Chemical composition, antiproliferative and antioxidant activity of differently processed Ganoderma lucidum ethanol extracts

The content of phenolic compounds (TPC) and glucans, as well as the effectiveness of antiproliferative and antioxidant activity of differently processed Ganoderma lucidum ethanol extracts were determined and compared. The content of glucans (total, α- and β-) strongly depended on the extraction time and particle size, but only interaction of these parameters influenced the TPC. Gallic acid, quercetin, trans-cinnamic acid, kaempferol, hesperetin and naringenin were detected in extracts by HPLC–DAD. The most abundant phenols were hesperetin (1.875–3.222 µg/g) and naringenin (1.235–2.856 µg/g). The ethanol extracts exhibited noteworthy antioxidant activity, but the significant amount of phenolic compounds was strongly linked to polysaccharides, and hence reduced their antioxidant capacity. The results of the antiproliferative activity in vitro showed that the analyzed extracts were the most effective against HeLa cells. Significant correlations were observed between the antiproliferative effect and the TPC/glucan content of extracts

Recent progress in research on the pharmacological potential of mushrooms and prospects for their clinical application

International audienceFungi are considered one of the most diverse, ecologically significant, and economically important organisms on Earth. The edible and medicinal mushrooms have long been known by humans and were used by ancient civilizations not only as valuable food but also as medicines. Mushrooms are producers of high- and low-molecular-weight bioactive compounds (alkaloids, lectins, lipids, peptidoglycans, phenolics, polyketides, polysaccharides, proteins, polysaccharide-protein/peptides, ribosomal and non-ribosomal peptides, steroids, terpenoids, etc.) possessing more than 130 different therapeutic effects (analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiplatelet, antiviral, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, hypocholesterolemic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, immunomodulatory, immunosuppressive, mitogenic/regenerative, etc.). The early record of Materia Medica shows evidence of using mushrooms for treatment of different diseases. Mushrooms were widely used in the traditional medicine of many countries around the world and became great resources for modern clinical and pharmacological research. However, the medicinal and biotechnological potential of mushrooms has not been fully investigated. This review discusses recent advances in research on the pharmacological potential of mushrooms and perspectives for their clinical application