Effect of Ganoderma lucidum on radioprotection in Mice
Yeunhwa GU1,2,5, Takashi NAKAMURA6, Kwang-Ho CHO8, Jung-Sook CHOI7, Toshihiro MAENAKA1, Yuka ITOKAWA1, Takenori YAMASHITA1, Kaori TANO4,5, Ihil-Bong CHOI2, Ki-Mun KANG3, Takeo HASEGAWA1, Masami OSHIMA1, Ikukatsu SUZUKI1, and Torao ISHIDA4,5
1Graduate School of Health Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science
2Department of Radiation Oncology, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea
3Deptment of Therapeutic Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang Institute of Health Sciences, Jinju, Korea
4Department of Acupuncture Moxibustion, Faculty of Acupuncture Moxibustion, Suzuka University of Medical Science
5Hi-tech Research Center, Suzuka University of Medical Science
6Health Care Center, Suzuka University of Medical Science
7Gyeongdo Provincial College, Kyoungbook, Korea
8Department of Radiological Science, Catholic University of Deagu, College of Heallth Science, Deagu, Korea
Abstract
The characteristic constituents of Ganoderma lucidum, such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, nucleic acids, and small proteins, have been found and proved to have many special pharmacological properties. Mice have been used to extensively investigate the effects of G. lucidum ( reishi ). Experiments with mice investigating the effects of concentrates of G. lucidum have never been reported. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the effect of G. lucidum feeding on blood biochemistry and immunocompetence in mice. Complete blood count (CBC) and blood biochemistry were surveyed routinely. Cellular-mediated immunity was monitored using flow cytometry to survey the percentage changes in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The effect of G. lucidum on humoral immunity was examined with a fast plate agglutination test to know the manifestation and change in the titer of specific anti-egg albumin antibodies in the serum after egg albumin injection. The findings on CBC and blood biochemistry indicated that G. lucidum was quite safe for mice. Experimental results on cell-mediated immunity showed that G. lucidum could increase the percentage of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in PBL. Experimental results on humoral immunity showed that G. lucidum could help mice to produce a significantly higher quantity of specific antibodies in a shorter time.