ABSTRACT
The genus Ganoderma is represented by about 80 species of the Basidiomycotous macro-fungi and most of them are habituated in tropical parts of the globe and which were popularly used in the traditional system of medicine in Asia. G. lucidum is reported for its diverse secondary metabolites, such as triterpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, nucleotides, fatty acids and lactones besides polysaccharides. The high molecular-weight sugars and biologically active ‘polyglycans’ are reported from the mushrooms which show a wide range of physiochemical activities. Elemental analysis provided the information about the occurrence of magnesium, silica, sulphur, potassium, calcium and phosphorus to be the main mineral elements. The antioxidant effect of its polysaccharide fraction bound to the protein exhibited effective protection in the in vivo cancer-induced animal model besides the protective effect on RNA against fenton solution, UV irradiation and hydroxyl radical. The polyphenol contents were quantified to assess the effects.
