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Pharmaceutic Prodigy of Ergosterol and Protein Profile of Ganoderma lucidum

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Biology of Macrofungi

Part of the book series: Fungal Biology ((FUNGBIO))

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum, a specie belonging to the class basidiomycetes, family polyporaceae of the order aphyllophorales has been widely utilized as a source of potential nutracuetical products. The cell wall of Ganoderma lucidum contains ergosterol which gets increased over different stage of the cultivation process. Ergosterol serves as the precursor for vitamin D, serves as the immunodulating agent in cancer suppression and has been the molecule of choice for antimycotic drug development. Thus, drug formulations of ergosterols or its conjugating complexes may enhance immunity and Vitamin D levels in the body. Ganoderma lucidum is also a rich source of pharmaceutical proteins and protein bound polysaccharides that can also serve as anti-cancer agents thereby improving the immune status of the individual. Other proteins found in Ganoderma lucidum are the morphogenesis related proteins such as hydophobins and an elaborate antioxidant enzyme machinery synthesized during the developmental stages. The intracellular and extracellular enzymatic profile of Ganderma exhibits enhanced activity during spawn run and pinning of the cultures. A positive role of hydrophobic amino acids and hydrophobin proteins has been identified in mushroom fructification process. Thus, medicinal mushroom such as Ganoderma can serve as a potential reservoir of bioactive compounds of pharmaceutic importance that can be utilized for prevention and cure of several disorders.

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Goyal, A., Kalia, A. (2018). Pharmaceutic Prodigy of Ergosterol and Protein Profile of Ganoderma lucidum. In: Singh, B., Lallawmsanga, Passari, A. (eds) Biology of Macrofungi. Fungal Biology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02622-6_11

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