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In this study, polysaccharides were isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporaceae) and their antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using in vivo models. Potential antitumor activity was shown by G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) against solid tumor induced by Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma cells. GLP at 100 mg kg(-1) body mass showed 80.8 and 77.6% reduction in tumour volume and tumour mass, respectively, when administered 24 h after tumour implantation. Again, GLP at the same dose but when administered prior to tumour inoculation, showed 79.5 and 81.2% inhibition of tumour volume and tumour mass, respectively. GLP showed significant dose-dependent activity in carrageenean-induced (acute) and formalin-induced (chronic) inflammation assays. At 100 mg kg(-1), GLP exhibited 57.6 and 58.2% inhibition in carrageenean-induced and formalin-induced assays, respectively. more...

Essential oil from the fruits of Amomum cannicarpum (Wight) Bentham ex Baker (Zingiberaceae) was hydrodistilled and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Major constituents of the oil were beta-pinene (14.00%), elemol (10.45%) and alpha-cadinol (8.50%). Thirty-three (91.48%) out of forty-one constituents were identified by GC-MS and subsequent data analysis. Antimicrobial activity of the oil against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and some fungi, was determined by the disc diffusion assay. The oil showed good antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris and very good antifungal activity against Candida albicans and C. glabrata. more...