Ganoderma lucidum (‘Lingzhi’); acute and short-term biomarker response to supplementation

Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) is a popular Chinese herb with an impressive array of reputed health benefits, including antioxidant properties. However, these require scientific validation. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro antioxidant capacity of Lingzhi, absorption and systemic distribution of Lingzhi antioxidants, and effects of short-term (10 days) supplementation on biomarkers of antioxidant status, coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and DNA damage. In this double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over intervention study, blood and urine samples were collected from 10 healthy volunteers at 0 (fasting) and 45, 90, 135 and 180 min post-ingestion of a single dose (1.1g) of Lingzhi. Repeat fasting samples were collected after 10 days’ supplementation with 0.72g/d Lingzhi. The acute response (up to 3 hours) was also investigated with a larger dose (3.3g) of Lingzhi (n=7). Results showed that the total antioxidant capacity (as the FRAP value) of an aqueous suspension of Lingzhi was 360 μmol/g. Ingestion of Lingzhi caused a significant post-ingestion increase (mean±SEM 23±3 μmol/L; P<0.05) in plasma antioxidant capacity, with peak response at 90min. Average increase of 29±11% (P<0.05) in urine antioxidant capacity was seen within 3 hours of ingestion. After 10 days’ supplementation with 0.72g per day of Lingzhi, fasting plasma lipid standardised α-tocopherol concentration and urine antioxidant capacity increased (P<0.05). Fasting plasma ascorbic acid and total α-tocopherol concentrations and erythrocyte SOD and GPx activities increased slightly but non-significantly with supplementation. Plasma lipids and uric acid tended to decrease, but changes were not statistically significant. No discernable differences were seen in other variables measured. Results indicate that Lingzhi intake causes an acute increase in plasma antioxidant capacity. No deleterious effects on measured variables were seen. The pattern of biomarker response after supplementation indicated possible benefit in terms of antioxidant status and CHD risk, but further study is needed to elucidate the nature and longer-term effects of the absorbable antioxidants from Lingzhi.

[1]  M. Manzoni,et al.  Biosynthesis and biotechnological production of statins by filamentous fungi and application of these cholesterol-lowering drugs , 2002, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

[2]  I. Benzie,et al.  Effects of Dietary Antioxidants on Human DNA Ex Vivo , 2002, Free radical research.

[3]  B. Tomlinson,et al.  Total antioxidant and ascorbic acid content of fresh fruits and vegetables: implications for dietary planning and food preservation , 2002, British Journal of Nutrition.

[4]  Y. Surh,et al.  Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage by Ganoderma lucidum , 2001, Phytotherapy research : PTR.

[5]  Robert Luben,et al.  Relation between plasma ascorbic acid and mortality in men and women in EPIC-Norfolk prospective study: a prospective population study , 2001, The Lancet.

[6]  M. Traber.  Does vitamin E decrease heart attack risk? summary and implications with respect to dietary recommendations. , 2001, The Journal of nutrition.

[7]  F Santeusanio,et al.  Relation Between Serum Uric Acid and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Essential Hypertension: The PIUMA Study , 2000, Hypertension.

[8]  N. Nakamura,et al.  Triterpenes from the spores of Ganoderma lucidum and their cytotoxicity against meth-A and LLC tumor cells. , 2000, Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin.

[9]  S. Chiu,et al.  Nutritional value of ganoderma extract and assessment of its genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity using comet assays of mouse lymphocytes. , 2000, Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association.

[10]  Ronald C. Li,et al.  Triterpene antioxidants from Ganoderma lucidum , 1999, Phytotherapy research : PTR.

[11]  S. Kacew,et al.  In vitro chemopreventive effects of plant polysaccharides (Aloe barbadensis miller, Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum and Coriolus versicolor). , 1999, Carcinogenesis.

[12]  I. Benzie,et al.  Total antioxidant capacity of teas by the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay. , 1999, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[13]  W. Frishman,et al.  Herbal medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular disease: clinical considerations. , 1998, Archives of internal medicine.

[14]  J. Strain,et al.  Simultaneous automated measurement of total 'antioxidant' (reducing) capacity and ascorbic acid concentration. , 1997, Redox report : communications in free radical research.

[15]  C. Ho,et al.  The anti‐tumor effect of Ganoderma Lucidum is mediated by cytokines released from activated macrophages and T lymphocytes , 1997, International journal of cancer.

[16]  J. Strain,et al.  Uric acid: friend or foe? , 1996, Redox report : communications in free radical research.

[17]  J J Strain,et al.  The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of "antioxidant power": the FRAP assay. , 1996, Analytical biochemistry.

[18]  W. Riley,et al.  Evaluation of Serum and Tissue Levels of α-Tocopherol , 1996 .

[19]  T. Byers,et al.  Relation of serum uric acid to mortality and ischemic heart disease. The NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. , 1995, American journal of epidemiology.

[20]  T. Mizuno,et al.  Reishi, Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma tsugae: bioactive substances and medicinal effects , 1995 .

[21]  M. Shiao,et al.  Natural Products and Biological Activities of the Chinese Medicinal Fungus Ganoderma lucidum , 1994 .

[22]  S. Furusawa,et al.  Antitumour activity of Ganoderma lucidum, an edible mushroom, on intraperitoneally implanted lewis lung carcinoma in synergenic mice , 1992 .

[23]  K. Jones,et al.  Reishi Mushroom: Herb of Spiritual Potency and Medical Wonder , 1990 .

[24]  H. Rhee,et al.  Cardiovascular effects of mycelium extract of Ganoderma lucidum: inhibition of sympathetic outflow as a mechanism of its hypotensive action. , 1990, Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin.

[25]  M. Shimizu,et al.  Ganoderic acid and its derivatives as cholesterol synthesis inhibitors. , 1989, Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin.

[26]  R. D. Situnayake,et al.  The Use of Different Lipids to Express Serum Tocopherol: Lipid Ratios for the Measurement of Vitamin E Status , 1986, Annals of clinical biochemistry.

[27]  M. Lopes-Virella,et al.  Cholesterol determination in high-density lipoproteins separated by three different methods. , 1977, Clinical chemistry.

[28]  R. Levy,et al.  Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. , 1972, Clinical chemistry.

[29]  A. Osbourn,et al.  Biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins in plants. , 2002, Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology.

[30]  B. Tomlinson,et al.  Consumption of green tea causes rapid increase in plasma antioxidant power in humans. , 1999, Nutrition and cancer.

[31]  J. Strain,et al.  Ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay: direct measure of total antioxidant activity of biological fluids and modified version for simultaneous measurement of total antioxidant power and ascorbic acid concentration. , 1999, Methods in enzymology.

[32]  Solomon P. Wasser,et al.  Medicinal properties of substances occurring in higher basidiomycetes mushrooms: current perspectives (review). , 1999 .

[33]  J. Buswell,et al.  Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. (Aphyllophoromycetideae)−A Mushrooming Medicinal Mushroom , 1999 .

[34]  M. Dusinska,et al.  Comet assay in human biomonitoring studies: Reliability, validation, and applications , 1997, Environmental and molecular mutagenesis.

[35]  P. Fürst,et al.  Improved analysis of malondialdehyde in human body fluids. , 1996, Free radical biology & medicine.

[36]  B. Halliwell,et al.  Lipid peroxidation in hyperlipidaemic patients. A study of plasma using an HPLC-based thiobarbituric acid test. , 1993, Free radical research communications.

[37]  S C Jong,et al.  Medicinal benefits of the mushroom Ganoderma. , 1992, Advances in applied microbiology.