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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Pharmacological effects of Ganoderma lucidum collected from ume (Japanese apricot) trees

Journal of Wood Science volume 54, pages 502–508 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

We performed functional evaluation of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum growing on ume trees (Japanese apricot, Prunus mume), and determined the suitability of pruned ume branches as a basic component of culture medium for this mushroom. We observed that all tested functional activities of the fruiting bodies of G. lucidum collected from ume trees were higher than those collected from other broadleaf trees or cultured artificially; the functional tests were angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity, a platelet aggregation inhibition test, and an interleukin-8 (IL-8) gene expression inhibition test. When extracts from fruiting bodies of G. lucidum were orally administered to spontaneous hypertensive rats, hypotensive effects were found. Freeze drying was the most suitable procedure for preservation of the extracts, and the activities of 30% ethanol extracts and 30% methanol extracts were higher than those of hot-water extracts. The highest functional activities for extracts from G. lucidum mycelia cultured on sawdust media were for sawdusts based on ume wood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Research and Development, Mush-Tec Co., Ltd., Takasaki, Gunma, 370-0033, Japan

    Kei Kumakura

  2. A Common Benefit Corporation NPO Gunma, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-0831, Japan

    Hiroyasu Kumakura

  3. Ogura Clinic, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-0035, Japan

    Michiro Ogura

  4. Laboratory of Application Food Science (Mushroom Science), Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, 37-1 Nakaorui, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-0033, Japan

    Fumio Eguchi

Authors
  1. Kei Kumakura
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  2. Hiroyasu Kumakura
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  3. Michiro Ogura
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  4. Fumio Eguchi
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Correspondence to Fumio Eguchi.

Additional information

Part of this study was presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Akita, Japan, August 2006

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Kumakura, K., Kumakura, H., Ogura, M. et al. Pharmacological effects of Ganoderma lucidum collected from ume (Japanese apricot) trees. J Wood Sci 54, 502–508 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-008-0978-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-008-0978-0

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