Page 120 - journal-6-3-Full

Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 6 No. 3 September-December 2008 ÛÚ˘

Abstract
Immunomodulatory Activities of Ganoderma lucidum and Spores
Kasama Sukapirom*, Noppamas Soonthornchareonnon**, Yenchit Techadamrongsin***
Kovit Pattanapanyasat*
*Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
**Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University
***Southeast Asian Institute of Thai-Chinese Medicine, Department for Development of Thai Traditional and
Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health
Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi) is a medicinal mushroom that possesses immunomodulatory and anti-
tumor effects. In Thailand, G. lucidum products are widely used as health-promoting agents but most of the
products are imported. The aim of this study was to determine the immunomodulatory effects of various
strains of G. lucidum grown in Thailand or imported. Flow cytometric measurement of early activation mol-
ecule CD69 expression on T lymphocytes showed that the water extract and water-insoluble fraction of unbro-
ken spores of G. lucidum strain G9 (imported from China) at 100 µµ µµ µg/ml concentration gave the highest T
lymphocytes proliferative responses, while the Thai-grown strain G2 could induce only 50 percent responses
when compared with G9. The results from this preliminary study can be used in decision-making for G.
lucidum strain selection and development in Thailand.
Key words: Ganoderma lucidum, spore, immunomodulatory, T lymphocytes, CD69