In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of the Skin-Care Bioactivity of β-1,3; 1,6-Glucans-Rich Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides

Extracted from Ganoderma lucidum mycelium, the developed β-1,3;1,6-glucan rich polysaccharides have the potential for industrial production of health food products due to their inhibition of metabolic syndrome, immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities and other health benefits. Ganoderma polysaccharides have also been found to promote skin health, particularly due to their antioxidant and anti-ageing properties. The present study investigates the skin-protective properties of polysaccharides purified from Ganoderma mycelium cultivated using stress-tolerance technology and a fully plant-based medium. The effects of the polysaccharides are investigated in both in vitro and human studies. The research results indicate that the developed Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides effectively inhibit tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16F10 cells; they also promote cell migration and wound closure in scratch assays within NIH 3T3 cells. In human studies, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides demonstrated no potential for skin irritation while effectively reducing skin wrinkles, enhancing skin brightness, diminishing erythema, and increasing epidermal hydration. In hot-flux patch-induced erythema experiments, these polysaccharides were found to be capable of alleviating erythema severity by up to 48%. The research conducted to date has demonstrated that industrially produced Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides, produced using innovative technology, have the potential for application in skin-related industries.