Triterpenoids and Polysaccharide Peptides-Enriched Ganoderma Lucidum: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study of Its Antioxidation and Hepatoprotective Efficacy in Healthy Volunteers

Authors: Hui-Fang Chiu, Hui-Yu Fu, Yan-Ying Lu, Yi-Chun Han, You-Cheng Shen, Kamesh Venkatakrishnan, Oksana Golovinskaia & Chin-Kun Wang

Journal: Pharmaceutical Biology

Study Design:

• Intervention: 225mg capsule of triterpenoids and polysaccharide-enriched Ganoderma lucidum (GL) or placebo
• Participants: 42 healthy subjects (22 male and 20 female) with mild liver dysfunction
• Duration: 6 months (each group took GL or placebo for 6 months, with a 1-month washout period in between)
• Outcome Measures:
  • Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total thiols, glutathione content
  • Plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and 8-hydroxy-deoxy-guanosine (8-OH-dG)
  • Activities of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes (SOD, CAT, GPx, G-6-PDH, GR)
  • Plasma levels of hepatic marker enzymes (GOT, GPT)
  • Abdominal ultrasound examination

Summary: This study investigated the effects of a triterpenoid and polysaccharide-enriched extract of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) on oxidative stress and liver health in healthy volunteers with mild liver dysfunction. The results showed that GL significantly increased plasma antioxidant capacity and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, while decreasing markers of oxidative stress and liver damage. Additionally, abdominal ultrasound examinations revealed that GL reversed mild fatty liver conditions in some participants. These findings suggest that GL may have antioxidant and liver-protective effects.