Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 08, 2026 1 hour, 5 minutes ago
Natural compounds from medicinal mushroom may calm harmful brain inflammation
Scientists have discovered that ganoderic acids, a group of natural compounds extracted from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi), could help protect the brain after an ischemic stroke by blocking excessive inflammation. The international research team included scientists from Peking University, the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, China Agricultural University, the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Wenzhou Medical University in China, and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.
Natural ganoderic acids from Reishi mushrooms may protect the brain after stroke by blocking harmful inflammation
Why brain inflammation matters after a stroke
An ischemic stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked. Even after blood circulation is restored, the brain often continues to suffer damage because immune cells called microglia become overactive. These cells release inflammatory chemicals that worsen injury, damage the blood-brain barrier, and kill additional brain cells. Researchers have been searching for safer treatments that can reduce this damaging inflammatory response.
Ganoderic acids delivered impressive protection
Using mice with experimentally induced ischemic stroke, researchers found that treatment with ganoderic acids significantly improved neurological function, reduced the size of damaged brain tissue, and lowered brain swelling. The treatment also helped preserve the blood-brain barrier by restoring protective proteins such as ZO-1 and Occludin, reducing leakage into brain tissue. Brain tissue examinations showed healthier neurons and less structural damage in treated animals.
In laboratory experiments using mouse microglial cells, the compounds dramatically reduced inflammatory molecules including TNF-α, COX-2, and iNOS without causing toxic effects to the cells. This suggested the natural compounds could suppress harmful inflammation while remaining relatively safe.
Scientists identified the most powerful compound
This Thailand
Medical News report highlights that researchers isolated 19 different ganoderic acid compounds and compared their activity. Among the major compounds tested, Ganoderic Acid K (GA-K) consistently showed the strongest anti-inflammatory effects. It reduced the release of key inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-6, by more than 50%, outperforming the other major compounds identified in the mushroom extract.
Further experiments revealed why this happened. Several ganoderic acid compounds, especially GA-K, directly attached to a protein called myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2). By binding to MD2, they prevented it from interacting with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a major trigger of inflammatory signaling. This blocked activation of the MAPK and NF-κB pathways that normally drive damaging inflammation after stroke. Researchers also foun
d that mice lacking MD2 were naturally protected from stroke injury, confirming that MD2 is a critical therapeutic target.
A promising direction for future stroke treatments
Although these findings were obtained mainly in laboratory cells and animal models, they suggest that ganoderic acids, particularly Ganoderic Acid K, may become valuable candidates for future stroke therapies. Their ability to reduce inflammation, preserve brain tissue, protect the blood-brain barrier, and improve neurological recovery makes them especially attractive for further clinical development. More human studies will still be needed to determine safety, dosing, and effectiveness before these natural compounds can be used routinely in patients.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Exploration.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/EXP.20240147
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
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