Ganoderenic acid A

Planta Med. 2010 Oct;76(15):1691-3.

Inhibition of aldose reductase in vitro by constituents of Ganoderma lucidum.[Pubmed: 20379959]

CHCl(3) extract of the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum was found to show inhibitory activity on human aldose reductase in vitro.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
From the acidic fraction, potent human aldose reductase inhibitors, ganoderic acid C2 (1) and Ganoderenic acid A (2), were isolated together with three related compounds.
CONCLUSIONS:
It was found that the free carboxyl group of ganoderic acid C2 and Ganoderenic acid A is essential in eliciting the inhibitory activity considering the much lower activity of their methyl esters.

Biol Pharm Bull. 1999 Feb;22(2):162-4.

Beta-glucuronidase-inhibitory activity and hepatoprotective effect of Ganoderma lucidum.[Pubmed: 10077435]

To prove the relationship between the fluctuation in serum beta-glucuronidase level and hepatotoxicity, an inhibitor of beta-glucuronidase from G. lucidum was isolated and its hepatoprotective activity was investigated.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
The ether fraction of G. lucidum, which had potent beta-glucuronidase-inhibitory activity, protected against CCl4-induced liver injury. From this ether fraction, Ganoderenic acid A, was isolated as the potent inhibitor of beta-glucuronidase. It had a potent hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced liver injury.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that the beta-glucuronidase seems to be closely related to liver injury, which could be prevented by beta-glucuronidase inhibitors.