Novel Application of Immunomodulatory Mushroom Polysaccharide (β-Glucan) and Triterpenes for Diabetic Wound Care

Shiu-Nan Chen,Ya-Chin Chang,Chung-Lun Lu,Sherwin Chen,Yu-Sheng Wu

doi:10.5772/intechopen.93122

Abstract

β-Glucan and triterpenes are two important derivative compounds from traditional medicinal mushroom, such as Ganoderma lucidum and Antrodia cinnamomea. β-glucan and triterpenes are considered to have immunoregulatory properties in disease treatment for long years. The immunoregulatory effects are usually activated through some transcription of pro-inflammatory genes and possess immunomodulatory activity. Difficulty in healing wound now is a common condition that occurred in diabetic patients, and the physiological hyperglycemic status of diabetic patients resulting in the wounds continue to produce an inflammatory response. Thus, we hope to use β-glucan and triterpenes for difficult wound healing that possess immunomodulatory activity on the wound micro-environment and stimulate the positive effects on healing. In this chapter, these two important derivative compounds from traditional medicinal mushroom were examined by diabetic mammal’s wound healing models. In these models, the skin wounds’ microenvironment is expected close to diabetic foot, suffering in hyperglycemic and inflammatory status. The results are clearly presented, with the immunomodulatory effects from mushroom β-glucan and triterpenes that involved in modulating the cell-mediated immune system to cause cellular proliferation and further to introduce healing performance of the chronic inflammation wounds.

Highlights

Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion or function, and is associated with the long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels [1]
In patients who suffer from diabetes mellitus, chronic wounds occur often due to the impairment of wound healing; major complications of diabetes lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, delayed wound healing, and persistent ulcers
Blood vessel alterations observed in diabetic patients account for reduced leukocyte migration into the wound, which becomes more vulnerable to infections

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion or function, and is associated with the long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels [1]. As many reports have shown, a wound healing is an intricate regulation mechanism, which involves many cell populations and molecular mediators, and is one of the key mechanisms that ensures the barrier functions of the skin and the maintenance of body homeostasis The efficiency of this process is largely determined by the balance of proinflammatory and proregenerative signals, which are mediated by cytokines [5, 6]. Two immunomodulatory extracts (β-glucan and triterpenes) from popular medicinal mushroom were assessed by scientific experiments to examine the functions for treating poorly healing wounds. These immunomodulatory extracts have been studied for its biological effects in mammals widely, and reported to possess antitumor and immunomodulating activities with anti-inflammatory effects and the ability to control tissue cytokines [8–10]. The scientific experiment results of wound healing were consolidated and the novel application of derivative compounds from traditional medicinal mushroom can be used for treatment of diabetic foot in the future

Mushroom β-glucan functions for wound caring

Mushroom β-glucan (MBG) applied in advanced dressing to promote diabetic wound healing (mammal testing model)

Antrodia cinnamomea triterpenes for wound caring

Findings

Antrodia cinnamomea triterpenes promote wound healing in hyperglycemic diabetic mice model