Pharmacokinetics of Ganoderic Acids A and F after Oral Administration of Ling Zhi Preparation in Healthy Male Volunteers

Abstract EN

The objectives of this paper were to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ganoderic acids A and F after a single oral dose of the water extract of MG2-strain Ling Zhi (MG2FB-WE) and to assess the influence of food on the pharmacokinetics in 12 healthy male volunteers.

This study was a single-dose, open-label, randomized, two-phase crossover study with at least 2 wk washout period.

Each subject was randomly assigned to receive a single oral dose of 3,000 mg of MG2FB-WE in granular formulation dissolved in 200 mL of warm water, either under a fasting condition, or immediately after a standard breakfast (fed condition).

Blood samples were collected immediately before and at specific time points until 8 h after MG2FB-WE administration.

Plasma ganoderic acids A and F concentrations were determined by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technique.

In conclusion, the pharmacokinetic profile of both ganoderic acids under a fasting condition was characterized by rapid absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (Tmax at approximately 30 min) and a short elimination half-life (<40 min).

Food significantly decreased Cmax and delayed Tmax, but did not affect the extent of ganoderic acid A absorption.

However, concomitant food intake markedly impeded both rate and extent of ganoderic acid F absorption.