Ganoderma lucidum, a large, red mushroom, belonging to the class Basidiomycetes, is unique in its range of pharmacogenic components. Various parts of this mushroom, namely the mycelia, spores, and fruit body possess medicinal properties. The major physiologically active constituents in G. lucidum are polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, and triterpenes.
Periodontitis is a disease that affects the tooth-supporting tissues and is characterized by a loss of periodontal attachment including the alveolar bone.
The etiology of the disease is multifactorial and bacterial deposits play an essential role in the pathogenesis. The bacteria comprises predominantly of Gram-negative anaerobic rods.
Among them, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides spp., and Selenomonas spp. have been associated with chronic periodontitis. Black-pigmented anaerobes have been considered as the key pathogens in mixed anaerobic infections.
In the oral cavity, these bacteria, particularly P. intermedia, play an important role in the onset and subsequent development of the polymicrobial periodontal diseases.
Despite this, there are only a few published studies on this organism.
G. lucidum, with its multipotential bioactivity, can be used as an anti-microbial, as an adjunct to conventional therapy in periodontal disease.
Topical application of spore powder or aqueous or organic solvent extract directly on the infected tissues could be an efficient drug delivery system for the control of P. intermedia associated periodontitis.
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