Hypoglicemic and Hypolipedimic Effects of Ganoderma lucidum Extract
When insulin secreting islet β cells have begun to be destroyed, diabetes will only go to a worse and worse way. What’s the role of Ganoderma? In July 2018, the report published by Brazilian scholars in medicine made some discussions on this topic. Hypoglicemic and Hypolipedimic Effects of Ganoderma lucidum in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.
The ganoderma lucidum extract used in this study contains 80% of Ganoderma lucidum fruit body water extract and 20% of Ganoderma lucidum fruit body ethanol extract. The components were identified by HPLC. It was found that the extract of Ganoderma lucidum contained not only Ganoderma acid, but also many phenolic substances.
The researchers injected rats with streptozotocin (STZ) to destroy the islet β cells in the pancreas, and then orally administered Ganoderma lucidum extract at a daily dose of 1ml / kg body weight for 30 days.
In addition, there were normal control group (rats with normal blood glucose), Ganoderma + normal blood glucose group (rats with ganoderma extract), and diabetes group (diabetic rats without any treatment) for comparison with the aforementioned “Ganoderma + diabetes group”.
The results showed that the weight loss, blood glucose, blood lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) and kidney index (urea and creatinine) caused by diabetes were significantly improved by Ganoderma lucidum extract (Fig. 1-3).
Hypoglicemic and Hypolipedimic Effects of Ganoderma lucidum Extract Figure 1
Hypoglicemic and Hypolipedimic Effects of Ganoderma lucidum Extract Figure 2
Hypoglicemic and Hypolipedimic Effects of Ganoderma lucidum Extract Figure 3
In addition, the researchers also analyzed the tryptophan content in the blood of experimental animals. This essential amino acid is an element in the synthesis of serotonin (neurotransmitter related to sleep and mood), but the metabolic disorder caused by diabetes often leads to the degradation of tryptophan, which leads to the serious lack of tryptophan.
According to the experimental results, Ganoderma lucidum can improve this situation, and even make the content of tryptophan in the blood of diabetic rats higher than that of normal rats. The researchers believe that the increase of tryptophan will help improve the health of diabetic patients.
The diabetes of the above experimental animals is similar to the type 1 diabetes of human, that is to say, the islet β cells are attacked by the immune system, resulting in insulin deficiency and causing diabetes, so insulin needs to be administered for life. However, type 2 diabetes mellitus (cell resistance to insulin) is caused by diet or obesity. In the end, the disease often goes to the point where the β cell of the islet of Langerhans is severely depleted due to over secretion of insulin.
Therefore, the above research results can be used not only as a reference for type 1 diabetes, but also as a reference for type 2 diabetes. Maybe when the situation is not so bad, we can protect islet β cells and delay the deterioration of diabetes. The health food containing “Ganoderma lucidum water extract + alcohol extract” should be considered.
Reference: Bach EE, et al. Hypoglicemic and Hypolipedimic Effects of Ganoderma lucidum in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.Medicines (Basel). 2018 Jul 28;5(3). pii: E78.
