Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of Ganoderma lucidum occurring in South India

The seventy percent methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of Ganoderma lucidum Reishi, occurring in South India, were investigated for anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in animal models. Both extracts produced significant dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan-induced acute and formalin-induced chronic inflammation in mice. The extracts also showed marked analgesic activity comparable to the standard reference drug, diclofenac. The methanol extract possessed significantly higher activity than the ethyl acetate extract. These findings indicate the potential therapeutic use of extracts of South Indian G. lucidum as an anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive agent.