Oral pathogen antimicrobials from a traditional Chinese medicine mushroom: Collaboration between College of the Pacific and Dugoni

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years and remains the only source of treatment for many less developed areas. Although these practices have been used for so long, there is a major deficit identifying the bioactive constituents of herbal medicines. Ganoderma lucidum, a well known TCM, is a fungus used in Asian countries thought to increase longevity. Recent studies have shown the numerous health benefits which include modulating the immune system, inhibiting bacteria growth, and controlling blood glucose levels (Wachtel-Gator et al. 2011). Preliminary data from the dental school has shown that the methanol and ethanol crude extracts from the fungus inhibit oral pathogens while also not suppressing commensal organism populations. The first step in isolating these compounds is to prepare a chemical extract to remove the small molecules from the mushroom to identify the bioactive components responsible for the observed activity. Using Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) column chromatography, three solvent extractions of G. Lucidum: 100% EtOH, 50:50 EtOH:MeOH, 100% MeOH were fractionated. These fractions are currently being tested against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens. Commensal bacterial testing will take place at the Dugoni School of Dentistry