Effect of storage temperature on bio-efficacy of aqueous extract of ganoderma lucidum

Abstract

Stability testing is key requirement in the drug development process along with storage temperature which may deteriorate bio-constituents and efficacy of natural products. Aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum has revealed pharmacological effects against high altitude stressors and has potential for mitigating high altitude maladies. In the present study, the extract of Ganoderma lucidum was stored at different storage conditions such as room temperature, 4 °C and-20 °C for two year and qualitative and quantitative analysis of bio-constituents and bio-efficacy was carried out. No significant change was observed in any extract kept in different temperature conditions in terms of its polysaccharide, phenolic and flavonoids content. The extract kept at room temperature absorbed slight moisture in few samples but no change in overall polysaccharide, phenolic and flavonoids content was recorded. The moisture absorption problem was not observed in extracts stored at 4 °C and-20 °C. The bio-efficacy of the extract at room temperature, 4 °C or-20 °C were comparable to the freshly prepared extract and the data from the studies suggest that extract has good shelf life up to two year without loss of bio-efficacy. Overall, the extract retained its bio-efficacy for two years at different temperature storage conditions.