Antioxidative and antiinflammatory activities of the chloroform extract of Ganoderma Lucidum found in South India

Abstract

Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. (Aphyllophoromycetideae) from tropical South India were investigated. The chloroform extract of the mushroom showed marked free radical scavenging activities. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract at concentrations of 100 and 50 mg/kg was evaluated in carrageenan induced acute and formalin induced chronic inflammatory models in mice. The extract showed remarkable antiinflammatory activity in both models, comparable to the standard reference drug diclofenac. The results suggest that anti-inflammatory activity of the chloroform extract of G. lucidum is possibly attributed to its free radical scavenging properties. This study also reveals the potent therapeutic uses of G. lucidum from South India.