Alternative Names | Description | Known Active Constituents |
Purported Uses | Medicinal Properties and Modes of Actions |
Selected References

Latin Name (Ganoderma lucidum)

Alternative Names
Ling Zhi (Mushroom of Immortality)
Mannentake
Varnished Conk
Artists’ Conk
Panacea Polypore

Description
A woody textured mushroom with a shiny cap surface from yellow to dull red to brown in color often with zonations from concentric growth pattern. Pores on underside of cap are whitish, stem is white to yellow eventually darkening to brown or black. Widely distributed throughout the world especially in subtropical regions. Medicinally active components are found in the fruit bodies, spores and mycelia of this species.

Known Active Constituents
Polysaccharides; beta-D-glucans
Ganoderans
Triterpenes: ganoderic & ganoderenic acids
Sterols: Ergosterol
Coumarin
Triterpenoids

Purported Uses
Anti-fatigue
Immunostimulation
Strength & Stamina

Medicinal Properties and Modes of Actions

Ganoderma mushroom species have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes throughout the world for many centuries. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reishi is considered warming and acts to nourish, tonify, remove toxins, and disperse accumulation (Hsu et al., 1986). It has also been used in China and other parts of Asia to treat many age-related diseases such as coronary heart disease, chronic bronchitis, hypertension, and cancer (Chen & Zhang, 1987). Reishi has traditionally been used in Japanese folk medicine to help treat cancer, heart disease, liver problems, high blood pressure, joint inflammation, ulcers and other diseases (Matsumoto, 1979). The Japanese government has officially listed Reishi as an approved adjunct herb for the treatment of cancer (Willard, 1990)

As drug resistance and toxicity become ever more significant hindrances to successful treatment of chronic diseases, herbal medicines represent useful supplements to existing antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. Polysaccharides and triterpenoids from Ganoderma have shown activities against Herpes simple virus, Hepatitis B virus, HIV, and Epstein-Barr virus in vitro and in animal studies. In a clinical study by Gao et al. (2005), treatment of hepatitis B patients with Ganoderma polysaccharides resulted in significantly decreased serum HBV DNA and hepatitis B e antigen levels.

Reishi primarily acts as a biological response modifier (BRM). Most of the biological activity in this mushroom comes from triterpenes and polysaccharides. Zhou et al. (2002) isolated more than 100 polysaccharides and 119 triterpenes from Reishi. The triterpenes are reported to have adaptogenic, antihypertensive, and anti-allergenic effects.

Berger et al. (2004) on the basis of in vitro and animal studies, envisions new cholesterol-lowering foods and medicines containing Reishi.

Recent research has shown Reishi to be a potent anti-inflammatory agent and that the mushroom may be useful in the treatment of such diverse diseases as Alzheimers Disease and Cardiovascular disease (Stavinoha, 1995).

Selected Reference
Berger, A. et al., 2004. “Cholesterol lowering properties of Ganoderma lucidum in vitro, ex vivo, and in hamsters and pigs”. Lipids Health Dis. Feb 18;3:2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=
Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14969592

Chen, K. & W. Chang, 1987. “Advances on anti-aging herbal medicinals in China”. Abstracts of Chinese Medicines 1:309-330.

Eo, S.K., Y.S. Kim, C.K. Lee, S.S. Han, 2000. “Possible mode of antiviral activity of acidic protein bound polysaccharide isolated from Ganoderma lucidum on herpes simplex viruses”. Journal of Ethnopharmacology Oct. 72(3): 475-481.
Abstract of article about the Reishi mushroom: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=
Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=9194694
&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Gao, Y., W. Tang, H. Gao, E. Chan, J. Lan, X. Li, & S. Zhoi, 2005. “Antimicrobial activity of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma”. Food Reviews International. 21(2):211-229.
http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/(i3drypevhjnb3h45q
n0zo145)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&
backto=issue,3,4;journal,6,25;linkingpublicationresults,
1:104791,1

Hattori, M. 1997. “Inhibitory effects of components from Ganoderma lucidum on the growth of immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the protease activity”. Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Ganoderma lucidum in Japan Nov. 17-18th, Tokyo. pp. 128-135.

Hsu, H-Y., 1986. “Oriental Materia Medica, a Consise Guide. Long Beach: Oriental Healing Arts Institute.
Matsomoto, K. 1979. The Mysterious Reishi Mushroom. Santa Barbara: Woodbridge Press Publishing Company.

Shiao, MS 2003. “Natural products of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum: occurrence, biological activities, and pharmacological functions.” Chem Rec. 3(3):172-180.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed
&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12900937
&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum

Stavinoha, W., N. Satsangi & S. Weitraub, 1995. “Study of the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum. In: Recent Advances in Ganoderma lucidum research (pp3-7). Seoul, Korea: The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea

Willard, T. 1990. The Reishi Mushroom: Herb of Spiritual Potency and Medical Wonder. Sylvan Press, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

(The forgoing information and research references are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended to infer or imply that our products function as drugs. Our whole food mushroom products are not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent disease. We encourage you to share this information with your physician or health care practioner.)

Alternative Names | Description | Known Active Constituents |
Purported Uses | Medicinal Properties and Modes of Actions |
Selected References

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