Omanitus ™ – Ganoderma Lucidum (Reishi mushroom)

Omanitus ™ capsules contain 350 mg Ganoderma lucidum oil (TD No 67-09). Its oil is found to be up to 70 times more potent than the powder derived from the flesh, while it contains more than 400 micro-nutrients. Ganoderma Lucidum (Ling Zhi) of  Polyporacea fungi family, is a basidiomycete white rot macrofungus which has been used extensively as “the mushroom of immortality” in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries for 2000 years.

Adaptogenic herb

Adaptogenic herbs provide exactly what is needed at the moment. For example, an adaptogenic herb suitable for blood pressure reduces blood pressure levels in hypertensive individuals, while it can also increase low blood pressure. Similarly, an adaptogenic herb suited to cope with cholesterol levels, is likely to increase good (HDL-C) cholesterol, without raising the poor (LDL-C) one. Only 300 herbs have been recognized as adaptogenic; Ganoderma Lucidum is on top of the list.

Active ingredients

It consists mainly of triterpenoids (ganoderic acid, lucidemic acid, methyl-ganoderate), polysaccharides (GLP-(L)1, GLP-(L)2), nucleotides, sterols (ergosterol, stella sterol, ergosterol peroxide), steroids, fatty acids, proteins/peptides and trace elements. Research has shown that water-soluble polysaccharides and especially b-D-glucans are the most active ingredients.

Cardiovascular system

Ganoderic acids, found in Ganoderma lucidum, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, and impede blood clotting. In anesthetized rabbits and rats given Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE), both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were decreased; renal efferent sympathetic nerve activity was inhibited. The extract did not decrease heart rate in these animals, although there was clear hypotension in the extract dose dependent manner. The mechanism of hypotensive action of Ganoderma lucidum was due to its central inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity.

Immune system

A number of reports have demonstrated that G. lucidum polysaccharides modulate immune function both in vivo and in vitro. The immuno-modulating effects of G. lucidum polysaccharides were extensive, including promoting the function of antigen-presenting cells, mononuclear phagocyte system, humoral immunity, and cellular immunity. Thus, they may be used for asthma, dermatitis, bronchitis, rheumatism, and conjunctivitis.

G. lucidum in vivo was able to increase interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) concentration but reduced CD3(+) and CD8(+) spleen lymphocytes. Ex vivo, IFN-γ; and interleukin-10 levels were increased and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level was reduced by peritoneal macrophages from mice fed with G. lucidum. In an in vitro study the triterpene extract from G. lucidum (GLT) markedly suppressed the secretion of inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, IL-6, inflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E(2) from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of GLT on macrophages seem to be mediated through the inhibition of NF-κΒ and AP-1 signaling pathways.

Administration of herbal mixture containing G. lucidum to patients suffering from Herpes genitalis and labialis appears to shorten the time required to obtain symptom relief.

Liver function and blood glucose levels

G. lucidum exerts hepatoprotective activity (in vivo) and anti-hepatitis B virus activity (in vitro) when administrated to mice, as liquid fermentation broth. Ganoderic acids inhibit cholesterol synthesis in a human hepatic cell line in vitro, and so it can be used to decrease blood cholesterol levels.

As shown in an animal model, G. lucidum extract consumption can provide beneficial effects in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by lowering the serum glucose levels through the suppression of the hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene expression. In a recent study, oral route of transgenic G. lucidum significantly reduced blood glucose in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats, as compared to rats fed with saline (P<0.0002) or non-transgenic G. lucidum (P<0.0002). Blood glucose was reduced ~64% in 80% of diabetic rats; it can be used to control blood glucose in diabetes and to improve pancreatic cell function. In addition, G. lusidum polysaccharides exert hypoglycemic effect on normal mice; one mechanism is through their insulin-releasing activity due to a facilitation of Ca²⁺ inflow to the pancreatic beta-cells.

Nervous system

Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE) significantly decreased sleep latency, increased sleeping time, non-REM sleep time and light sleep time in pentobarbital-treated rats. It seems that GLE exerts a benzodiazepine-like hypnotic activity, at least in part.

It is also used for a large number of psychiatric and neurological disorders, including diseases of the muscles, anorexia, and weakness followed after a long illness. Aqueous extract of G. lucidum significantly attenuated beta amyloid-induced neurodegeneration by preserving the synaptic density protein, synaptophysin; thus, it prevented harmful effects of beta amyloid in Alzheimer’s disease. Likewise, GLE significantly prevent the production of microglia-derived proinflammatory and cytotoxic factors [nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1b (IL-1b)] in a dose-dependent manner and down-regulate the TNF-α and IL-1b expressions on mRNA level as well. Thus, G. lucidum may be a promising agent for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease through anti-inflammation. In addition, polysaccharide extract isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Gl-PS) might be useful in treating Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-induced oxidative stress, by increasing manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) activity.

Cancer

Ganoderma lucidum, in aggressive forms of cancer, strengthens the surface of the cancer cell by preventing its spread; it prevents clot formation, helping the local action, combination drug therapy; reduces side effects and increases effectiveness in combination with other cancer drugs and chemotherapy; it normalizes the other body functions, reducing chances of other systemic complications.

In vitro studies reveal that GLE inhibits proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells; inhibits proliferation of human umbilical endothelial vein cells and MDA_MB231 human breast cancer cells; induces apoptosis and alterations in signal transduction kinases (Akt and Erk) on human leukemia cells and acts like a chemopreventive agent for the tumorgenesis and metastasis of highly invasive hepatoma cells. Treatment with GLE significantly inhibited the testosterone-induced growth of the ventral prostate in castrated rats. Thus, G. lucidum might be a useful ingredient in the treatment of androgen-induced diseases, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer.

In two clinical trials, ganopoly, the polysaccharides fractions extracted from G. lucidum, enhances immune responces in patients with advanced stage cancer. Likewise, oral G. lucidum modulates immune function in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Features

Omanitus™ disposes in 50 soft capsules/ packet, containing G. lucidum. It is non toxic and safe to take up. Keep out of refrigerator up to 25°C.

References

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