Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage by Ganoderma lucidum

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anions and hydroxyl radic als, are associated with carcinogenesis and other pathophysiological condit ions. Therefore, elimination or inactivation of ROS or inhibition of their excess generation may be beneficial in terms of reducing the risk for cance r and other diseases. Ganoderma lucidum has been used in traditional orient al medicine and has potential antiinflammatory and antioxidant activities, In the present study, we tested the amino-polysaccharide fraction (designat ed as 'G009') from Ganoderma lucidum for the ability to protect against oxi dative damage induced by ROS, G009 significantly inhibited iron-induced lip id peroxidation in rat brain homogenates and showed a dose-dependent inacti vation of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions, It also reduced strand b reakage in phi X174 supercoiled DNA caused by UV-induced photolysis of hydr ogen peroxide and attenuated phorbol ester-induced generation of superoxide anions in differentiated human promyelocytic leukaemia (HL-60) cells. Thes e findings suggest that G009 from Ganoderma lucidum possesses chemopreventi ve potential, Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.