Ganoderma extract activates MAP kinases and induces the neuronal differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

The pharmacology and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine h as been extensively documented. We have used an in vitro model system, PC12 cells, to demonstrate the presence of neuroactive compounds in Ganoderma l ucidum (lingzhi). Ganoderma extract induced the neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and prevented nerve growth factor-dependent PC12 neurons from a poptosis. Moreover, these effects of ganoderma might be mediated via the ra s/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and cAMP-response element bin ding protein (CREB) signaling pathways, as demonstrated by the phosphorylat ion of Erk1, Erk2 and CREB. Thus, our data not only present the first evide nce of the presence of neuroactive compounds that mediate the neuronal diff erentiation and neuroprotection of the PC12 cells, but also reveal the pote ntial signaling molecules involved in its action. (C) 2000 Federation of Eu ropean Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.