[Efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum spores in invigorating spleen via spleen meridian]

Based on the model of spleen deficiency, this study investigated the medicinal properties of spleen meridian tropism of Ganoderma lucidum spores and their efficacy of strengthening the spleen. Fifty SPF Kunming mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, an Atractylodes macrocephala group(1.1 g·kg~(-1)), a low-dose G. lucidum spores group(0.55 g·kg~(-1)), and a high-dose G. lucidum spores group(1.1 g·kg~(-1)). The mouse spleen deficiency model was established by fasting every other day, having adequate feed on the other days, and performing exhausted swimming every day for 21 consecutive days. From the first day of modeling, deionized water was given to mice in the control group and the model group in the morning of each day, and the corresponding medicine was given to the rest of the groups, with the medicines administered for 21 consecutive days. The physical signs and behavior, digestive function, energy metabolism, and immune regulation related symptoms of the mice were detected. The results showed that G. lucidum spores could improve the symptoms of spleen deficiency in mice, such as emaciation, lack of luster of fur, reduced food intake, huddling and laziness, make stools shaped and activity increased, enhance the body mass of the mice, increase their grip strength, and prolong the time of exhausted swimming. G. lucidum spores significantly increased serum D-xylose level, enhanced motilin(MTL) and gastrin(GAS) secretion, and decreased cholecystokinin(CCK), vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP), and somatostatin(SST) mRNA expression levels in mice with spleen deficiency syndrome. G. lucidum spores elevated the levels of hepatic glycogen(LG), muscle glycogen(MG), and adenosine triphosphate(ATP), enhanced the activities of Na~+-K~+-ATPase, Ca~(2+)-Mg~(2+)-ATPase, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), mitochondrial respiratory enzyme Ⅰ, mitochondrial respiratory enzyme Ⅳ, and ATPase, and reduced the accumulation of free fatty acid(FFA) and lactic acid(LA). G. lucidum spores increased thymus index, spleen index, elevated immunoglobulin A(IgA), immunoglobulin M(IgM), and immunoglobulin G(IgG) levels, decreased interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1 beta(IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels, and improved splenic histopathological changes. The above results indicate that G. lucidum spores can improve the physical signs and behavior, digestive function, energy metabolism, and immune regulation of mice with spleen deficiency and have the medicinal properties of spleen meridian tropism and efficacy of strengthening the spleen.