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

Abstract

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 0.72 g/d Lingzhi. The acute response (up to 3 hours) was also investigated with a larger dose (3.3 g) of Lingzhi (n=7). Results showed that the total antioxidant capacity (as the FRAP value) of an aqueous suspension of Lingzhi was 360 micromol/g. Ingestion of Lingzhi caused a significant post-ingestion increase (mean+/-SEM 23+/-3 micromol/L; P<0.05) in plasma antioxidant capacity, with peak response at 90 min. Average increase of 29+/-11% (P<0.05) in urine antioxidant capacity was seen within 3 hours of ingestion. After 10 days' supplementation with 0.72 g per day of Lingzhi, fasting plasma lipid standardised alpha-tocopherol concentration and urine antioxidant capacity increased (P<0.05). Fasting plasma ascorbic acid and total alpha-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.

Vegetarian Diets and Public Health: Biomarker and Redox Connections

“…10,14,15,17,20,25,60,74,75,111,127,143,155,166,171,172). Halvorsen et al presented the total antioxidant (redox active) content as the Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP) value of over 1000 commonly consumed foods, as well that of many herbs and spices (74,75).…”

“…There are various possible explanations for this. Supplementation type, dosage, or duration may have been wrong for the target populations, but supplementation with pure antioxidants cannot reproduce the concerted and varied action of phytochemicals in whole foods (4,18,50,52,105,106,110,129,171). Also, antioxidants can show pro-oxidant activity (71,73,170), and attention is focused increasingly beyond direct antioxidant action and onto multiple and indirect mechanisms, including effects on redox tone (128,144,168,169).…”

The efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines

“…In their study the reported biological and beneficial effects of G. lucidum were investigated using an objective and controlled approach. A previous study by Wachtel-Galor et al (2004a) on the effects of short-term (10 d) supplementation of G. lucidum (using biomarkers of antioxidant status and CHD risk) reported increased antioxidant levels and indicated that this CHM may reduce the risk of CHD. The present study has taken the investigation of G. lucidum further by studying its effects using additional biomarkers of function, namely inflammatory function and immune function; the toxicology of G. lucidum was also investigated by monitoring biomarkers of liver and renal toxicity and genotoxicity.…”

Antioxidative properties of traditional herbal medicines and the application of comet assay on antioxidative study

“…It could be used as an adjuvant in chemotherapy. Lingzhi, a widely used Chinese herb for promoting health, has been tested for antioxidant activity (Wachtel-Galor et al, 2004). A significant post-ingestion increase in plasma antioxidant capacity was seen with slightly increased SOD and GPx activities.…”