Triterpenoids and polysaccharide peptides-enriched Ganoderma lucidum: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of its antioxidation and hepatoprotective efficacy in healthy volunteers.
BACKGROUND
Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss: Fr) Karst. (Polyporaceae) is an oriental medicinal fungus, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating various condition or diseases such as hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hepatitis and cancer.


OBJECTIVE
The current study examines whether triterpenoids and polysaccharide-enriched G. lucidum (GL) influence antioxidation and hepatoprotective efficacy by suppressing oxidative stress.


METHODS
Forty-two healthy subjects (22 male and 20 female) were recruited and segregated into two groups as experimental or placebo and requested to intake GL (n = 21) or placebo (n = 21) capsule (225 mg; after lunch or dinner) for six consecutive months and vice versa with one month washout period in between. The anthropometric analysis and biochemical assays, as well as abdominal ultrasonic examination were performed.


RESULTS
Consumption of GL substantially improved (p < 0.05) the total antioxidant capacity (TEAC; 79.33-84.04), total thiols and glutathione content (6-8.05) in plasma as well as significant (p < 0.05) enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Whereas, the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; 3.37-2.47), 8-hydroxy-deoxy-guanosine (8-OH-dG; 15.99-11.98) and hepatic marker enzymes (glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; GOT and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase; GPT) were concomitantly reduced (42 and 27%) on treatment with GL. Furthermore, the abdominal ultrasonic examination in GL subjects displayed a notable alteration on hepatic condition by reversing from mild fatty liver condition (initial) to normal condition.


CONCLUSIONS
The outcome of the present intervention demonstrated the antioxidation, anti-aging and hepatoprotective nature of GL by effectively curbing oxidative stress.
a Department of Chinese Medicine , Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Well-being , Taichung , Taiwan, Republic of China.
Hui-Fang
HF
Chiu
b School of Nutrition, Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan, Republic of China.
Hui-Yu
HY
Fu
c Department of Neurology , Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan, Republic of China.
Yan-Ying
YY
Lu
b School of Nutrition, Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan, Republic of China.
Yi-Chun
YC
Han
d School of Health Diet and Industry Management, Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan, Republic of China.
You-Cheng
YC
Shen
b School of Nutrition, Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan, Republic of China.
Kamesh
K
Venkatakrishnan
e Department of Food Science , ITMO University , Saint-Peterburg , Russia.
Oksana
O
Golovinskaia
b School of Nutrition, Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan, Republic of China.
Chin-Kun
CK
Wang
D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D020011:Protective Agents; D011509:Proteoglycans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014315:Triterpenes; C093216:polysaccharide peptide; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D003849:Deoxyguanosine
Oxidative stress; fatty liver; hepatic markers; ultrasonic examination