HYDRO-ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF GANODERMA LUCIDUM (HEGL) SHOWS ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY ON THP1 CYTOKINES AND NF-B P65 RESPONSE

The present study is aimed to elucidate the antioxidant property and anti-inflammatory activity of hydro-ethanolic extract of Ganoderma lucidum (HEGL)known to possess medicinal activity against numerous diseases. The chemical composition of HEGL was quantified by colorimeteric technique in terms of total phenol and flavonoid content. Antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The extract possesses strong anti-oxidant property in terms of high content of phenols, flavonoids and reducing power. Coumarin a known antioxidant and anticoagulant compound was identified and quantified by HPLC. Further, a dose dependent in vitro study for HEGL extract was carried out to observe anti-inflammatory activity in THP1 cells. HEGL extract significantly suppressed lipopolysacharide (LPS) – induced release of TNF-α, IFN-g and IL-1β in THP1 cells and significantly suppressed nitric oxide (NO) release in macrophages cells without causing any toxic effect. Additionally, HEGL extract also decreased NF-kB expression in LPS-treated cells indicating anti-inflammatory activity of hydro-ethanolic extract of Ganoderma lucidum (HEGL) at the optimized dose of 100µg/ml. These results predict that the consumption of HEGL may be clinically useful to protect against inflammatory diseases.