Ganoderol B: A potent α-glucosidase inhibitor isolated from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitor has considerable potential as a diabetes mellitus type 2 drug because it prevents the digestion of carbohydrates. The search for the constituents reducing alpha-glucosidase activity led to the finding of active compounds in the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum. The CHCl3 extract of the fruiting body of G. lucidum was found to show inhibitory activity on alpha-glucosidase in vitro. The neutral fraction, with an IC50 of 88.7 mu g/ml, had stronger inhibition than a positive control, acarbose, with an IC50 of 336.7 mu g/ml (521.5 mu M). The neutral fraction was subjected to silica gel column chromatography and repeated p-HPLC to provide an active compound, (3 beta,24E)-lanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-3,26-diol (ganoderol B). It was found to have high alpha-glucosidase inhibition, with an IC50 of 48.5 mu g/ml (119.8 mu M). (C) 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.