Inhibitory Effect of Five Ganoderma Species (Agaricomycetes) against Key Digestive Enzymes Related to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Int J Med Mushrooms. 2019;21(7):703-711. doi: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v21.i7.70.

Abstract

Ganoderma mushrooms are widely used in clinical therapies and functional foods. The antidiabetic effect of Ganoderma has become a research hot spot in recent decades. To search for a superior antidiabetic Ganoderma extract, five common Ganoderma species (G. lucidum, G. sinense, G. tsugae, G. applanatum, and G. leucocontextum) were investigated. A total of 10 fractions, including a total triterpenes fraction and a crude polysaccharides fraction for each, were prepared for further assays. Activities of α-glucosidase and α-amylase are inhibited dominantly by triterpenes from all five Ganoderma species rather than the polysaccharides. G. lucidum triterpenes inhibits α-glucosidase and α-amylase most significantly with IC50 values of 10.02 ± 0.95 µg/mL and 31.82 ± 4.30 µg/mL. Even more, triterpenes content was positively correlated with anti-α-glucosidase and anti-α-amylase activities. Therefore, triterpenes were considered to be the active compounds in inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase activity. It is hoped that the results will provide more systematic information for the application of Ganoderma in the functional food and traditional medicine industries in the future.

MeSH terms

  • Complex Mixtures / pharmacology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / enzymology*
  • Fungal Polysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Ganoderma / chemistry*
  • Ganoderma / classification
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology
  • alpha-Amylases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • alpha-Glucosidases

Substances

  • Complex Mixtures
  • Fungal Polysaccharides
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Triterpenes
  • alpha-Amylases
  • alpha-Glucosidases