HPLC fingerprint profiles of lucidenic acids from Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi)

Abstract Ganoderic acids (GAs) and lucidenic acids (LAs) are the two specific triterpene compositions of Ganoderma lucidum . The HPLC fingerprint profile of GAs has been well‐established, but the reports for LAs were rare. In this study, six new lucidenic acids: H 2 ( 1 ), H 3 ( 2 ), I 2 ( 3 ), I 3 ( 4 ), K ( 5 ), L ( 6 ) and nine known compounds: lucidenic acids A ( 7 ), B ( 8 ), C ( 9 ), D 2 ( 10 ), E 2 ( 11 ), F ( 12 ), N ( 13 ), P ( 14 ), Q ( 15 ), were isolated from a strain of G . lucidum fruiting body ( YK‐02 ). A specific fingerprint of the lucidenic acid type (LA‐type) HPLC spectrum comprised of these triterpenes was revealed for the first time. The HPLC spectra of four strains of G . lucidum were investigated and showed identical profiles with the typical ganoderic acid type (GA‐type, strains YK‐01 and BCRC36065 ) and lucidenic acid type spectra (strains YK‐02 and BCRC36090 ). The fingerprint profiles can be used in both species and strain identification of G . lucidum . Quantitation of lucidenic acid A by using HPLC was also validated.