
Article Details
Author(s): Yunli Yang, Huina Zhang, Jinhui Zuo, Xiaoyan Gong, Fan Yi, Wanshan Zhu & Li Li
Research Journal: Biomedical Dermatology, Volume 3, Article number: 6
Year of Publication: 2019
Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41702-019-0044-0
What is this research article about?
The researchers who wrote this article performed an extensive review of existing scientific findings involving bioactive compounds in Ganoderma Lucidum and the physiological effects of these compounds.
What are the main research findings?
Bioactive compounds in Ganoderma Lucidum
Scientific studies have shown that Ganoderma Lucidum contains many bioactive compounds including:
- Triterpenoids (> 200 types)
- Polysaccharides
- Steroids (>20 sterols)
- Proteins and polypeptides
- Amino acids
- Nucleosides
- Enzymes
- Alkaloids
Of all these bioactive compounds, the triterpenoids and polysaccharides have garnered the most attention because of their high concentration in the fungus, as well as their significant bioactivities.
Physiological activities of Ganoderma Lucidum
- Anticancer effects
- Hepatoprotection ("Hepato" refers to the liver)
- Hypoglycaemic (Lowers blood sugar)
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-melanogenesis effects (Prevents abnormal melanin generation which causes skin pigmentation)
- Antioxidant and anti-aging activity
- Skin barrier-repairing activity – can be used to promote wound healing
Research Article Abstract
Background
Ganoderma lucidum, a double-walled basidiospore produced by porous basidiomycete fungi, has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years. It is considered a valuable Chinese medicine for strengthening body resistance, invigorating the spleen, and replenishing Qi. G. lucidum contains a variety of active ingredients, such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, nucleosides, sterols, alkaloids, polypeptides, fatty acids, steroids, and inorganic elements, and has anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotection, hypoglycemic, anti-melanogenesis, anti-aging, and skin barrier-repairing activity.
Conclusions
The review summarizes the traditional usages, distribution, active constituents, structure, and biological effects of G. lucidum, with an aim to offer directions for further research and better usage of G. lucidum as a medicinal raw material.
Useful Article Excerpts
Table 1 Ganoderma triterpenoids in G. lucidum
Table 2.1 Ganoderma triterpenoids in G. lucidum
Table 2.2 Ganoderma triterpenoids in G. lucidum
Table 2.3 Ganoderma triterpenoids in G. lucidum
Table 7 Ganoderma triterpenoids in G. lucidum
Table 8.1 Steroids in G. lucidum
Table 8.2 Steroids in G. lucidum
G. lucidum is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for centuries as a nutritional supplement and herbal medication. This review summarizes the active substances of G. lucidum. Polysaccharides and triterpenoids are the major secondary metabolites of G. lucidum. The polysaccharides mostly comprise α- or β-(1→3)-, (1→6)-glucans and hetero-polysaccharides. More than 200 kinds of GTs have been isolated from G. lucidum. GTs can effectively inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. Ganoderic acids are the prominent bioactive constituents of GTs. Ganoderic acid A, ganoderic acid F, ganoderic acid H, ganoderic acid C, ganoderic acid D, ganoderic acid T, ganoderic acid X, and ganoderic acid Y can be used as adjuvant drugs to suppress cancer. Therefore, the application of GTs in the pharmaceutical industry is very important.
In addition, the secondary metabolites isolated from G. lucidum can be used in functional foods or medicines for properties such as anti-aging, decreased surface pigmentation, and skin barrier-enhancing effects. GTs, especially methyl aspartate and Ganoderma mannitol, have skin-whitening effects. Crude proteins obtained from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of G. lucidum show antioxidant effects. GLPs can inhibit the expression of MMP-1, increase procollagen expression, and scavenge free radicals and reactive oxygen species, which can delay aging. The human internal environment is interacted by many kinds of cells through various forms. Although the pharmacological effects of G. lucidum have been confirmed at the level of monolayer cells, monolayer cells can not simulate the multicellular environment in vivo, so the effect of G. lucidum on multicellular interconnection can not be explored. We can use cell co-culture to study the relationship between different cells in order to verify the pharmacological effect of G. lucidum.
In recent years, with the development of microbial technology, it has a good prospect to obtain GTs through microbial fermentation technology. G. lucidum has become a popular nutraceutical worldwide; it has great cosmeceutical potential. G. lucidum, as a good medicinal and food homologous medicinal material, has received more and more attention in the food health care and cosmetics industry, and its application in food health products and cosmetics has potential for further exploration.
This work was supported by China Cosmetic Collaborative Innovation Center, the Open Research Fund Program of Beijing Key Lab of Plant Resource Research and Development, BTBU(PRRD-2017-ZD1).
Funding
This work was supported by China Cosmetic Collaborative Innovation Center, the Open Research Fund Program of Beijing Key Lab of Plant Resource Research and Development, BTBU(PRRD-2017-ZD1).
Affiliations
Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Research and Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China
Yunli Yang, Huina Zhang, Jinhui Zuo, Xiaoyan Gong, Fan Yi & Li Li
Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
Wanshan Zhu
Contributions
LL and FY designed and finalized the scheme; YLY performed the review work and wrote the paper; JHZ drawn some structural formulas; WSZ, XYG, and HNZ contributed to the manuscript writing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.