This study investigated the anti-amnesic effect of fermented Ganoderma lucidum water extracts (GW) on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. GW were fermented by the lactic acid bacterium Bifidobacterium bifidum (FGWB), followed by Lactobacillus sakei LI033 (FGWBL). To induce amnesia, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into rats 30 min before the behavioral tests. Step-through latencies of rats treated with primary fermented extracts (300 mg/kg, FGWB) and secondary fermented extracts (300 mg/kg, FGWBL) were significantly longer than those of rats treated with GW (300 mg/kg) in the retention trial of the multiple trial passive avoidance test. In the Morris water maze task, FGWBL significantly shortened escape latencies in training trials. Furthermore, swimming times within the target zone during the probe trial with FGWBL were significantly higher than the GW and FGWB treatments. In addition, acetylcholinesterase activities were lower in the brains of scopolamine-treated rats treated with FGWBL. These results suggest that FGWBL could be useful to enhance learning memory and cognitive function via cholinergic dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the neuroprotective activities of Ganoderma lucidum water extract (GW) and fermented G. lucidum water extract (FGW). GW was fermented by the lactic acid bacterium Bifidobacterium bifidum (FGWB), followed by Lactobacillus sakei subsp. sakei LI033 (FGWBL). GW and FGW inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in a dose-dependent manner. In terms of cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, GW and FGW showed neuroprotective activities against H 2 O 2 -stimulated oxidative stress in PC12 cells. Further, GW and FGW reduced H 2 O 2 -stimulated apoptosis, as determined by Hoechst staining. The neuroprotective effects of GW and FGW were found to be caspase-dependent based on reduction of caspase-3 activity and increased cell viability after caspase inhibitor (z-VADfmk) treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that GW and FGW may be useful in reducing risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

No abstract