Immunoenhancing Features of Ganoderma Lucidum Spore Oil
–An integrated microbiome and metabolomic analysis identifies immunoenhancing features of Ganoderma lucidum spores oil in mice
Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. is a valuable dietary supplement used worldwide for promoting health as well as a medicinal fungus for handling fatigue, immunological disorders, and cancer. Previous studies have revealed the immunoenhancing effect of G. lucidum and the polysaccharide extract, with potential involvement of gut microbiome. The oil of G. lucidum spores (GLSO)is one of the well-known G. lucidum-related products. However, there is little evidence supporting the immune promotion activity and the underlying mechanisms. The present study aims to investigate the immunoenhancing effect of GLSO in mice. GLSO enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell cytotoxicity of mice. Further microbiome and metabolomics studies showed that GLSO induced structural rearrangement of gut microbiota, mediating alterations in a wide range of metabolites. By clustering, multivariate and correlation analysis, the immunoenhancing effect of GLSO was found to be highly correlated with elevated abundance of several bacterial genera (Lactobacillus, Turicibacter and Romboutsia) and species (Lactobacillus_intestinalis and Lactobacillus_reuteri), and decreased level of Staphylococcus and Helicobacter, which resulted in the regulation of a range of key metabolites such as dopamine, prolyl-glutamine, pentahomomethionine, leucyl-glutamine, l-threonine, stearoylcarnitine, dolichyl β-d-glucosyl phosphate, etc. These results provide new insights into the understanding of the modulatory effect of GLSO on immune system.
The results of the study, published by the State Key Laboratory of Chinese medicine quality research, University of Macau (the corresponding author of the Research Report) and several domestic research institutions in pharmaceutical research (August 2020), showed that:
Adding Ganoderma lucidum spore oil (800 mg / kg) to mice every day for 27 days can significantly enhance the phagocytic capacity of macrophages and the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells (NK cells), and the effect of high dose is more significant than that of low dose.
Macrophages and natural killer cells are the protagonists of the “innate immune response”. Their role in the immune system is just like the public security of patrolling and maintaining order in the human world. They can be said to be the forefront of defense against various bacteria, viruses and cancer cells.
Therefore, the reactive capacity of macrophages and natural killer cells can be increased from the usual 60-70 points to 70-80 points due to the supplement of spore oil, which can undoubtedly improve the opportunities of the immune system to “invisible enemies”.
Why does spore oil enhance immunity? It is closely related to intestinal bacteria.
The gut is the site where immune cells are distributed most, and there are also various kinds of bacteria, which are called “gut bacteria”. Different dietary habits will strengthen or weaken different types of intestinal bacteria, and different proportion of intestinal flora and metabolites produced by different types of intestinal bacteria will affect the trend and level of immune response.
Immunoenhancing Features of Ganoderma Lucidum Spore Oil . jpg
According to the analysis of this research report, after eating spore oil for a period of time, the composition and metabolites of intestinal flora of mice will change, such as:
The increase of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, the decrease of harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Helicobacter, and the increase or decrease of more than ten metabolites such as dopamine and l-threonine, etc.
These changes are conducive to promoting phagocytosis of macrophages and enhancing the killing ability of natural killer cells.
In the past few years, many studies have proved that the immune enhancement effect of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting body extract and spore powder is related to the regulation of intestinal flora and its metabolites. Now, some studies have finally filled the blank of spore oil in this aspect. It seems that the situation of the tripartite confrontation has taken shape.
Although enhancing the activity of macrophages and natural killer cells can enhance the defense level of innate immune response, to achieve a comprehensive immune upgrade, we need other front-line sentinels (such as neutrophils and dendritic cells) and members of acquired immune response (such as T cells, B cells and antibodies) to form a complete and dense immune network.
Ganoderma lucidum “three strong” for the regulation of immunity have their own merits, so why not join hands to fight back the “invisible enemy” to the highest chance of victory?
Reference:
Xu Wu, et al. An integrated microbiome and metabolomic analysis identifies immunoenhancing features of Ganoderma lucidum spores oil in mice. Pharmacol Res. 2020 Aug;158:104937. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104937.
