Formulation and Evaluation of a Ganoderma lucidum Nutraceutical Hydroalcoholic Suspension

BIDEGAIN, MAXIMILIANO ANDRÉS; PALMA, SANTIAGO DANIEL; CUBITTO, MARÍA AMELIA

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

BEGELL HOUSE INC

Año: 2020 vol. 22 p. 719 - 730

1521-9437

Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its purported health benefits. Its complex chemical composition and potential synergies between bioactive compounds, makes desirable to design a product that retains most of this compounds in a single formulation. In this article we evaluate a novel Ganoderma nutraceutical suspension (GNS), that reunites two fractions, an ethanolic extract and an aqueous extract, in a single oral liquid product. Back-to-back ethanolic and water extracts were mixed and the fraction that precipitates was recovered. The content of soluble solids, total triterpenoids, high molecular weight carbohydrates and polyphenols was determined. A suspension was formulated by mixing the extracts and adding different concentrations of Carbomer® 940. The viscosity, physical stability and particle size distribution was evaluated in all formulations. Almost 9% of the total extractives, consisting mostly of triterpenoids and phenolic compounds from the ethanolic extract, are insoluble in the hydroalcoholic mix and precipitate. This fraction can be suspended and kept stable with the aid of Carbomer® 940, a concentration between 0.5 and 1.0% showing adequate viscosity and particle size distribution. This preparation is an advantageous way of uniting the wide benefits of two G. lucidum extracts in a single oral liquid formulation.