Modulatory Effect of Crude Aqueous Extract of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Higher Basidiomycetes), on Hematological and Antioxidant Indices in Plasmodium berghei-infected Mice

Abstract

Hematological and antioxidant effects of the aqueous extract of fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum were evaluated in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Extract was administered at doses of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight by an intragastric tube once daily for 14 d starting from the fourth day after parasite inoculation. At the end of treatment period, mice in each group were sacrificed and blood was collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. A significant (P<0.05) decrease was observed in serum malondialdehyde content with a corresponding significant (P<0.05) increase in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the extract-treated groups compared to the infected but untreated group. The results obtained suggest that crude aqueous extract of G. lucidum fruiting bodies possesses potent antioxidant activity that protects hemoglobin against Plasmodium-induced oxidative damage. These findings seem to justify the use of the plant in traditional African and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent.

Ganoderma lucidum in broiler diets: Impact on physiological performance and productive-economic efficiency

“…Los resultados de la hemoglobina diferencial fueron para el control -4,93; para el T1= -0,80; para T2= -3,10; para el T3 = -2,40; existiendo diferencia significativa a favor de los tratamientos T1 y T3 (Tabla 2, Figura 4); Dichos resultados expresan que es favorable la menor diferencia entre la hemoglobina inicial y final del periodo de crianza de las aves, considerando la variación existente en las etapas intermedias de la vida de ave; cuyo efecto en los broiler suplementados, se debe a que presentan un mayor número de eritrocitos, cuyas membranas habrían sido protegidas por el extracto de Ganoderma lucidum del estrés oxidativo y de la consiguiente peroxidación lipídica (Oluba et al, 2014), asegurando así, mayor disposición de oxígeno para todas las células, mantenimiento del pH sanguíneo, contribuyendo a la recuperación de la estabilidad homeostática. Apoyando este resultado, Ahmed & Aslam (2018) demostraron que el extracto de G. lucidum tiene efecto significativo sobre los niveles de hemoglobina, debido a su potente efecto antioxidante que previene la destrucción de eritrocitos por los radicales libres.…”

Antihyperglycemic, insulin-sensitivity and anti-hyperlipidemic potential of Ganoderma lucidum, a dietary mushroom, on alloxan- and glucocorticoid-induced diabetic Long-Evans rats

“…Crude aqueous extract and proteoglycan from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies showed anti-diabetic, antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities on mice [12,15,16]. The aqueous extract of this mushroom exhibited anticonvulsant, antidepressant and anxiolytic activities in experimental mice and rats [17,18], whereas ethanol extract showed antimalarial and hepatoprotective effects in experimental mice [19].…”