Ganoderol A has significant anti-inflammatory activity and protection against UVA damage. it has an inhibitory effect on angiotensin converting enzyme activity and cholesterol biosynthesis.

The cytotoxicity and in vitro protective effect of Ganoderol A against UVA damage were evaluated by MTT assay. Apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest of NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells were assayed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FCS). Expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: The results indicate that the maximal non-toxic concentration of Ganoderol A in NIH/3T3 cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages was 50 and 25 μg/mL respectively. DNA in the tails and tail length decreased by 55 and 70%, respectively, in the group pretreated with Ganoderol A compared with the UVA-treated group. G1 phase cells decreased by 23%, whereas the number of apoptotic cells returned to normal. The expression of MCP-1 and iNOS declined to 60 and 15%, respectively, compared with LPS-stimulated group.