Ganoderma tsugae, a mushroom with many properties (video)
Health benefits of Ganoderma mushroom
Ganoderma tsugae is a medicinal fungus with several biological activities [5] known as Hemlock varnish shelf mushroom [2,4], Lingzhi or Reishi [6], that usually grows in conifers, mainly in hemlocks [2], where its common name comes from. It has been used as a folk remedy for the promotion of health and longevity in China and other oriental countries [5] and has recently been in the scope of scientists and researchers for its multiple medicinal properties and a source of active constituents that exert anti-angiogenic (avoids the growth of blood vessels) effects [1], something that can be used as a potential source for new anti-cancer medicines. Image: Ganoderma tsugae by Jason Hollinger under Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0)
In spite the woody nature Ganoderma tsugae makes this mushroom not edible [2], several species of Ganoderma are currently cultivated for use in coffee, teas, and dietary supplements [4]. In Asia, Ganoderma have been traditionally administered throughout Asia for centuries as a cancer treatment and for other medicinal purposes [6].
GANODERMA TSUGAE
Family: Ganodermataceae
Genus: Ganoderma
Common name: Hemlok varnish shelf mushroom, Sung-shan-ling-chih, Songshan lingzhi, Lingzhi, Reishi.
INFO: Ganoderma tsugae (GT) is a traditional Chinese medicine that exhibits significant anti-tumor activities against many types of cancer [3].
GANODERMA TSUGAE EXTRACT INHIBITS COLORECTAL CANCER CELL GROWTH
At least in one study done on tumorigenesis in nude mice on the inhibitory activity and molecular mechanisms of anti-tumor effect on colorectal cancer cells of Ganoderma tsugae, it was shown how Ganoderma tsugae extracts inhibit colorectal cancer cell proliferation caused by accumulating cells in G(2)/M phase, something that may lead to a possible therapeutic use of Ganoderma tsugae for treating colorectal cancer [6].
GANODERMA TSUGAE AND LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA
It another study it was also noted that the fungal immunomodulatory protein from Ganoderma tsugae (reFIP-gts) had anti-telomerase effects in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, something that suggests that the use of Ganoderma tsugae reFIP-gts protein may be a powerful new strategy for chemoprevention and antineoplastic therapy [7].
GANODERMA TSUGAE AND BRONCHOALVEOLAR INFLAMMATION
Ganoderma tsugae, known in China as Songshan lingzhi, is cultivated in Taiwan and has been extensively used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat different diseases. In a study performed to investigate its properties to alleviate bronchoalveolar inflammation, it was noted that it may help to alleviate inflammation via decreasing the infiltration of inflammatory cells [11].
GANODERMA TSUGAE ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES
Out of three species studied of Ganoderma, namely the Ganoderma lucidum (Ling-chih), Ganoderma tsugae (Sung-shan-ling-chih), and Coriolus versicolor (Yun-chih) Overall, the Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma tsugae were higher in antioxidant activity [12].
SKIN WOUND HEALING WITH SACCHACHITIN A WEAVABLE SKIN SUBSTITUTE FROM THE FRUITING BODY OF GANODERMA TSUGAE
Sacchachitin, a weavable skin substitute made from the residual fruiting body of Ganoderma tsugae, has been demonstrated to promote skin wound healing [14]. In spite the study of reference, performed in rats, showed that the subcutaneous injection of Sacchachitin caused local acute inflammation, the wound area covered by Sacchachitin completely healed by 21 days, while that covered with cotton gauze did not [14], significantly enhancing the proliferation and migration of fibroblast cells [14,15].
REFERENCES
[1] Protective mechanisms of green tea polyphenols in skin.
Oyetakinwhite P, Tribout H, Baron E.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106-5028, USA.
[2] Wikipedia article on Ganoderma tsugae. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganoderma_tsugae
[3] Ganoderma tsugae Induces S Phase Arrest and Apoptosis in Doxorubicin-Resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma H23/0.3 Cells via Modulation of the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.
Yu YH, Kuo HP, Hsieh HH, Li JW, Hsu WH, Chen SJ, Su MH, Liu SH, Cheng YC, Chen CY, Kao MC.
Graduate Institute of Clinical and Medical Science, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
[4] Ganodone, a bioactive benzofuran from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma tsugae.
La Clair JJ, Rheingold AL, Burkart MD.
Xenobe Research Institute, P.O. Box 3052, San Diego, California 92163-1052, United States.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
[5] Isolating a cytoprotective compound from Ganoderma tsugae: effects on induction of Nrf-2-related genes in endothelial cells.
Wei YS, Wung BS, Lin YC, Hsieh CW.
Institute of Biotechnology, National Chiayi University, Taiwan.
[6] Ganoderma tsugae extracts inhibit colorectal cancer cell growth via G(2)/M cell cycle arrest.
Hsu SC, Ou CC, Li JW, Chuang TC, Kuo HP, Liu JY, Chen CS, Lin SC, Su CH, Kao MC.
Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Kang-Ning Junior College of Medical Care and Management, Taipei, Taiwan.
[7] Induction of premature senescence in human lung cancer by fungal immunomodulatory protein from Ganoderma tsugae.
Liao CH, Hsiao YM, Lin CH, Yeh CS, Wang JC, Ni CH, Hsu CP, Ko JL.
Institute of Medical and Molecular Toxicology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
[8] Human nonmetastatic clone 23 type 1 gene suppresses migration of cervical cancer cells and enhances the migration inhibition of fungal immunomodulatory protein from Ganoderma tsugae.
Wang PH, Yang SF, Chen GD, Han CP, Chen SC, Lin LY, Ko JL.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
[9] Nuclear translocation of telomerase reverse transcriptase and calcium signaling in repression of telomerase activity in human lung cancer cells by fungal immunomodulatory protein from Ganoderma tsugae.
Liao CH, Hsiao YM, Sheu GT, Chang JT, Wang PH, Wu MF, Shieh GJ, Hsu CP, Ko JL.
Institute of Medical and Molecular Toxicology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
[10] Ganodermataceae: natural products and their related pharmacological functions.
Zhou X, Lin J, Yin Y, Zhao J, Sun X, Tang K.
Plant Biotechnology Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 20030, China.
[11] Ganoderma tsugae supplementation alleviates bronchoalveolar inflammation in an airway sensitization and challenge mouse model.
Lin JY, Chen ML, Chiang BL, Lin BF.
Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuokuang Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan, Republic of China (ROC)
[12] Antioxidant properties of several medicinal mushrooms.
Mau JL, Lin HC, Chen CC. Department of Food Science, National Chung-Hsing University, 250 Kuokuang Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan, Republic of China.
[13] Prevention of autoantibody formation and prolonged survival in New Zealand Black/New Zealand White F1 mice with an ancient Chinese herb, Ganoderma tsugae.
Lai NS, Lin RH, Lai RS, Kun UC, Leu SC.
Department of Medicine, Tzuchi DaLin General Hospital, Chi-yi, Taiwan, Republic of China.
[14] Cytotoxicity and immunogenicity of SACCHACHITIN and its mechanism of action on skin wound healing.
Hung WS, Fang CL, Su CH, Lai WF, Chang YC, Tsai YH.
Graduate Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei, Taiwan 110.
[15] Development of fungal mycelia as skin substitutes: effects on wound healing and fibroblast.
Su CH, Sun CS, Juan SW, Ho HO, Hu CH, Sheu MT.
Center for Biotechnical Development and Research, Taipei Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
[16] Mediation of the cytotoxicity of lanostanoids and steroids of Ganoderma tsugae through apoptosis and cell cycle.
Gan KH, Fann YF, Hsu SH, Kuo KW, Lin CN.
Department of Biochemistry, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
[17] Fungal mycelia as the source of chitin and polysaccharides and their applications as skin substitutes.
Su CH, Sun CS, Juan SW, Hu CH, Ke WT, Sheu MT.
Center for Biotechnical Development and Research, Taipei Medical College, Taiwan, ROC.
[18] Antitumor active protein-containing glycans from the Chinese mushroom songshan lingzhi, Ganoderma tsugae mycelium.
Zhang J, Wang G, Li H, Zhuang C, Mizuno T, Ito H, Mayuzumi H, Okamoto H, Li J.
Department of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, Changchun College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jilin.
[19] Ganoderma tsugae mycelium enhances splenic natural killer cell activity and serum interferon production in mice.
Won SJ, Lin MT, Wu WL.
Department of Microbiology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan.
- Tags: GANODERMA TSUGAE, HEMLOK VARNISH SHELF, LINGZHI, REISHI, SONGSHAN LINGZHI, SUNG-SHAN-LING-CHIH
