Abstract

The antiinflammatory properties of triterpenoids and steroids from both Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma tsugae were studied. Twelve compounds, including ergosta-7,22-dien-3beta-ol (1), ergosta-7,22-dien-3beta-yl palmitate (2), ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one (3), ergosta-7,22-dien-2beta,3alpha,9alpha-triol (4), 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (5), ganoderal A (6), ganoderal B (7), ganoderic aldehyde A (8), tsugaric acid A (9), 3-oxo-5alpha-lanosta-8,24-dien-21-oic acid (10), 3alpha-acetoxy-5alpha-lanosta-8,24-dien-21-oic acid ester beta-d-glucoside (11), and tsugaric acid B (12), were assessed in vitro by determining their inhibitory effects on the chemical mediators released from mast cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. Compound 10 showed a significant inhibitory effect on the release of beta-glucuronidase from rat neutrophils stimulated with formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)/cytochalasin B (CB) whereas compound 9 significantly inhibited superoxide anion formation in fMLP/CB-stimulated rat neutrophils. Compound 10 also exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated N9 microglial cells. Moreover, compound 9 was also able to protect human keratinocytes against damage induced by ultraviolet B (UV B) light, which indicated 9 could protect keratinocytes from photodamage.