Preliminary study of the applications of Ganoderma lucidum in chronic fatigue syndrome

Author: Sukanya Soksawatmakhin Wijit Boonyahotra

Category: Pharmacy

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a group of physical and mental disorders with no medical treatment, can disturb quality of life and daily routine of the sufferers. An extract from a traditional herb, Ganoderma lucidum, was applied in this preliminary study on fatigue and quality of life of CFS. A total of 50 volunteers were randomly assigned to receive G. lucidum extract or placebo. Each volunteer was asked to respond to SF-12 questionnaires for quality of life and score the levels of fatigue and VAS, before and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the first dose. Serum cortisol level was measured before and 12 weeks after the first dose. Satisfaction and side effects were also evaluated at the end of the study. In comparison to placebo, a significant increase in quality of life (p=0.005) with a decrease in VAS scores (p=0.010) of those who received G. lucidum extracts was observed 4 weeks after the first dose. An increase in serum cortisol was observed in volunteers who took G. lucidum extract for 12 weeks, but not placebo. Satisfaction of volunteers with 12-week G. lucidum extract was significantly higher than those with the placebo group (p<0.001) while side effects, diarrhea and nausea, from both groups were not significantly different (p = 0.785). It is concluded that G. lucidum extract could be potentially effective in the treatment of fatigue and improve quality of life in CFS patients.

Keywords: Fatigue chronic fatigue syndrome quality of life Ganoderma lucidum