Do Ganoderma lucidum and Salvia officinalis extracts exhibit synergistic antioxidant and antineurodegenerative effects?

Abstract

Neurological disorders, especially Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, are among the leading causes of death and disability nowdays. Ganoderma lucidum and Salvia officinalis have been used for prevention and treatment of numerous health problems since ancient times. However, despite the fact that their single extracts possess very strong antioxidant and antineurodegenerative properties, the effect of their combination has not yet been examined. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate possible synergistic effects of combined G. lucidum and S. officinalis ethanol and aqueous extracts. The combinations were obtained by extraction of mixed G. lucidum and S. officinalis dried materials, as well as by mixing of their extracts in different proportions (70:30, 50:50, 30:70). Generally, S. officinalis extracts were stronger antioxidants than those of G. lucidum, and were especially more efficient reducers of Fe3+ and neutralizers of DPPH and ABTS radicals. In DPPH· and ABTS· neutralization, strong synergism was noted for the ethanol extract of a combination of dried G. lucidum and S. officinalis materials (30:70). With respect to acetylcholinesterase inhibition, strong synergism was noted for the mixture of dried G. lucidum and S. officinalis materials (70:30) and mixture of their extracts (30:70), while the same effect on tyrosinase activity was observed only in the case of a mixture of equal dried materials. It follows that efficient G. lucidum/S. officinalis mixtures could be a basis for producing novel food ingredients with antioxidant and antineurodegenerative properties.