Phytochemical content of medicinal mushroom [Ganoderma lucidum]

ABSTRACT

Ganoderma lucidum is a functional food and a source of physiologically beneficial medicine. The Ganoderma fungi contained polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, tannins, saponins and some of micro-elements [Cu, Zn, Mg, Mn and Se] as excellent antioxidants. Data showed a content of polyphenols and flavonoids fractions by HPLC. Ganoderma has a high content of kaempherol [14.43 micro g/g] then myricetin and quercetin [9.94 and 9.33 micro g/g, respectively]. The content of cinnamic acid and P-cumaric acid [9.82 and 11.53 micro g/g] were higher than cumarin, O-cumarin [8.88 and 8.44 micro g/g], respectively. Ganoderma protein is rich in cystine and methionine [0.85 and 13.53 g/100g protein], respectively compared with its level in casein [0.33 and 2.59 g/100g protein]. The ratio of arginine lysine was higher than of methionine glycine which is used as indication of the ability of plant proteins to lower cholesterol level in blood. The composition of Ganoderma mushroom having a relatively high content of unsaturated fatty acids [oleic, linoleic, linolenic, ecosanoic and decosahexanoic acids]. Also, the reducing power Ganoderma extract was higher compared to that for vitamin C