Extraction Optimization and Bioactivity of Polysaccharides from Ganoderma leucocontextum Spores

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Oxidative stress is a key factor in aging, and natural polysaccharides are recognized for their antioxidant and anti-aging potential.
• Ganoderma leucocontextum, a rare mushroom from the Tibetan plateau, possesses significant biological activities, but its spores remain understudied.
• Limited research exists on Ganoderma leucocontextum spores, highlighting a gap in understanding their therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extract and characterize a polysaccharide from Ganoderma leucocontextum spores.
• To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects of the isolated polysaccharide.
• To explore the potential of Ganoderma leucocontextum spore polysaccharides as natural anti-aging agents.

Main Methods:

• Polysaccharide (GLSP) extraction from Ganoderma leucocontextum spores using the three-phase partitioning (TPP) method.
• Optimization of extraction conditions using Box-Behnken design (BBD) for yield and efficiency.
• Purification of GLSP-A1 via column chromatography and characterization using physicochemical analyses (molecular weight, FTIR, monosaccharide composition, SEM).

Main Results:

• Optimized TPP extraction yielded GLSP, from which GLSP-A1 was purified.
• GLSP-A1 exhibited in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by down-regulating interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β.
• In vivo studies using Caenorhabditis elegans showed GLSP-A1 reduced reactive oxygen species and lipofuscin accumulation, indicating anti-aging effects.

Conclusions:

• GLSP-A1, a polysaccharide from Ganoderma leucocontextum spore, possesses significant in vitro anti-inflammatory properties.
• GLSP-A1 demonstrates notable in vivo anti-aging effects by mitigating oxidative stress and age pigment accumulation.
• These findings support the potential of GLSP-A1 as a functional ingredient in anti-aging dietary supplements.