靈芝(Ganoderma lucidum)多年來在傳統醫學上佔有崇高地位,靈芝中之三帖類化合物(triterpenoids)及多醣類(polysaccharides)等成份被發現具有抗高血壓、慢性支氣管炎、過敏、高血糖及癌症等調理功效。本研究目的在於了解服用靈芝是否有效延緩衰老,包括改善人體血漿抗氧化能力、增加抗氧化酵素活性並評估其護肝之功效。本試驗共計有39位健康之受試者(男性21人,女性18人)完全參與,分為兩組同步進行,本試驗採雙盲暨交叉方式進行。實驗期間共計十三個月,一組在試驗前半年服用安慰劑,後半年服用靈芝,中間的一個月為wash out period;另一組則是先服用靈芝再服用安慰劑。試驗期間第零、三、六、七、十及十三個月,需作測量體位、收集血液檢體並進行腹部超音波檢測。 結果顯示,每人每日食用2.7g靈芝萃取物,相當於攝取1.89g三帖類化合物及1.62g多醣體,連續服用六個月後,可以顯著增加受試者體內總抗氧化能力、血漿含硫功能基及麩胱甘肽含量及顯著降低脂質之過氧化及血漿8-OH-dG含量,並且顯著提高紅血球中超氧歧化酶、葡萄糖六磷酸去氫酶、觸酶及麩胱甘肽過氧化酶等抗氧化酵素之活性。 此外,由肝功能評估之結果可知,原本具有較高GPT及GOT值之受試者,在服用靈芝後數値顯著降低並落在標準範圍中。腹部超音波檢測的結果也顯示,服用靈芝可改善受試者脂肪肝的情況。
Ganoderma lucidum played an important role in Chinese traditional medicine. Triterpenoids and polysaccharides of Ganoderma lucidum were found effective in the treatment of hypertension, chronic bronchitis, allergy, hyperglycemia and cancer. This study was focused on anti-aging effect of Ganoderma lucidum including anti-oxidation ability of plasma, erythrocyte enzyme activities and liver function protection. This was a double blind and cross over study, 39 subjects (21 males and 18 females) involved in this study. The total experimental period was thirteen months. One group of subjects took placebo in the first six months and Ganoderma lucidum in the next six months, one month between this two periods was wash out period. The other group of subjects took Ganoderma lucidum in the first six months and placebo in the next six months. Anthropometric measurements, blood collecting and abdominal ultrasound examination were performed at the initial,3rd,6th,7th,10th,13th months in the testing period. Subjects took 2.7g Ganoderma lucidum extract everyday, equivalent to 1.89g triterpenoids and 1.62g polysaccharides. Results showed that six months continuous intake of Ganoderma lucidum significantly increased total antioxidant capacity, total thiol groups, GSH, reduced TBARS and 8-OH-dG contents in plasma. The anti-oxidation enzyme activity in erythrocytes was also increased, enzymes concerned including superoxide dismutase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. In addition, the intake of Ganoderma lucidum was proved effective to bring subjects with high GPT and GOT back to normal range. The abdominal ultrasound examination also showed improvement on fatty liver.