HPTLC FINGERPRINTING, ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF INDIAN HIMALAYAN LINGZHI: GANODERMA LUCIDUM

Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst., known as medicinal mushroom and it contains several bioactive phytochemicals such as polysaccharides, nucleosides, alkaloids, coumarin, ergosterols, ganoderic acids, lactones, mannitol, organic germanium, triterpenoids, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals which are well known for their pharmacological properties. In the present investigation adenine, adenosine and uracil content of the aqueous and alcoholic lyophilized extract of dried G. lucidum powder of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) were determined by HPTLC. Further, phytochemical analysis (total polyphenols, total flavonoids, reducing power, antioxidant potentials), antioxidant and antimicrobial efficacy of both extracts against pathogenic strains like Vibrio cholerae, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus was also evaluated. The adenine, adenosine and uracil content of aqueous extract was found to be higher than the alcoholic extracts. Both extracts were identified as rich source of flavonoids, polyphenols, reducing power and antioxidants. A significant antimicrobial activity was observed in both the hydro alcoholic and aqueous extract against all the pathogenic strains tested with MIC value of 2-4 mg/ml for the hydro alcoholic extract and of 2-5 mg/ml for the aqueous extract. The present study concludes high pharmacological potential of G. lucidum.