title: Evaluation of Anticonvulsant, Antidepressant-, and Anxiolytic-like Effects of an Aqueous Extract from Cultured Mycelia of the Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Higher Basidiomycetes) in Mice.
abstract: Ganoderma lucidum is a well-known medicinal mushroom with a long history of use. This study was designed to assess the anticonvulsant potential of an aqueous extract from cultured G. lucidum mycelium in 3 acute seizure models: timed intravenous pentylenetetrazole infusion, maximal electroshock seizure threshold, and 6-Hz-induced psychomotor seizure tests in mice. Moreover, antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of G. lucidum were evaluated using the forced swim test and the elevated plus maze test in mice, respectively. No changes in seizure thresholds in the intravenous pentylenetetrazole and maximal electroshock seizure threshold tests after acute treatment with G. lucidum extract (200-600 mg/kg) was observed. However, the studied extract (100-400 mg/kg) significantly increased the threshold for psychomotor seizures in the 6-Hz seizure test. In the forced swim test, G. lucidum (100-400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of immobility. No anxiolytic-like or sedative effects were reported in mice pretreated with the extract (400-600 mg/kg). G. lucidum extract (50-2400 mg/kg) did not produce toxic effects in the chimney test (motor coordination) or grip-strength test (neuromuscular strength). Further studies are required to explain the neuropharmacological effects of G. lucidum and to identify its active ingredients that may affect seizure threshold, mood, or anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animai Physiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Socala
authors.affiliation: Department of Animai Physiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nieoczym
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grzywnowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Dawid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stefaniuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Animai Physiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wlaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts