Abstract
To elucidate the chemical properties of antihypertensive components in the medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, we have studied the inhibitory effects of the n-hexane and aqueous extracts from the fruit bodies on angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) activity. The n-hexane extract inhibited the ACE activity to a lesser extent than the aqueous extract, indicating that the potent inhibitors are hydrophilic in nature. The kinetics of ACE inhibition by the aqueous extracts from two strains of the mushroom was plotted according to Lineweaver and Burk. These aqueous extracts inhibited the ACE activity competitively. D-Mannitol and D-arabitol acting as a moderate ACE inhibitor were found in the aqueous extracts. However these polyhydric alcohols inhibited the ACE activity to a lesser extent compared with the crude aqueous extracts, suggesting that the other type of more potent inhibitors exist in the aqueous extract of the mushroom.
