Preliminary Results of Determination of Chemical Changes on Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.:Fr.)P. Karst. (Higher Basidiomycetes) Carried by Shenzhou I Spaceship with FTIR and 2D-IR Correlation Spectroscopy.

Int J Med Mushrooms. 2012;14(3):295-305

Authors: Choong YK, Chen X, Jamal JA, Wang Q, Lan J

Abstract
Spaceflight represents a complex environmental condition. Space mutagenesis breeding has achieved marked results over the years. The objective of this study is to determine the chemical changes in medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum cultivated after spaceflight in 1999. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and two-dimensional infrared (2DIR) correlation spectroscopy were used in analysis. The sample Sx and its control Cx showed the least dissimilarities in one-dimensional FTIR spectra, but absorbance of Sx is twice as high as Cx. Sx presented a clear peak at 1648 cm in 2nd derivative spectra, which could not be detected in the Cx. The 2DIR spectra showed the intensity of Sx in the range 1800-1400 cm-1 for protein is higher than the control. The sample Sx produced some carbohydrate peaks in the area of 889 cm-1 compared with the Cx. The spaceflight set up an extreme condition and caused changes of chemical properties in G. lucidum strain.

PMID: 22577979 [PubMed - in process]

The Cancer Preventive Effects of Edible Mushrooms.

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2012 May 2;

Authors: Xu T, Beelman RB, Lambert JD

Abstract
An increasing body of scientific literature suggests that dietary components may exert cancer preventive effects. Tea, soy, cruciferous vegetables and other foods have been investigated for their cancer preventive potential. Some non-edible mushrooms like Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) have a history use, both alone and in conjunction with standard therapies, for the treatment of various diseases including cancer in some cultures. They have shown efficacy in a number of scientific studies. By comparison, the potential cancer preventive effects of edible mushrooms have been less well-studied. With similar content of putative effective anticancer compounds such as polysaccharides, proteoglycans, steroids, etc., one might predict that edible mushrooms would also demonstrate anticancer and cancer preventive activity. In this review, available data for five commonly-consumed edible mushrooms: button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), A. blazei, oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes), and maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms is discussed. The results of animal model and human intervention studies, as well as supporting in vitro mechanistic studies are critically evaluated. Weaknesses in the current data and topics for future work are highlighted.

PMID: 22583406 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Development of a rapid and confirmatory method to identify ganoderic acids in ganoderma mushrooms.

Front Pharmacol. 2012;3:85

Authors: Qi Y, Zhao L, Sun HH

Abstract
To examine the composition of lanostanoids in Ganoderma lucidum, we have developed a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method by using the ganoderic acids isolated in our laboratory as reference standards. The identity of 14 peaks in the high performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC) of G. lucidum has been confirmed. By using the HPLC retention times of these ganoderic acids and their mass fragmentation patterns established in this paper, one can use LC-MS to analyze G. lucidum without requiring the reference standards of these 14 ganoderic acids. Subsequently, only the HPLC-UV method would be needed to analyze routine samples of G. lucidum.

PMID: 22586399 [PubMed - in process]

Mushroom Polysaccharides and Lipids Synthesized in Liquid Agitated and Static Cultures. Part I: Screening Various Mushroom Species.

Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2012 May 10;

Authors: Diamantopoulou P, Papanikolaou S, Kapoti M, Komaitis M, Aggelis G, Philippoussis A

Abstract
The effect of four synthetic media containing glucose (initial concentration 30 g l(-1)) on mycelial growth, exopolysaccharides (EPS) and cellular lipids production was examined in 11 mushroom species after 12 and 16 days of culture in static- and shake-flasks. Fatty acid analysis of cellular lipids produced was also performed. Agitation had a positive effect on biomass production, glucose consumption and lipid biosynthesis. Media that favoured the production of biomass were not suitable for EPS biosynthesis and vice versa. Biomass values varied from ∼1.0 g l(-1) (Lentinula edodes) to ∼19 g l(-1) (Pleurotus ostreatus), while the highest EPS quantity achieved ranged between 1.6 and 1.8 g l(-1) (for Ganoderma lucidum and L. edodes, respectively). Quantities of total cellular lipids varied between 2.5 and 18.5 % w/w, in dry mycelial mass for the fungi tested. Lipid in dry weight values were influenced by the medium composition. Cellular lipids presented noticeable quantities of poly-unsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid. Compared to most of the mushrooms tested, lipids of Volvariella volvacea were more saturated. The ability of several mushroom species of our study to produce in notable quantities the above-mentioned added-value compounds renders these fungi worthy for further investigations.

PMID: 22573010 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Structural characterization and antioxidative activity of low-molecular-weights beta-1,3-glucan from the residue of extracted Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies.

J Biomed Biotechnol. 2012;2012:673764

Authors: Kao PF, Wang SH, Hung WT, Liao YH, Lin CM, Yang WB

Abstract
The major cell wall constituent of Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is β-1,3-glucan. This study examined the polysaccharide from the residues of alkaline-extracted fruiting bodies using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), and it employed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) to confirm the structures. We have successfully isolated low-molecular-weight β-1,3-glucan (LMG), in high yields, from the waste residue of extracted fruiting bodies of G. lucidum. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay evaluated the capability of LMG to suppress H₂O₂-induced cell death in RAW264.7 cells, identifying that LMG protected cells from H₂O₂-induced damage. LMG treatment decreased H₂O₂-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. LMG also influenced sphingomyelinase (SMase) activity, stimulated by cell death to induce ceramide formation, and then increase cell ROS production. Estimation of the activities of neutral and acid SMases in vitro showed that LMG suppressed the activities of both neutral and acid SMases in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that LMG, a water-soluble β-1,3-glucan recycled from extracted residue of G. lucidum, possesses antioxidant capability against H₂O₂-induced cell death by attenuating intracellular ROS and inhibiting SMase activity.

PMID: 22187536 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Preferential induction of Th17 cells in vitro and in vivo by Fucogalactan from Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi).

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2012 May 1;

Authors: Yoshida H, Suzuki M, Sakaguchi R, Tani I, Kotani H, Shudo N, Yoshimura A

Abstract
The mushroom known as Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has been used as an herbal medicine for tumor treatment and immune system activation. Because its effects on the differentiation of effector T helper cells have not yet been fully understood, we investigated the effects of Reishi and those of its principal ingredient, β-glucan, on the activation of dendritic cells and the differentiation of Th17 cells. Reishi extracts as well as purified β-glucan (Curdran) activated DCs and caused them to produce large amounts of IL-23. β-glucan also enhanced and sustained the transcription of IL-23p19. The MEK-ERK signaling pathway positively regulates IL-23p19 transcription in β-glucan-stimulated DCs. In a mixed leukocyte reaction, Reishi-stimulated DCs preferentially induced Th17 cells. Furthermore, orally-administrated Reishi increased the percentages of Th17 cells and the transcription levels of antimicrobial peptides. Our results show that Reishi and β-glucan activate DCs to produce large amounts of IL-23, which induces Th17 differentiation both in vitro and in vivo.

PMID: 22569041 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The Genome of Ganderma lucidum Provide Insights into Triterpense Biosynthesis and Wood Degradation.

PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e36146

Authors: Liu D, Gong J, Dai W, Kang X, Huang Z, Zhang HM, Liu W, Liu L, Ma J, Xia Z, Chen Y, Chen Y, Wang D, Ni P, Guo AY, Xiong X

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi or Ling Zhi) is one of the most famous Traditional Chinese Medicines and has been widely used in the treatment of various human diseases in Asia countries. It is also a fungus with strong wood degradation ability with potential in bioenergy production. However, genes, pathways and mechanisms of these functions are still unknown.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The genome of G. lucidum was sequenced and assembled into a 39.9 megabases (Mb) draft genome, which encoded 12,080 protein-coding genes and ∼83% of them were similar to public sequences. We performed comprehensive annotation for G. lucidum genes and made comparisons with genes in other fungi genomes. Genes in the biosynthesis of the main G. lucidum active ingredients, ganoderic acids (GAs), were characterized. Among the GAs synthases, we identified a fusion gene, the N and C terminal of which are homologous to two different enzymes. Moreover, the fusion gene was only found in basidiomycetes. As a white rot fungus with wood degradation ability, abundant carbohydrate-active enzymes and ligninolytic enzymes were identified in the G. lucidum genome and were compared with other fungi.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The genome sequence and well annotation of G. lucidum will provide new insights in function analyses including its medicinal mechanism. The characterization of genes in the triterpene biosynthesis and wood degradation will facilitate bio-engineering research in the production of its active ingredients and bioenergy.

PMID: 22567134 [PubMed - in process]

MALDI-TOF MS Analysis of Native and Permethylated or Benzimidazole-Derivatized Polysaccharides.

Molecules. 2012;17(5):4950-61

Authors: Hung WT, Wang SH, Chen YT, Yu HM, Chen CH, Yang WB

Abstract
MALDI-TOF MS provides rapid and sensitive analyses of larger biomolecules. However, MS analyses of polysaccharide have been reported to have lower sensitivity compared to peptides and proteins. Here, we investigated some polysaccharides chemically derivatized by permethylation and ortho-phenylene diamine (OPD) tagging. Methylated glycan is obviously able to improve the sensitivity for mass spectrometry detection. Oxidative condensation by UV-activation tagging to saccharides by OPD and peptide-OPD also improve the sensitivity of MALDI-TOF MS analyses. Polysaccharides including dextran, glucomannan, arabinoxylan, arabinogalactan and beta-1,3-glucan, isolated from nutritional supplements of Ganoderma lucidum and Saccharomyces pastorianus were measured using MALDI-TOF MS with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5-DHB) as the matrix. These glycans were also derivatized to methylated and benzimidazole-tagged glycans by chemical transformation for molecular weight analysis. The derivatized polysaccharides showed excellent MALDI-TOF MS signal enhancement in the molecular weight range from 1 to 5 kDa. Here, we demonstrate an efficient method to give glycan-benzimidazole (glycan-BIM) derivatives for polysaccharide determination in MALDI-TOF MS. Therefore, permethylated or benzimidazole-derivatized polysaccharides provide a new option for polysaccharide analysis using MALDI-TOF MS.

PMID: 22547317 [PubMed - in process]

[Inhibitory Effects of Sporoderm-broken Ganoderma Lucidum Spores on Growth of Lymphoma Implanted in Nude Mouse.]

Zhongguo Shi Yan Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi. 2012 Mar;20(2):310-314

Authors: Chen J, Yu YH

Abstract
This study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of sporoderm-broken ganoderma lucidum spores (GLS) on transplanted lymphoma in nude mice and its mechanism. The models of the subcutaneously transplanting tumor were established by N-methylnitrosourea-induced thymus T-cell lymphoma. The cellular apoptosis of tumor tissues in nude mice were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl was determined by RT-PCR. The results indicated that the GLS had a certain anti-tumor effect, and the inhibitory rate was 45.8 with the dose of 4 g/kg (ig, once daily for 21 d). Apoptotic cells in lymphoma cells treated with GLS were observed by TEM. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of Bax was up-regulated, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl were down-regulated in T-cell lymphoma cells. It is concluded that GLS can inhibit proliferation of lymphoma cells and induce the lymphoma cell apoptosis, the mechanism of which may be related with up-regulating the expression of Bax and down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl.

PMID: 22541088 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]