Use of Ganoderma lucidum (Ganodermataceae, Basidiomycota) as Radioprotector

Abstract

For millennia, naturopaths and physicians have used Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) for its diverse therapeutic properties, as recorded in the oldest Chinese herbal encyclopedia. Indeed, a radioprotective effect has been reported in the isolated components of its extracts. A systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISMA) was conducted in March 2020, searching databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, along with Clinical Trials. The inclusion criteria were ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo studies, with full texts in English, conducted to determine the radioprotective benefits of G. lucidum, or reports in which ionizing radiation was used. From a total number of 1109 records identified, 15 full text articles were eligible, none of them were clinical trials. In vivo studies reveal the efficiency of G. lucidum aqueous extracts of polysaccharides and triterpenes in mice exposed to γ-rays. In plasmid, they can reduce radiation damage as an increment of the open circular form, as well as increase the DNA extension, as shown in vitro studies. Ex vivo studies conducted in human blood cells show the radioprotective effect of β-glucan of aqueous extract of G. lucidum, nevertheless, its implementation as radioprotector to humans is in need of further clinical research studies.

Keywords: Ganoderma lucidum; ex vivo; in vitro; in vivo; radioprotector; reishi mushroom; review.

Figure 1

Ganoderma lucidum at the base of Quercus coccifera in Spain, Castellón, El Toro, 19 November, 2008, Mir and Atienza, Herbarium VAL-Myco 134.

Figure 2

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram for studies retrieved through the searching and selection process. * The reasons for the exclusion of articles were the lack of critical information and methodological shortcomings (see Methods section).