Antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and nevro-protective activity of Ganoderma lucidum: An overview

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum is a very medicinal mushroom that has been utilized in Oriental medicine for many years. It has a wide range of pharmacological and therapeutic properties, and has been used for many years as a health promoter. It contains various biologically active compounds that improve the immune system and have antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Active compounds include triterpenoids and polysaccharides, as well as proteins, lipids, phenolics, sterols, etc. In the following review, we summarize briefly their biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antitumor, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory activity. Although Ganoderma has a number of medicinal effects that have been confirmed by the in vitro and in vivo studies summarised in this review, there are some limitations. Clinical trials face mainly a lack of pure constituents. Accurate identification of the compounds obtained is also problematic. In addition, most of the included studies were small, and there were concerns about the methodological quality of each study. Studies have shown that Ganoderma has valuable potential for the prevention and treatment of cancer. In any case, G. lucidum cannot be used as first-line therapy for cancer.

Do Ganoderma Species Represent Novel Sources of Phenolic Based Antimicrobial Agents?

“…Since AV activity of H 2 O extracts is also expressed in G. pfeifferi , we can assume that the tested activity is also exhibited by more polar compounds, primarily polysaccharides [ 64 ]. Nevertheless, AV activity against HSV virus type 1 and type 2 has been demonstrated for both triterpenes and polysaccharide-protein complexes, while water-soluble and MeOH-soluble components displayed in vitro activity against pathogenic viruses, such as influenza A virus and vesicular stomatitis virus [ 65 , 66 , 67 ]. Moreover, triterpenoids isolated from G. lucidum seem to have anti-HIV activity [ 67 , 68 ], though to create the framework for the use of G. lucidum isolates as anti-HIV drugs, extensive studies are still required.…”

“…Nevertheless, AV activity against HSV virus type 1 and type 2 has been demonstrated for both triterpenes and polysaccharide-protein complexes, while water-soluble and MeOH-soluble components displayed in vitro activity against pathogenic viruses, such as influenza A virus and vesicular stomatitis virus [ 65 , 66 , 67 ]. Moreover, triterpenoids isolated from G. lucidum seem to have anti-HIV activity [ 67 , 68 ], though to create the framework for the use of G. lucidum isolates as anti-HIV drugs, extensive studies are still required. There is strong evidence in the literature that triterpenoids, polysaccharides, nucleotides, sterols, steroids, fatty acids and proteins/peptides contained in G. lucidum may be helpful for the treatment of COVID-19 despite the lack of clinical data [ 67 ].…”

“…Moreover, triterpenoids isolated from G. lucidum seem to have anti-HIV activity [ 67 , 68 ], though to create the framework for the use of G. lucidum isolates as anti-HIV drugs, extensive studies are still required. There is strong evidence in the literature that triterpenoids, polysaccharides, nucleotides, sterols, steroids, fatty acids and proteins/peptides contained in G. lucidum may be helpful for the treatment of COVID-19 despite the lack of clinical data [ 67 ]. For example, findings by Al-jumaili et al [ 69 ] show that patients who received G. lucidum supplementation also had an increase in lymphocytes; glycosides, which are found in this fungus, also greatly decreased viral reproduction, absorption and penetration to suppress human coronavirus 229E infection in its early stages [ 67 , 70 ].…”

Effect of Supplemental Antioxidant-Based Therapy on the Oxidative Stress Level in COVID-19 Patients

“…Published reviews discuss that these components have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Among them, Andric et al [37] have summarized that the antiviral, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-tumor, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activity of Ganoderma lucidum can be attributed mainly due to the high content of polysaccharides and can be used as a potential treatment in COVID-19. Ordonez et al [38], have used experimental model of K18-hACE2 mice treated with sulforaphane, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, as prophylactic agent, where reduced pulmonary and lung changes were observed.…”

Is the mushroom Meripilus giganteus a potential cancer chemopreventive agent?

“…This started a boundless research field, stimulating thousands of studies and producing numerous results in support of the cancer chemopreventive potential of different botanical species, such as Brassicaceae (Cocchi et al, 2020).Great interest has been addressed to different mushrooms species (Nowakowski et al, 2021), including those belonging to the Polyporales order (Basidiomycota philum), such as the famous Ganoderma lucidum (known as Reishi), which has been employed in Chinese and Japanese folk medicine since ancient times. The popular opinion attributes to G. lucidum almost "miraculous" properties and numerous studies are available concerning its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and neuroprotective properties (Cör Andrejč et al, 2022). In addition, cancer chemopreventive effects have been…”