Ganoderma lucidum: partial characterization of spore and whole body antigenic extracts

This study focused on the characterization of antigenic/ allergenic profiles of Ganoderma lucidum spore and whole body preparations. Whole body G. lucidum contained higher protein to carbohydrate ratio whereas it was less than one for spore extract. Isoelectric focusing showed 12 and 11 bands in acidic pH range (pI 3.5-6.5) for G. lucidum spore and whole body, respectively, while SDS-PAGE showed 8 and 23 fractions, respectively, in molecular weight range of 12.8-75.0 kD. The prominent protein fractions of G. lucidum spores were 19.4, 22.8 and 23.8 kD, whereas for G. lucidum whole body, 13.2, 14.7, 18. 7, 21.5 and 23.5 constituted major fractions. Immunoblotting with 41 individual serum samples revealed 21.8, 23.8, 19.4 and 20.0 kD to be major allergenic protein fractions of G. lucidum spores. The same using G. lucidum whole body and 26 individual serum samples identified several fractions of 17.0, 17.5, 18.5, 22.0, 23.8, 42.0, 44.0, 56.0 and 69.0 kD as major allergens. The compiled data suggest that there are common as well as specific allergenic components in two G. lucidum extracts studied.