Background: Ganoderma lucidum (Ling Zhi), a basidiomycete white rot macrofungus has been used extensively for therapeutic use in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries for 2,000 years. The present study is an attempt to investigate its DNA protecting property in human lymphocytes.

Materials and methods: Beta glucan (BG) was isolated by standard procedure and the structure and composition were studied by infrared radiation (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, gel filtration chromatography and paper chromatography. The radioprotective properties of BG isolated from the macro fungi Ganoderma lucidum was assessed by single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Human lymphocytes were exposed to 0, 1, 2 and 4 Gy gamma radiation in the presence and absence of BG.

Results: The comet parameters were reduced by BG. The results indicate that the BG of G. Lucidum possessed significant radioprotective activity with DNA repairing ability and antioxidant activity as the suggestive mechanism. 

Conclusions: The findings suggest the potential use of this mushroom for the prevention of radiation induced cellular damages.