Marco Lombardozzi
Medicinal Mushrooms belong to the Basidiomycetes group and have important nutraceutical characteristics. In addition to a low fat content, they contain fiber, vitamins, phenolic compounds, sterols, terpenes and various polysaccharides. These mushrooms are therefore considered functional foods.
Many of the compounds present in medicinal mushrooms have been subjected to clinical trials (phase I, II and III). In Asian countries, whole mushrooms, both fresh and in the form of powdered supplements are widely used as nutritional support and accompaniment to important therapies. The action of these mushrooms acts on the mechanisms of oxidation, but above all it has important actions at the anti-inflammatory and immune level.
Recent scientific literature has highlighted among the main components of medicinal mushrooms chitin, hemicellulose, alpha and beta glucans, mannans, xylans and galactans.
But Beta glucans appear to be the most effective components in the pharmacological action of the immune system because they act both on innate immunity: macrophages, NK cells, neutrophils, and on acquired immunity: B lymphocytes. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) contains several substances with a high degree of biological activity, mainly derivatives of triterpenoids and polysaccharides.
In ancient times, this mushroom was called “the mushroom of immortality” due to its numerous beneficial effects on the body.
The triterpene fraction contains several derivatives of ganoderic acid. Ganoderic acid has been tested in vitro against several tumor lines with interesting application prospects both as an anti-metastatic and as an agent that promotes the Th 1 response (cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic). The terpene fraction of Reishi has shown in vitro and in animal models a high antioxidant capacity by promoting the action of the endogenous system based on the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, suggesting a possible role of these compounds in counteracting oxidative stress.
To date, over 200 different polysaccharides have been isolated from G. lucidum. These compounds include Bd-glucans, ad-glucans, ad-mannans, and several polysaccharide-protein complexes. Preliminary results have shown that these compounds are able to modulate immune responses by promoting the activity of Natural Killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
Recent results have shown that polysaccharides and fibers present in Reishi can help modulate the intestinal microbiota, promoting the restoration of a eubiotic flora, following dysbiosis induced by a diet rich in fats, with important repercussions on the body's lipid metabolism.
Reishi is active on the 5-HT2A receptor and this makes it effective as an antidepressant and anxiolytic. It is also indicated for osteoinflammatory pathologies, in fact recent works have highlighted the ability of Ganoderma lucidum to inhibit the proliferation of synovial fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis and to inhibit the NF-KB transcription pathway with consequent anti-inflammatory action. In summary, Reishi has in particular antioxidant, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and antiaging action.
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