderma usually refers to the species of G. lucidum with popular name Lingzhi or Reishi (79). It is a large, dark mushroom with a glossy exterior and a woody texture (78–79). This mushroom is too tough to be used in cuisine (79). Lingzhi has been recognized as a medicinal mushroom for over 2,000 years (78–79). The fruiting body and mycelium are used as traditional medicine in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam since antiquity, and now are prepared as dietary supplements in capsule or powder forms. This annual mushroom grows on a wide variety of dead or dying trees, especially oak, maple, elm, and plum trees (78–79). In the past, G. lucidum grew in small quantities only in the wild; therefore, it was very expensive. Artificial cultivation of this valuable mushroom was successfully achieved in 1970s, and since 1980, production of G. lucidum has developed rapidly, particularly in China (78–79).
Fungal allergens
Published in Richard F. Lockey, Dennis K. Ledford, Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy, 2020
Robert E. Esch, Jonathan A. Bernstein, Hari M. Vijay
Ganoderma belongs to the fungal class Agaricomycetes, order Polyporales, which includes many of the common bracket fungi found on decaying trees. Ganoderma is used in traditional Asian medicines, and their lignin- and cellulose-degrading enzymes have industrial applications, especially in biopulping and bioremediation. Spores of Ganoderma occur widely in air-sampling surveys [203–205]. The allergenicity of G. meredithae spore and cap extracts was investigated using Western blots with serum from sensitized individuals. Ten allergens ranging in size from 14 kDa to greater than 66 kDa with pIs ranging from less than 3.5 to 6.6 were identified [206]. A similar range of IgE-binding proteins was also detected in G. applanatum spores and fruiting body extracts. In another study of G. applanatum spores, 14 allergens were detected by crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CRIE) and immunoblotting [207]. This study also revealed that IgE-binding bands are mostly between 18 and 82 kDa. Even though several Ganoderma extracts are reasonably well-characterized, no allergens have been purified, sequenced, or cloned.
Extract of Ganoderma sinensis spores induces cell cycle arrest of hepatoma cell via endoplasmic reticulum stress
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2021
Weiming Lin, Li Gu, Ling-Yan Zhu, Sha Zhou, Danhong Lian, Yongquan Xu, Limin Zheng, Xin Liu, Lian Li
Although Ganoderma extract has been extensively reported to show antitumor activity against a variety of human cancers, including lung, colon, bladder, cervical, liver and breast cancer (Hu et al. 2002; Lin et al. 2003; Lu et al. 2004; Yang 2005; Wu et al. 2013; Oliveira et al. 2014; Liu et al. 2015, 2020; Ruan et al. 2015; Hsin et al. 2016; Chan et al. 2017; Li et al. 2017; Jiao et al. 2020), its mechanism of action requires further investigation. This study provides evidence that an extract from G. sinensis spores effectively inhibits proliferation and induces G2/M cell arrest in HepG2 cells. We also found GSE induces ER stress and activates the UPR in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, we showed GSE suppressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells by arresting the cell cycle in the G2/M phase partly through inducing ER stress. Furthering the understanding of the antitumor mechanisms of G. sinensis will allow researchers and clinicians to utilize this drug for cancer treatment better.
Long-term toxicological studies on the Chinese medicine 2036 Specialty-Qiangxin recipe in rats
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2021
Andong Zhao, Yi Yang, Xiaohua Pan, Manhon Chung, Sa Cai, Yu Pan
The Chinese medicine 2036 Specialty-Qiangxin recipe (2036S-QXR), consisting of three herb plant components, the Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae) extract, Ganoderma lucidum Karst (Ganodermataceae) spore powder, and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract, has been widely used as a health care product to improve cardiac function, prevent stroke, and strengthen the immune system. Our and other previous studies have shown the various therapeutic effects of Ganoderma lucidum spores (Zhang and Zeng 2004; Cheng et al. 2007; Gao et al. 2010; Zhou et al. 2012; Pan et al. 2019), the extract of Rhodiola rosea (Qu et al. 2009; Roumanille et al. 2020; Sun et al. 2020), and grape seed extract (Zhang et al. 2011; Huang et al. 2020; Eid et al. 2021). However, a systematic evaluation of the long-term toxicity of 2036S-QXR still remains unknown. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the long-term toxicity of 2036S-QXR in Wistar rats.
In vitro inhibitory effects of ganoderic acid A on human liver cytochrome P450 enzymes
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2020
Shangchen Xu, Fengqing Zhang, Dali Chen, Keren Su, Li Zhang, Rui Jiang
In addition to the medicinal application of Ganoderma lucidum, it has become a kind of common health care product. Therefore, GAA may interact with some drugs metabolized by CYPs in clinic therapy. However, the effect of GAA on the activity of CYPs has not been well documented, which is closely related to the bioavailability of drugs. This study investigates the effect of GAA on the eight major CYP isoforms in human liver microsomes. Through specific probe substrates: phenacetin (CYP1A2), testosterone (CYP3A4), coumarin (CYP2A6), chlorzoxazone (CYP2E1), dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), diclofenac (CYP2C9), S-mephenytoin (CYP2C19) and paclitaxel (CYP2C8), we clarified the effect of GAA on the activity of CYPs, and the inhibition model was determined by the enzyme kinetic studies.