Immuno-potentiating effects of the antler-shaped fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (Rokkaku-Reishi)

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2004 Apr;68(4):881-7. doi: 10.1271/bbb.68.881.

Abstract

The immuno-potentiating effects of the antler-shaped fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (Rokkaku-Reishi, RR), which has been used as a traditional supplement for human health, were investigated in mice. BALB/c mice were administered orally with RR for 3 days at a dose of 50 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by splenocytes in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was examined on day 4. The oral administration of 500 mg/kg of RR resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in IFN-gamma production. Stimulation of splenic adherent cells from these mice with LPS also resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in interleukin-12 (IL-12) production compared with that from the control mice, suggesting that splenic macrophages were activated by RR administration. Furthermore, 500 mg/kg of RR administered for 14 days resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in IFN-gamma production by splenocytes in response to both LPS and concanavalin A (Con A). These results suggest that not only splenic macrophages but also T cells were activated by the long-term treatment with RR in vivo. On the other hand, the production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), which is known as an allergic disease-related cytokine, was not affected by the long-term treatment with RR. Our results suggest that the oral administration of RR resulted in Th1-associated immuno-potentiating activities in vivo.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Concanavalin A / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Glucans / metabolism
  • Immunity / drug effects*
  • Immunity / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Interleukin-12 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-12 / immunology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Reishi / chemistry*
  • Reishi / growth & development*
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / drug effects
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Glucans
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Concanavalin A
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interferon-gamma