Evaluation of antianxiety potential of four ganoderma (Agaricomycetes) species from India in mice
Among various medicinal mushroom species, the genus Ganoderma has many members that are known to reduce stress and anxiety. Research on their efficacy, however, is insufficient to date. This compelled Singh et al. (2016) to investigate the anxiolytic properties of four Ganoderma members, namely, G. applanatum, G. brownii, G. lucidum, and G. philippii. Dried, powdered mushroom extracts were developed with several solvents, including petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and distilled water, and tested for their anxiolytic potential through experiments observing the behavior of Swiss albino mice undergoing the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) model. Through testing different solvents and concentrations of preparations against the effect of a standard anxiolytic medication (Diazepam), the authors identified that the methanol extract of G. lucidum showed notable anxiolytic activity that was comparable to Diazepam. Upon further experimentation, the authors propose that a specific fraction of the methanol extract (n-butanol fraction) possesses a significant antianxiety activity, potentially due to its content of aromatic organic compounds and plant pigments (i.e., phenols and flavonoids). The authors conclude that the n-butanol fraction from the methanol extract of G. lucidum presents a potential resource for novel antianxiety agents. [NPID: Anxiolytic potential, Ganoderma, medicinal mushrooms, anxiety, animal study]
Year: 2016
