Significance of culture period on the physiochemistry and anti-cancer potentials of polysaccharides from mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GPS) have many functions. Polysaccharides are abundant in G. lucidum mycelia, but it is unclear whether the production and chemical characteristics of polysaccharides are related to the liquid cultural periods of mycelia. This study harvests G. lucidum mycelia at different cultural stages and isolates GPS and sulfated polysaccharides (GSPS) separately to determine an optimum cultural duration. After 42 and 49 days of mycelia are found to be the best times to harvest GPS and GSPS. Characteristic studies show that glucose and galactose are the main sugars in GPS and GSPS. The molecular weights of various GPS and GSPS are mainly distributed at >1000 kDa and from 101 to 1000 kDa. The sulfate content of GSPS at Day 49 is greater than that at Day 7. GPS and GSPS at 49 days exhibits a good anticancer effect but does not affect normal fibroblasts. GPS and GSPS that is isolated on day 49 inhibits lung cancer by suppressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and transforming growth factor beta receptor (TGFβR)-mediated signaling networks. These results show that the mycelia of G. lucidum that are cultured for 49 days exhibit the best biological characteristics.

Keywords: Anti-cancer; Ganoderma lucidum; Mycelia; Polysaccharide; Sulfated polysaccharide.