Effect of the Lingzi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) on Hyperglycemia and Dyslipidemia with Experimental Metabolic Syndrome.

The effect of Ganoderma lucidum hot water extract of submerged cultivated mycelium suspensia on carbohydrate metabolism and lipid profile during fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in rats was studied. The outbred white male Wistar rats, in which metabolic syndrome was induced by consuming a 10% fructose solution instead of drinking water for 42 days, were used. After the induction of metabolic syndrome, the mycelium of G. lucidum in the form of water suspension (a dose of 1 g/kg of the animal's body weight) was administered to animals per os for 7 and 14 days. Glucose concentration was determined using the glucose oxidase method. The content of glycosylated hemoglobin in erythrocytes was determined by the colorimetric method. The concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, and low-density lipoproteins in blood plasma was determined by enzymatic methods. A significant decrease in the content of glycosylated hemoglobin was established in animals with metabolic syndrome against the background of administration of the studied suspension. Under the conditions of experimental metabolic syndrome, the administration of mycelium for 7 and 14 days led to a decrease in the concentration of triglycerides by 17.8 and 44.8%, cholesterol by 10.7 and 21.3%, low-density lipoproteins by 14.8 and 28.4%, and to an increase in high-density lipoproteins concentration by 11.9 and 21.5%, compared with metabolic syndrome. The obtained results demonstrate the corrective effect of the suspension of the G. lucidum powdered mycelium on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, which was directly proportional to the duration of administration.

Enzymatic System of Antioxidant Protection of Erythrocytes in Diabetic Rats Treated with Medicinal Mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes).

Excessive glucose concentrations in blood and cells promote the intensification of auto-oxidation. This is one of the mechanisms through which free radicals form in hyperglycemia. As a result of hyperglycemia, oxidative stress develops and lipid peroxidation (LPO) is enhanced. Erythrocytes are particularly susceptible to reactive oxygen species and LPO, which can violate cell functions. This article describes the analysis of the influence of mycelia from the medicinal mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum on the enzymatic link of the antioxidant system in rat erythrocytes under streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress was strengthened in red blood cells of diabetic rats, as evidenced by decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, and by increased amounts of thiobarbituric acid-positive products, which are markers of LPO. Administration of A. brasiliensis and G. lucidum submerged cultivated mycelial powder to animals with streptozotocin-induced diabetes restored superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity and reduced the amounts of thiobarbituric acid-positive products to control values, but did not affect the activity of glutathione reductase.

The Effect of the Medicinal Mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum (Higher Basidiomycetes) on the Erythron System in Normal and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is accompanied by the development of hypoxia, which disturbs the physicochemical properties of the erythrocyte membrane and further leads to the occurrence of anemia and a reduction of the lifespan. In response, the body activates compensatory reactions directed at a renewal of the red blood cell pool and an increase in tissue oxygenation. In this study the influence of Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum medicinal mushroom mycelia on the erythron system of control and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Wistar outbred white male rats were intraperitoneally injected with saline (control rats) or STZ (50 mg/kg, DM rats) and orally treated with placebo or submerged culture mycelium powder (1 g/kg/day) for 2 weeks. Peripheral blood erythrocytes were collected. Hypoglycemic effects of A. brasiliensis and G. lucidum occurred in the diabetic rats, as evidenced by decreased blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations. In STZ-diabetic animals treated with submerged culture mycelium powder, an increase in the number of erythrocytes in the bloodstream (an antianemic effect), erythrocyte resistance to acid hemolysis, and the normalization of fetal hemoglobin concentrations, along with the intensification of erythropoiesis were observed. In conclusion, our results suggest that in diabetic animals A. brasiliensis and G. lucidum have therapeutic effects that manifest in hypoglycemic and antianemic action.

The Effect of Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum Medicinal Mushroom Administration on the L-arginine/Nitric Oxide System and Rat Leukocyte Apoptosis in Experimental Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Oxidative-nitrative stress develops as a result of hyperglycemia under diabetes mellitus. Formation of excessive reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species leads to different cytotoxic effects and ultimately to increased cell death by apoptosis of immune-competent blood cells. This study showed the influence of medicinal mushroom (MM) administration on the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO) system and rat leukocyte apoptosis under normal and experimental diabetic conditions. Animals were divided into 6 groups: (1) control, (2) control animals treated with Agaricus brasiliensis, (3) control animals treated with Ganoderma lucidum, (4) animals with experimental diabetes (EDM), (5) diabetic animals treated with A. brasiliensis, and (6) diabetic animals treated with G. lucidum. Control and diabetic animals were fed powdered mushrooms at a dose of 1 g/kg body weight. Administration of MMs to animals with diabetes caused a decrease in the activity of the NO synthase enzyme, as well as in the content of stable end products of NO metabolism-nitrates and nitrites-at the control level. The normalizing effect of mushrooms on the percentage of leukocytes that contain pro- (p53) and antiapoptotic (Bcl-2) proteins compared with the EDM group was shown by immunocytochemical analysis. Thus the administration of MMs under EDM showed a positive corrective action on the L-arginine/NO system and the ratio between p53 and Bcl-2 proteins in white blood cells, as well as on apoptotic index reduction.

Antioxidant Effects of Medicinal Mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum (Higher Basidiomycetes): Evidence from Animal Studies.

With diabetes mellitus and increased glucose concentrations, the mitochondria electron transport chain is disrupted, superoxide anions are overproduced, and oxidative stress develops in cells. Thus, preventing oxidative stress can produce a decrease in the antioxidant system activity and an increase in apoptosis in immune cells. The application of medicinal mushrooms is a new possible approach to diabetes mellitus treatment. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the influence of administration of the medicinal mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum on antioxidant enzyme activity in rat leukocytes. Wistar outbred white rats were used in the study. Streptozotocin was intraperitoneally injected once at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. Mushroom preparations were orally administered at a dose of 1 g/kg/day for 2 weeks. This revealed that in diabetes mellitus, the level of antioxidant enzyme activity is significantly decreased compared with control values, whereas the levels of lipid peroxidation is increased; this manifested in an increase in the amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The medicinal mushrooms' administration is accompanied by an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity to control values and is even higher in the case of A. brasiliensis administration when compared with the diabetic group. As for the indicators of lipid peroxidation under mushroom administration of A. brasiliensis and G. lucidum, we observed a significant decrease of TBARS levels compared with the diabetic group. Increased activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduction of TBARS level indicate pronounced antioxidant properties of studied mushrooms.

Structural Changes of Erythrocyte Surface Glycoconjugates after Treatment with Medicinal Mushrooms.

Under conditions of chronic hyperglycemia there is dysregulation of ion homeostasis, violation of redox metabolism and functioning of membrane enzymes, as well as changes in the structural and functional states of erythrocyte membranes. As a result, the aggregation ability of erythrocytes increased and their deformability decreased. These changes lead to complications to microcirculation blood flow and provoke the development of vascular complications caused by diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the effect of the medicinal mushrooms Agaricus brasiliensis and Ganoderma lucidum on the structure of carbohydrate determinants of surface membrane glycoconjugates of rat peripheral blood erythrocytes under both normal conditions and streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. The research was carried out using Wistar outbred white rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin intraperitoneally injected once at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. The mushroom preparations were orally administered at a dose of 1 g/kg for 14 days. The treatment of diabetic rats by submerged culture mycelium powder restored the physiological balance between sialylation and desialylation processes, renewed the membrane surface charge of red blood cells, normalized aggregation properties, and caused the structural recovery of oligosaccharide chains of erythrocyte membrane surface glycoconjugates. The discovered changes show an improvement in the erythrocyte functional state and rejuvenation of their population caused by biologically active compounds of the studied medicinal mushrooms.

Protective effects of polyphenolics in red wine on diabetes associated oxidative/nitrative stress in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Increased accumulation of NT (3-nitrotyrosine) and PARylated [poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated] proteins in the tissues of diabetics are associated with diabetes complications (diabetes neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy). Red wine (its polyphenols are considered to be the main active components) can act as ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavengers, iron chelators and enzyme modulators. This study is novel in investigating the effect of red wine in preventing the accumulation of NT and PARylated proteins in the sciatic nerve, DRG (dorsal root ganglia), spinal cord, kidney and retina of diabetic animals. We have shown that during the experiment the body weight of control and diabetic groups of rats with consumption of red wine was significantly increased, by 52% and 19% accordingly. The significant increase in the content of NT in the sciatic nerve, DRG, spinal cord, kidney and retina, and PARylated proteins in the sciatic nerve, renal glomeruli and retinae of diabetic rats was partly or completely prevented by treatment with red wine. Red wine and its polyphenol preparations might be a promising option in the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications.