Chemical and Biochemical Basis of the Anti-tumor Properties of Ganoderma Lucidum

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The fruiting bodies of Ganoderma Lucidum are edible, medicinal

mushroom known as Ling Zhi in China. Ling Zhi has been used in

traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for over 2000 years with a

reputation rivaling that of ginseng. In addition to the fruiting

bodies, the spores and cultivates mycelia have recently been used as

health foods and herbal medicines. As a superior herbal medicine, it

has been used in TCM for promotion of vitality and longevity. In

modern Chinese medicine, Ganoderma Lucidum is used in the treatment

of debility and weakness, hepatitis, diabetes, altitude sickness,

cardiovascular diseases, AIDS and cancer. Scientific studies on

extracts and substances from Ganoderma Lucidum have demonstrated

their anti-aging, cardiovascular, hepato-protective, hypoglycemic,

immuno-modulatory, anti-viral and anti-tumor effects. This evidence

provides a pharmacological basis for their ancient and contemporary

medical applications.

 

Chemical investigations on the fruiting bodies, spores and mycelia

of Ganoderma Lucidum have shown that these mushrooms contain various

bioactive substances. Active constituents of Ganderma Lucidum

include polysaccharides, proteins, nucleosides, fatty acids,

terpenoids and sterols. Water or alcohol extracts have been used for

investigation of its biological activities. Water extract contains

biological compounds that are responsible for its immunological and

anti-inflammatory properties. In contrast, alcohol extract contains

biological compounds that lower blood cholesterol levels, blood

glucose levels, and platelet aggregation. While the anti-tumor

effects can be attributed both to the water soluble polysaccharide

and alcohol soluble triterpenes. Recent clinical and pharmacological

research substantiating the benefits and effects of Ganoderma

Lucidum has focused on tumor activities. This presentation attempts

to review and analyze our current knowledge on the anti-tumor

properties and mechanism of Ganoderma Lucidum extracts.

 

Some terpenoids and their derivatives isolated from Ganoderma

Lucidum are cytotoxic and have anti-tumor activities. Over one

hundred different triterpenoids have been found in fruiting bodies,

spores and mycelia of Ganoderma Lucidum. These include highly

oxidized lanostanoid-type triterpense, such as ganoderic acids,

ganoderenic acids, ganolucidic acids, lucidenic acids, ganoderiol

type 1 and type 2, ganoderals, lucidones, furnaoganoderic acid and

other terpenoid components. Some of these compounds are known for

their anti-proliferative properties investigated in various cancer

cell lines. Recent research has been expanded into their

antiangiogenesis and apoptotic properties.

 

The water extracts of Ganoderma Lucidum were reported to have immuno-

modulatory and anti-tumor activities in many animal studies.

Different anti-tumor polysaccharides and protein bound

polysaccharides including ¦Â-D-glucan, glucuronoglucan, xycoglucan,

mannoglucan and their protein complexes have been fractionated and

purified. The water-soluble anti-tumor substances are ganoderan, GL-

A, GL-B, GL-C, GLB-7 and¦Â-immunan. Recently, a fucose-containing

glycoprotein fraction with immno-modulatory and anti-tumor

activities has been identified from the water extract of Ganoderma

Lucidum. Functional and proteomics analyses indicate that a fucose-

containing polysaccharide fraction is responsible for stimulating

the expression of tumoricide cytokines. Mechanistic studies on the

anti-tumor activities of¦Â-D-glucan and GL-B have indicated their

anti-tumor activities to be accomplished by enhancing host mediated

mechanisms including increased IL-2 production and stimulation of

cytotoxic T lymphocytes and NK activity. The hypothesis that some of

the active constituents of Ganoderma Lucidum may be able to skew the

immune system away from the Th2 state into the Th1 state to benefit

the tumor-bearing host will be discussed.

 

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