Prevention of autoantibody formation and prolonged survival in New Zealand Black/New Zealand White F1 mice with an ancient Chinese herb,Ganoderma tsugae

Abstract

For centuries, Chinese medicine has regarded Ganoderma, a fungus (Myceteae, Amastigomycota, Basidomycetes, Aphyllophorales, Polyporaceae, Ganoderma) also known as ‘Ling Zhi’ in Mandarin, as a premium remedy for many diseases. Until now, no convincing data regarding its therapeutic effects in vivo on autoimmune diseases have been demonstrated. In this study, a controlled protocol was conducted in which New Zealand Black/White F₁ mice were fed standard chow with prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day) or Ganoderma tsugae extract, commencing at 2 months of age. It was found that the F₁ mice responded well to Ling Zhi extract. Ling Zhi improved the survival rate of lupus mice, decreased the amount of proteinuria, decreased serum levels of anti-dsDNA autoantibody, and showed evidence of decreased perivascular and parenchyma mono-nuclear cell infiltration in vital organs.

Keywords

Ganoderma NZB/NZW F1 mice herb fungus autoantibody

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Shevach EM . The effects of cyclosporin A on the immune system . A Rev Immunol 1985; 3: 397–423 .

Kino K et al. Isolation and characterization of a new immunomodulatory protein, Ling Zhi-8, from Ganoderma lucidum . J Biol Chem 1989; 264: 472–478 .

Steinberg AD , Steinberg SC . Long-term preservation of renal function in patients with lupus nephritis receiving treatment that includes cyclophosphamide versus those treated with prednisolone only . Arthrit Rheum 1991; 34: 945–950 .

Dubois EL , Commons RR , Starr P , Morrison R. Corticotropin and cortisone treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus . JAMA 1952; 149: 995–1002 .

Austin HA III et al. Therapy of lupus nephritis. Controlled trial of prednisolone and cytotoxic drugs . New Engl J Med 1986; 314: 614–619 .

van der Hem et al. Ling Zhi-8: studies of a new immunomodulating agent . Transplantation 1995; 60: 438–443 .

Tasaka K et al. Anti-allergic constituents in the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum. The inhibitory effect of cyclooctasulfur on histamine release . Agents Actions 1988; 23: 157–160 .

Kino K et al. Immunomodulant, LZ-8, prevent antibody production in mice . Int J Immunopharmac 1991; 13: 1109–1115 .

Lei LS , Lin ZB . Effects of Ganoderma polysaccharides on T cell subpopulations and production of interleukin 2 in mixed lymphocyte response . Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao 1992; 27: 331–335 .

10.

Haak Frendscho M , Kino K , Sone T , Jardieu P. Ling Zhi-8: a novel T cell mitogen induces cytokine production and upregulation of ICAM-1 expression . Cell Immunol 1993; 150: 101–113 .

11.

Tao J , Feng KY . Experimental and clinical studies on inhibitory effect of Ganoderma lucidum on platelet aggregation . J Tongji Med Univ 1990; 10: 240–243 .

12.

Kim RS , Kim HW , Kim BK . Suppressive effects of Ganoderma lucidum on proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells . Mol Cells 1997; 7: 52–57 .

13.

Wang SY et al. The anti-tumor effect of Ganoderma lucidum is mediated by cytokines released from activated macrophages and T lymphocytes . Int J Cancer 1997; 70: 690–705 .

14.

Lin JM et al. Radical scavenger and antihepatotoxicity activity of Ganoderma formosanum, Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma neojaponicum . J Ethnopharmac 1995; 47: 33–41 .