Health Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum as a Medicinal Mushroom

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst., known as “Lingzhi” in China or “Reishi” in Japan, is a well-known medicinal mushroom and traditional Chinese medicine, which has been used for the prevention and treatment of bronchitis, allergies, hepatitis, immunological disorders and cancer. G. lucidum is rarely collected from nature and mostly cultivated on wood logs and sawdust in plastic bags or bottles to meet the demands of international markets. Diverse groups of chemical compounds with pharmacological activities, isolated from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of G. lucidum are triterpenoids, polysaccharides (β-D-glucans), proteins, amino acids, nucleosides, alkaloids, steroids, lactones, lectins, fatty acids, and enzymes. The biologically active compounds as primarily triterpenoids and polysaccharides of G. lucidum have been reported to possess hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic, antihistaminic effects and antioxidant, antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antiangiogenic activities. Several formulations have been developed, patented and used as nutraceuticals, nutriceuticals and pharmaceuticals from G. lucidum’s water or ethanol extracts and rarely purified active compounds. As the result of clinical trials, various products have commercially become available as syrup, injection, tablet, tincture or bolus of powdered medicine and an ingredient or additive in dark chocolate bars and organic fermented medicinal mushroom drink mixes such as green teas, coffees, and hot cacaos. This review has intended to give and discuss recent knowledge on phytochemical and pharmacological compositions, therapeutic and side effects, clinical trials, and commercial products of G. lucidum.

Full text

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 7(sp1): 84-93, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v7isp1.84-93.2728
Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology
Available online, ISSN: 2148-127X | www.agrifoodscience.com | Turkish Science and Technology
Health Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum as a Medicinal Mushroom#
Sanem Bulam1,a,*, Nebahat Şule Üstün2,b, Aysun Pekşen3,c
1Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Giresun University, Güre Campus, 28200 Giresun/Turkey
2Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Kurupelit Campus, 55139 Atakum/Samsun, Turkey.
3Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Kurupelit Campus, 55139 Atakum/Samsun, Turkey.
*Corresponding author
A R T I C L E I N F O
A B S T R A C T
#This study was presented as an oral presentation
at the 4th International Anatolian Agriculture,
Food, Environment and Biology Congress
(Afyonkarahisar, TARGID 2019)
Review Article
Received : 30/05/2019
Accepted : 23/08/2019
Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst., known as “Lingzhi” in China or “Reishi” in Japan, is a well-
known medicinal mushroom and traditional Chinese medicine, which has been used for the
prevention and treatment of bronchitis, allergies, hepatitis, immunological disorders and cancer. G.
lucidum is rarely collected from nature and mostly cultivated on wood logs and sawdust in plastic
bags or bottles to meet the demands of international markets. Diverse groups of chemical
compounds with pharmacological activities, isolated from the mycelia and fruiting bodies of G.
lucidum are triterpenoids, polysaccharides (β-D-glucans), proteins, amino acids, nucleosides,
alkaloids, steroids, lactones, lectins, fatty acids, and enzymes. The biologically active compounds
as primarily triterpenoids and polysaccharides of G. lucidum have been reported to possess
hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic, antihistaminic effects and antioxidant,
antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antiangiogenic activities. Several formulations have been
developed, patented and used as nutraceuticals, nutriceuticals and pharmaceuticals from G.
lucidum’s water or ethanol extracts and rarely purified active compounds. As the result of clinical
trials, various products have commercially become available as syrup, injection, tablet, tincture or
bolus of powdered medicine and an ingredient or additive in dark chocolate bars and organic
fermented medicinal mushroom drink mixes such as green teas, coffees, and hot cacaos. This review
has intended to give and discuss recent knowledge on phytochemical and pharmacological
compositions, therapeutic and side effects, clinical trials, and commercial products of G. lucidum.
Keywords:
Clinical trials
Ganoderma lucidum
Medicinal
Pharmacological
Bioactive compound
Türk Tarım – Gıda Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi 7(sp1): 84-93, 2019
Tıbbi Mantar Olarak Ganoderma lucidum’un Sağlık Üzerine Faydaları
M A K A L E B İ L G İ S İ
Ö Z
Derleme Makale
Geliş : 30/05/2019
Kabul : 23/08/2019
Çin’de “Lingzhi” veya Japonya'da “Reishi” olarak bilinen Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.,
bronşit, alerji, hepatit, immünolojik bozukluklar ve kanser gibi çeşitli hastalıkların önlenmesi ve
tedavisinde kullanılan, tanınmış bir tıbbi mantar ve geleneksel Çin ilacıdır. G. lucidum nadiren
doğadan toplanmakta ve uluslararası pazarların taleplerini karşılamak için çoğunlukla kütüklerde ve
plastik torbalar veya şişeler içinde talaşlarda yetiştirilmektedir. G. lucidum’dan izole edilmiş
farmakolojik aktiviteye sahip kimyasal bileşik grupları, triterpenoidler, polisakkaritler (β-D-
glukanlar), proteinler, aminoasitler, nükleozitler, alkaloitler, steroidler, laktonlar, lektinler, yağ
asitleri ve enzimlerdir. G. lucidum’un triterpenoidleri ve polisakkaritleri gibi biyolojik aktif
bileşiklerinin hepatoprotektif, antihipertensif, hipokolesterolemik, antihistaminik etkileri ve
antioksidan, antitümör, immünomodülatör ve antianjiyogenik aktiviteleri olduğu rapor edilmiştir.
Başta G. lucidum’un meyve veren organları ve sporları, su veya etanol ekstraktları ve nadiren
saflaştırılmış aktif bileşikleri ile çeşitli formülasyonlar geliştirilmiş, patenti alınmış ve nutrasötikler,
nutrisötikler ve farmasötikler olarak kullanılmıştır. Klinik denemeler sonucunda, ticari olarak şurup,
enjeksiyon, tablet, tentür veya kapsül ve bitter çikolatalarda ve yeşil çaylar, kahveler ve sıcak
kakaolar gibi organik fermente edilmiş tıbbi mantar içecek karışımlarında bir bileşen veya katkı
maddesi olarak kullanılabilmektedir. Bu derleme G. lucidum’un fitokimyasal ve farmakolojik
kompozisyonları, terapötik ve yan etkileri, klinik denemeleri ve ticari ürünleri hakkında son bilgileri
vermeyi ve tartışmayı amaçlamıştır.
Anahtar Kelimeler:
Klinik denemeler
Ganoderma lucidum
Tıbbi
Farmakolojik
Biyoaktif bileşen
a
sanem.bulam@giresun.edu.tr
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8069-760X
b
sustun@omu.edu.tr
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2165-9245
c
aysunp@omu.edu.tr
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9601-5041
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

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85
Introduction
Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst., also known as
Ling Zhi, Reishi, Mannentake is a medicinal, wood-
degrading basidiomycete with numerous pharmacological
effects in addition to its key role in the environment as
decomposer in nutrient cycle. G. lucidum is considered as
“the king of herbs” which grows on the decaying and dead
logs of deciduous trees like willow, oak, sweet gum, maple,
elm and coniferous trees (larix, picea and pinus) (Khatian
and Aslam, 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018). The most
important pharmacologically active constituents of G.
lucidum are triterpenoids and polysaccharides.
Triterpenoids have been reported to possess
hepatoprotective, anti-hypertensive, hypocholesterolemic
and anti-histaminic effects, anti-tumor and anti-engiogenic
activities, effects on platelet aggregation and complement
inhibition. Polysaccharides, especially β-D-glucans, have
been known to have anti-tumor effects through
immunomodulation and anti-angiogenesis. In addition,
polysaccharides have a protective effect against free
radicals and reduce cell damage caused by mutagens. In
general, G. lucidum triterpenes could directly suppress
growth and invasive behaviour of cancer cells, whereas G.
lucidum polysaccharides could synergistically stimulate
the immune functions, resulting in the activation of
anticancer activities of immune cells and production of
cytokines (Paterson, 2006; Deepalakshmi and Mirunalini,
2011; Boh, 2013; Hapuarachchi et al., 2016a, b; Sohretoglu
and Huang, 2018; Zhao et al., 2019). G. lucidum is
distributed in green ecosystems both in tropical and
temperate geographical regions in Asia, Africa, America
and Europe (Wang et al., 2012b). It is also common in the
mycobiota of Turkey (Sesli and Denchev, 2014).
G. lucidum is not classified as edible mushroom and not
used in cooking because of its bitter taste and a wooden
texture, however it is used in other various forms
(Hapuarachchi et al., 2016a). In terms of ethnomedicinal
knowledge, it has been widely used to promote health and
longevity in Traditional Chinese Medicine as special teas or
concoctions in China, Japan, and other Asian countries for
over two millennia (Sudheer et al., 2018). It was both
considered as the “herb of spiritual potency” or “plant of
immortality” that extended the lifetime because of its
medicinal properties by Chinese people and symbolized
sanctity, success, goodness, happiness, fortune, immortality,
and good health in these countries (Paterson, 2006; Sanodiya
et al., 2009; Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011; De Silva et al., 2012;
Hapuarachchi et al., 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018). It was first
indexed in Shen Nong’s Materia Medica (206 BC-8 AD),
known as the “Father of Chinese medicine”, as a longevity
promoting and tonic herb of the non-toxic superior class
(Zhu et al., 2007; Sharma et al., 2019). It is currently listed
in the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Chinese
Pharmacopoeia and Therapeutic Compendium (Wu et al.,
2013). Today, this species is sold on the traditional local
markets or supermarkets (Tibuhwa, 2018) and still used as
medicine in traditional health care for the treatment of
anthritis, neoplasia, cancer (alone or in combination with
chemotherapy and radiotherapy), general disorders,
genitourinary, dermatological, and respiratory systems, and
in boosting the immune system by the indigenous people
worldwide (Chang and Lee, 2004; Oyetayo, 2011; Valverde
et al., 2015; Khastini et al., 2018; Tibuhwa, 2018).
Therapeutic administration has been realized as oral,
topical application, and powder swallowing, cleaning
wounds, tea extracts with other herbs, and tonics for long
illness, and cancer treatment, and herbal soup with ginseng
after drying. The most common preparation has been hot
water extraction technique. Bioavailability of mushroom’s
active metabolite depends on the preparation technique
(Khastini et al., 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018; Tibuhwa,
2018). Since the mushroom is very rare in the nature,
fruiting bodies are artificially cultivated on wood logs and
sawdust in plastic bags or bottles. G. lucidum can also be
organically cultivated (Perumal, 2009). G. lucidum
cultivation generally has at least three important
contributions: production of health food, manufacture of
nutraceuticals, and reduction of environmental pollution.
Today, G. lucidum-based products have been generally
divided into three types of products, including fruiting
bodies, mycelia, and spore powder (Zhou et al., 2012;
Hapuarachchi et al., 2018). G. lucidum mycelia, spores,
and fruiting bodies-derived drugs, nutraceuticals, and
dietary supplements as beverages, teas, powdered extracts,
capsules, oral liquids, and chewable tablets (Hyde et al.,
2010; Taofiq et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2016) are currently
available and widely spread on the world market especially
in China, Japan and North America (Lindequist et al.,
2005; Deepalakshmi and Mirunalini, 2011; Boh, 2013;
Rathore et al., 2017; Reis et al., 2017; Hapuarachchi et al.,
2018; Khatian and Aslam, 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018; Zhao
et al., 2019). In addition, various in vivo and clinical studies
have shown that the extracts, spore preparations and
dietary supplements of G. lucidum have no or little side
effects (Boh, 2013; Hapuarachchi et al., 2016a, b; Khatian
and Aslam, 2018; Sohretoglu and Huang, 2018; Sudheer et
al., 2018; Zeng et al., 2018). Since there has been an
increasing interest in G. lucidum, it was aimed to give
recent knowledge on phytochemical and pharmacological
compositions, therapeutic and side effects, clinical trials,
and commercial products of this species in this review.
Phytochemical, Pharmacological Composition and
Therapeutic Properties of G. lucidum
G. lucidum includes polysaccharides, flavonoids, and
alkaloids, amino acids, steroids, oligosaccharides, proteins,
mannitol, vitamins B1, B2, B6, choline, and inositol (Cör
et al., 2018). The water content of this mushroom has been
reported as 90% and its dry matter consists of 10-40%
protein, 2-8% fat, 3-28% carbohydrate, 3-32% fiber, 8-
10% ash, minerals (Ca, P, K, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Se), and
some vitamins. All the essential amino acids are present in
G. lucidum. Proteins are particularly rich in leucine and
lysine (Cör et al., 2018; Khatian and Aslam, 2018). In
another study, G. lucidum was considered to be useful as
source of protein (7-8%), carbohydrates (3-5%), crude fat
(3-5%), crude fiber (59%), ash (1.8%), and other trace
elements on dry weight basis (Mau et al., 2001). G. lucidum
was reported to have 16 amino acids, among them,
glutamic acid, aspartic acid, glycine, and alanine showed

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the highest relative abundance, whereas methionine
showed the least (Wang et al., 2002). Tokul-Olmez et al.
(2018) concluded that the host tree affected the fatty acid
constituents and fatty acid concentration regarding higher
palmitic acid and oleic acid among others in wild G.
lucidum samples where the negligible effect was observed
for the altitude. G. lucidum also contains a higher amount
of chitin which makes it hard to chew and digest (Wachtel-
Galor et al., 2011; Sudheer et al., 2018).
G. lucidum has a high proportion of polyunsaturated
fatty acids (PUFA) (Sanodiya et al., 2009; Wachtel-Galor et
al., 2011). Stojkovic et al. (2014) compared the nutritional
composition of wild G. lucidum from Serbia and cultivated
G. lucidum from China. As a result, the amounts of proteins
(11.34 g/100 g dw), total tocopherols (104.75 µg/100 g dw),
and sugars (9.14 g/100 g dw) were higher in samples from
Serbia while the amounts of organic acids (4.57 g/100 g dw),
PUFA (42.42%), ergosterol (766.18 mg/100 g dw), and total
phenolic compounds (3.30 mg/100 g dw) were higher in the
samples from China. Yıldız et al. (2015) reported that
protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, catechin,
chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric
acid, rutin, and t-cinnamic acid were determined in high
amounts as the major phenolic compounds in wild G.
lucidum. Turfan et al. (2018) reported total soluble protein,
total free amino acid, total phenolics, total flavonoids,
glucose, fructose, sucrose, and total soluble carbohydrates
contents of cultivated G. lucidum as 83.68, 3.14, 55.47,
30.66, 37.55, 1.09, 0.26 and 245.42 mg/g, respectively. In
addition, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P and Se amounts were 246.21,
109.42, 1345.07, 16.19, 6.46, 1662.06 and 2.47 mg/kg,
respectively. Approximately 400 different bioactive
compounds were reported in the fruiting bodies, mycelia,
and spores of G. lucidum in various researches (Xu et al.,
2011 a, b; Boh, 2013; Cör et al., 2018; Hapuarachchi et al.,
2016a, 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018; Sharma et al., 2019; Zhao
et al., 2019). According to Karthikeyan et al. (2009), Pekşen
and Yakupoğlu (2009), and Turfan et al. (2016), the
differences in the chemical composition of wild and
cultivated G. lucidum extracts were attributed to different
sites of collection, quality of the strain, origin, cultivation
conditions, stages of harvesting, and extraction processes of
cultivated ones.
G. lucidum has been considered to be a therapeutic
fungal biofactory for bioactive compounds which can reduce
the lethal effects of cancer. All parts of G. lucidum were
indicated to contain polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and
peptidoglycans and polyphenols as anticancer compounds
(Paterson, 2006; Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011; Sudheer et al.,
2018; Sharma et al., 2019). Anti-angiogenic polysaccharides
(mainly α-1,3, β-1,3 and β-1,6-D-glucans, Ganoderan) and
cytotoxic, antitumor, antimetastatic triterpenes/triterpenoids
(mainly ganodermic acids, ganodermic alcohols and
lucidenic acids) of G. lucidum are main bioactive
components to inhibit cancer development via suppressing
cancer cells proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as well
as promoting cancer cells apoptosis. They work by different
molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways in different
cancers. All of the G. lucidum polysaccharides contain
heteropolymer structures with glucose as the major sugar
component and are responsible for the structural analysis of
anti-tumor polysaccharides to strengthen the immune
system rather than direct cytocidal effects. In G. lucidum, the
chemical structure of the triterpenes is based on lanostane
(mainly C30), a metabolite of lanosterol, and its biosynthesis
is based on cyclization of squalene and extract of G. lucidum
tastes bitter due to the presence of these triterpenoids.
Triterpenoids of G. lucidum have been reported to have
many enzyme inhibitory activities that are useful as
chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, G. lucidum
polysaccharides and triterpenes have immunomodulating,
immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and
radio-protective activities related to cancer (Dinesh Babu
and Subhasree, 2008; Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011; Xu et al.,
2011b; Wiater et al., 2012; Boh, 2013; Kao et al., 2013;
Zhang et al., 2007; Zhou et al., 2012; Cheng and Sliva, 2015;
Duru and Tel Çayan, 2015; Ferreira et al., 2015; Valverde et
al., 2015; Cao et al., 2018; Cör et al., 2018; Sohretoglu and
Huang, 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018; Ye, 2018). Liu et al.
(2007) isolated a compound (Ganoderol B) from the fruiting
body of G. lucidum and showed its anti-androgen effect
against prostate cancer. However, the polysaccharides and
triterpene contents change according to the parts and
growing stages of the mushroom. Also, branching
conformation and solubility characteristics were reported to
affect the antitumorigenic properties of these
polysaccharides (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011; Nakagawa et
al., 2018). Anticancer effects of polysaccharides, terpenes
and proteins of G. lucidum existed the immunomodulatory
effect including activation of cytotoxic T or B lymphocytes,
macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, and
other immune cells along with their secretory products like
tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), reactive nitrogen, oxygen
intermediates, and interleukins (IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6);
antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on tumor cells via
the promotion of the in vitro proliferation of undifferentiated
spleen cells, and the production of cytokines and antibodies.
Within the anticancer and antimetastatic activities, NF-κB
and MAPK, the most comprehensively investigated major
pathways were shown to be activated and released cytokines
that subsequently inhibited the growth of tumor cells. In
addition, TLR-4 was an effective receptor involved in the
host defense mechanism of the immune response to
polysaccharides (Deepalakshmi and Mirunalini, 2011; Boh,
2013; Kao et al., 2013; Cheng and Sliva, 2015; Cao et al.,
2018; Sohretoglu and Huang, 2018). In addition, other active
compounds from G. lucidum have been described, such as
ergostane sterols and ergosterol (provitamin D2; range,
189.1-1453.3 μg/g), nucleosides, and nucleotides (T, U, I, A
and G; 303-1217 μg/g in the mushroom cap and 22-334 μg/g
in the stem) with platelet aggregation effect, fatty acids
(palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid) with
potential effect of tumour cell proliferation inhibition, and
fatty acids (nonadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, stearic
acid, palmitic acid) with inhibitory activity, alkaloids
(choline, betaine, saponin, flavonoid, tannin), vitamins
(riboflavin, vitamin C), essential and nonessential minerals
(selenium (Se) up to 72 μg/g dw; germanium (Ge) 489 μg/g,
Cu, Zn, P), hydrocarbons, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes
(Paterson, 2006; Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011; Boh, 2013; Cör
et al., 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018). G. lucidum can
biotransform 20-30% of inorganic Se present in the growth

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87
substrate into Se-containing proteins and organic Ge is not
an essential element at low doses but it has been credited
with immunopotentiating, antitumor, antioxidant, and
antimutagenic activities (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011;
Sudheer et al., 2018). Lu et al. (2016) determined that water
extracts of cultured mycelium from various species (A.
blazei, A. cinnamomea, G. lucidum and H. sinensis)
enhanced NK cell cytotoxic activity against cancer cells and
G. lucidum might produce both stimulatory and inhibitory
effects on immune cells, depending on the conditions. Boh
(2013) emphasized that the anticancer activity of G. lucidum
might be attributed to at least five groups of mechanisms: (1)
activation/modulation of the immune response of the host,
(2) direct cytotoxicity to cancer cells, (3) inhibition of tumor-
induced angiogenesis, (4) inhibition of cancer cells
proliferation and invasive metastasis behaviour, and (5)
carcinogens deactivation with protection of cells.
On the other hand, a reversible and a highly specific
competitive α-glucosidase inhibitor known as SKG-3 was
also found in G. lucidum with an IC50 of 4.6 µg/mL (Kim
and Nho, 2004). In an animal study (diabetic rats),
nonenzymic and enzymic antioxidant levels increased and
lipid peroxidation levels decreased with G. lucidum
treatment (Jia et al., 2009). Furthermore, the alcoholic
extract of G. lucidum was found to minimize oxidative
stress, restore cellular viability, and aid in maintaining
cellular redox balance under hypoxia (Kirar et al., 2017).
Stojkovic et al. (2014) reported that samples from China
revealed slightly better results for lipid peroxidation
inhibition (EC50 0.23 mg/mL), while the samples from
Serbia exhibited inhibitory potential against human breast
(GI50 309.66 µg/mL) and cervical carcinoma (GI50 311.19
µg/mL) cell lines. No cytotoxicity in non-tumour liver
primary cell culture was observed for the different samples.
Bal (2019) detected total antioxidant status (5.509
mmol/L), total oxidant status (10.177 µmol/L), and
oxidative stress index (0.185 µmol/L). It was concluded
that G. lucidum was a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial
agent. Table 1 shows the common pharmacological effects
of major bio compounds and various extracts of G.
lucidum.
Table 1 Common pharmacological effects of G. lucidum major bioctive compounds/various extracts
Pharmacological effects
Major bioactive compounds/various extracts
References
Anti-cancer, (anti-
angiogenic, cytotoxic,
anti-tumour, anti-
metastatic)
Polysaccharides (1→3, 1→4, and 1→6-linked β and α-D
(or L)-glucans)
Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011;
Ferreira et al., 2015
Glycopeptides and peptidoglycans
Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011;
Ferreira et al., 2015; Cör et
al., 2018; Hapuarachchi et al.,
2018; Sudheer et al., 2018
Triterpenoids (ganoderic, ganodermic, ganolucidic acids,
ganoderals, ganoderiols, lucidumol, lucialdehyde,
lucidenic acids)
Yuen and Gohel, 2005;
Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011;
Boh, 2013; Duru and Tel
Çayan, 2015
Immunomodulatory,
anti-cancer and anti-
tumour
Protein Ling Zhi-8 (LZ-8), lectin, ribosome inactivating
proteins, antimicrobial proteins, glycopeptides/glycoproteins,
peptidoglycans/ proteoglycans, ganodermin A, ribonucleases,
proteinases, metalloproteases, laccases
Zhou et al., 2007, 2012;
Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011;
Xu et al., 2011a; Boh, 2013;
Cao et al., 2018; Sudheer et
al., 2018
Antidiabetic
Polysaccharides, proteoglycans, proteins (LZ-8) and
triterpenoids
Ma et al., 2015
Anti-inflammatory
Ganoderic acids T-Q and lucideinic acids A, D2, E2, and P
Sliva et al., 2003
Antioxidant
Triterpenes, polysaccharides, polysaccharide-peptide
complex and phenolic component; Methanolic extracts;
Phenolic and polysaccharide extracts
Mehta, 2014; Kana et al.,
2015; Yıldız et al., 2015;
Kumari et al., 2016; Heleno et
al., 2012
Cardiovascular
problems
Polysaccharides (Ganopoly)
Gao et al., 2004
Antiviral
Triterpenoids against Enterovirus 71; Ganoderic acid
derivatives against H5N1 and H1N1 influenza;
Ganoderiol F, ganodermanontriol against HIV-1
Zhang et al., 2014; Zhu et al.,
2015; Bishop et al., 2015
Antimicrobial
Polysaccharides; Triterpenoids (ganoderic acids,
ganodermin, ganoderic acid A, ganodermadiol,
ganodermanondiol, lucidumol B, ganodermanontriol,
ganoderic acid B, ganolucidic acid B)
Mehta, 2014; Cör et al., 2018;
Hapuarachchi et al., 2018
Aqueous and methanolic extracts; methanolic extracts;
MeOH and DCM extracts; Triterpenes, ganomycein, and
other aqueous extracts
Sudheer et al., 2018;
Sanodiya et al., 2009;
Stojkovic et al., 2014; Bal,
2019; Hleba et al., 2014

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Ganoderma presents three characteristics for prevention
or treatment of diseases: (1) it does not produce any toxicity
or side effects; (2) it does not act on a specific organ and (3)
it promotes the improvement of normalization of the organ
function (Valverde et al., 2015). Because of its biologically
active compounds, modern pharmacological tests have
generally demonstrated some important pharmacological
effects of G. lucidum such as anxiolytic, anti-angiogenic,
antidepressant, antitumor, anticancer, cytotoxic, anti-
metastatic, hypoglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-
histaminic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-
hypertensive, anti-allergic, antihistaminic, antiradiation,
hepatoprotective, chemopreventive, immunomodulating,
anti-anemic, anti-androgenic, antimutagenic, antioxidant,
antiparasitic, antihepatitis, anti-aging, anti-androgenic,
anti-arthritic, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral anti-HIV,
prebiotic, neuro-protective, dermatocosmetic,
acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, acute gastric ulcer
mucoprotective, cytokine production inductive, inhibition
of lipid peroxidation/oxidative DNA damage, maintenance
of gut health, stimulation of probiotic, urinary tract in men,
atherosclerosis, liver and kidney protective, cardiovascular
potential activities in addition to other activities against
such as fibromyalgia in women, platelet aggregation, and
topical sarcoidosis (Zhou et al., 2012; Sanodiya et al.,
2009; Deepalakshmi and Mirunalini, 2011; Wachtel-Galor
et al., 2011; Boh, 2013; Bishop et al., 2015; Duru and Tel
Çayan, 2015; Ferreira et al., 2015; Valverde et al., 2015;
Cör et al., 2018; Hapuarachchi et al., 2016a, b, 2017, 2018;
Khatian and Aslam, 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018; Ye, 2018;
Sharma et al., 2019; Zhao et al., 2019). Moreover, the
effects of G. lucidum and its extracts such as
polysaccharides, triterpenes, and acids on the protection of
neurological diseases as abnormal neurogenesis, epilepsy,
spinal cord injury, neural tube defects, neurasthenia,
depression, and Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and
cerebrovascular diseases, have been previously established
(Ye, 2018; Zhao et al., 2019).
Clinical Trials, Side Effects and Toxicity of G. lucidum
In addition to various in vitro and in vivo studies
previously conducted on therapeutic and medicinal
properties of G. lucidum (Gao et al., 2005; Wachtel-Galor
et al., 2011; Boh, 2013; Hapuarachchi et al., 2016a, b,
2017, 2018; Cao et al., 2018; Cör et al., 2018; Khatian and
Aslam, 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018; Zeng et al., 2018), the
pharmacological effectiveness of G. lucidum and its
extracts, drugs, spores, tablets, capsules etc. have
confirmed and proved by clinical trials, mostly in Asian
countries, such as China, Japan, and Korea in addition to
USA and Malaysia (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011; Boh, 2013;
Nahata, 2013; Cheng and Sliva, 2015; Hapuarachchi et al.,
2016a, b; Cao et al., 2018; Cör et al., 2018; Sohretoglu and
Huang, 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018; Zeng et al., 2018;
Sharma et al., 2019; Zhao et al., 2019). However, due to
the difficulty in obtaining large amounts of the pure
triterpenoids and polysaccharides, double-blind clinical
data of the active components are limited. No natural
products or extracts from Ganoderma have been reported
to enter clinical trial (Hapuarachchi et al., 2017). Although
the data from recent in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate
promising anti-cancer effects, a need was identified for
further (1) isolation and purification of compounds, with
deeper understanding of their individual and synergistic
pharmacological effects, (2) molecular level studies of the
antitumor and immuno-supportive mechanisms, (3) well
designed in vivo tests and controlled clinical studies, and
(4) standardisation and quality control for G. lucidum
strains, cultivation processes, extracts, and commercial
formulations (Boh, 2013). With regard to the effective
components, fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs)
and polysaccharides were dominant of which LZ-8 and
polysaccharides from G. lucidum were the mostly
researched (Cao et al., 2018). Although the results of
human studies provided some evidence that the antitumor
effects of G. lucidum were mediated via effects on the
immune system, all studies were conducted by the same
research group and that other direct antitumor effects of G.
lucidum had not been studied on humans in vivo, yet
(Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011). Hapuarachchi et al. (2016b)
concluded that most of the clinical trials were successful
with G. lucidum preparation, however factors like small
sample size, lack of a placebo control group, lack of
information regarding long term treatment of the drug, age,
patient’s gender and side effects, standard method of
extraction of G. lucidum, standard dosage, and the number
of patients treated undermine the validity of the results. For
this reason, Hapuarachchi et al. (2016a) emphasized that
the efficiency of G. lucidum in clinical treatments could be
proven by systematic translational research programs using
only standardized, preclinically evaluated and biologically
active G. lucidum extracts in alternative treatments. Hence,
studies on G. lucidum should focus on improving methods
and further clinical research on human subjects should be
performed with more scientific reproducibility. Boh (2013)
listed the examples of published medical investigations
with G. lucidum preparations including case studies and
clinical trials with different dosages. The researcher
emphasized that methodologies in the described cases were
not often scientifically rigorous and the results were not
statistically relevant. In addition, the experimental settings
varied a lot and systematically designed double-blind
placebo-controlled randomized trials. According to Cheng
and Sliva (2015), complete safety analysis on G. lucidum
was necessary. Although the efficacy of G. lucidum in
cancer patients was reported, clinical observations were
needed and it should be used with caution in patients when
combined with chemotherapy. Moreover, although there
were generally no serious side effects of using G. lucidum
(Boh, 2013; Cao et al., 2018), patients should be monitored
for liver toxicity (Yuen et al., 2004), chronic watery
diarrhea (Wanachiwanawin et al., 2006), and fatal
fulminant hepatitis (Wanmuang et al., 2007) that were
previously reported as adverse side effects of commercial
G. lucidum products consumption. In addition, Gill and
Rieder (2008) reported that exposure of cells to higher
levels of G. lucidum extracts caused significant reduction
in cell viability in some cell lines. A few human
sensitization to G. lucidum antigen and allergy and skin
reactivity to spore and whole body extracts of G. lucidum
cases were also previously reported. Patients with
hypoglycemia, gastric ulcers, and active gastrointestinal
bleeding, tendency for bleeding, blood disorders like
thrombocytopenia, and patients who were on
anticoagulants or antiplatelets medication, and under

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89
treatments for hypertension should be cautious since it
lowered the blood sugar level, had anticoagulant effects, an
additive effect on clotting factors and prolongation of
prothrombin time, and hypotensive properties. G. lucidum
was not recommended for breastfeeding and pregnant
women since no scientific data was found about effects on
lactation (Hapuarachchi et al., 2016b; Sohretoglu and
Huang, 2018).
Products of G. lucidum from Traditional Knowledge to
Modern Commercial Perspective
All Traditional Chinese Medicine specialists believe
that G. lucidum is the most highlighted one amongst the
most powerful available adaptogens (Khatian and Aslam,
2018). The “mushroom of immortality” has been utilized
as herbal extract like concoctions of tea and tonics and a
remedy in Traditional Chinese Medicine to improve health
and longevity for thousands of years, as well as in the
treatment of neurasthenia, hypertension, hepatopathy,
carcinoma, fatigue, coughing, chronic hepatitis, bronchitis,
asthma, insomnia, indigestion, high cholesterol, nephritis,
and neurosis in China, Japan, and Korea (Wang et al.,
2012b; Khatian and Aslam, 2018; Sudheer et al., 2018). In
Asia, Ganoderma has been administered as drugs in the
treatment of cancer for centuries since it exhibits anticancer
effect alone or in combination with chemotherapy and
radiotherapy in addition to reducing the side effects and
pain of cancer patients during the treatment via immune
system suppression and fatigue (Boh, 2013; Valverde et al.,
2015; Sudheer et al., 2018). Jiaogulan (Gynostemm
pentaphyllum) is mixed with G. lucidum and made
“Lingzhi Jiaogulan oral liquid” which helps in relieving
palpitation, shortness of breath, and insomnia (Yan, 2015).
In vitro and in vivo studies, using combinations of green
tea extract and G. lucidum have proven its synergistic
effects in cancer prevention and treatment (Thyagarajan et
al., 2007). In addition, traditional remedies known as
“Lingzhi Bao” like China G. lucidum essence have been
utilized with an increase by the people (Zhou et al., 2012).
There are nearly 200 medicines and compounded
medicines containing Ganoderma available within China
(Chen et al., 2016). Nowadays, G. lucidum has been
recognized as an alternative adjuvant in the prevention and
treatment of leukemia, carcinoma, heart disease,
hypertension, hepatitis, neurasthenia, and diabetes, as well
as an immune system enhancer with health benefits. It can
also clean the blood, detoxify and regulate endocrine
function and help for promoting longevity and
strengthening health (Zhou et al., 2012; Sanodiya et al.,
2009; Ye, 2018). More than 100 brands of different
products based on G. lucidum can be found in the world
market (Lai et al., 2004). Various products such as dried
powder and aqueous/ethanol extracts of G. lucidum are
prepared from its cultivated fruiting bodies, mycelia, and
spore powder and have been commercialized as drugs,
dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods,
mycopharmaceuticals, and cosmetology products
worldwide (Lai et al., 2004; Zhou et al., 2012; Bishop et
al., 2015; Valverde et al., 2015; Hapuarachchi et al., 2018).
These include crushed fruiting bodies, fermentation broth,
crude extracts, and isolated bioactive constituents in
various formulations, which are marketed all over the
world in the form of G. lucidum slices, powdered spore
solution for injection, pills, tablet, oral liquid, health drink,
granule, tincture, bolus; soup, yogurt, black/ green tea,
coffee, cocoa powder (Lindequist et al., 2005;
Deepalakshmi and Mirunalini, 2011; Bishop et al., 2015;
Zhao et al., 2019); spore oils in capsule, soft capsule,
cream, hair tonic, and syrup (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011;
Hapuarachchi et al., 2018) in addition to alcoholic
beverages (Bishop et al., 2015; Veljovic et al., 2019),
herbal and Sanqi wines (Hapuarachchi et al., 2018), tonic
liquor (Xu, 2001), beer, traditional rice wine (Yakju),
ginseng G. lucidum Sihe liquor and healthy wine of
germanium-enriched Ganoderma and Cordyceps (Zhou et
al., 2012; Zhao et al., 2019) and ointments, antiseptic
creams, and herbal soaps (Sudheer et al., 2018). Over 1,000
Ganoderma health food products were certified by Chinese
government (Chen et al. 2016). In addition, G. lucidum
could be considered as natural preservatives of food
industry (Kana et al. 2015). Functional food studies for
emulsion type sausage (Ghobadi et al., 2018), smoked fish
sausage (Wannasupchue et al., 2011), yogurt (Li et al.,
2011), bread (Chung et al., 2004), and alcoholic beverages
(Veljovic et al., 2019) have been also conducted. GanoPoly
and Immulink MBG as G. lucidum nutraceuticals are
aqueous polysaccharide fractions isolated with patented
methods (Bishop et al., 2015). In addition,
BreastDefend™, MycoPhyto® Complex, New Chapter®,
LifeShield® Immunity, and ReishiMax capsules are
examples of marketed products of G. lucidum extracts with
or without other mushrooms claiming diverse biological
activities (De Silva et al., 2013). Many pharmaceutical,
cosmetology, and beauty products made from this
mushroom such as day and night cream, whitening cream,
anti-aging facial mask, face serum, toothpaste, lotion, and
shampoo are available in the markets and demand high
price (Taofiq et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2016; Hapuarachchi et
al., 2018). Giavasis (2014) reported that, Lentinan, an
acidic proteoglucan from G. lucidum has been used as anti-
HIV drug. The annual sale of products derived from G.
lucidum was estimated to be more than US$ 2.5 billion in
Asian countries, including China, Japan, and South Korea
(Li et al. 2013; Bishop et al., 2015). Li et al. (2016) showed
that China was the largest producer and exporter with a
capacity over 110,000 MT/year of fruiting bodies, slices,
and spore powders as most popular products among
consumers. Meanwhile, many patented products have
emerged which include the preparation of anti-tumor, liver
function accelerant, lowering of blood pressure,
hypoglycemic activity, lowering of cholesterol levels,
treatment of chronic bronchitis, immunomodulator,
lysozyme as antibiotic, and shampoo, body shampoo, etc.
(Zhou et al., 2012). Boh (2013) established the patent
documents on G. lucidum spores and dry pulverised
mycelia, diverse production and disclosing isolation
methods of triterpenes, clinical, in vivo and in vitro tests,
immunostimulation and disclosing isolation methods of
pharmacologically active polysaccharides, proteins,
glycopolysaccharides, glycoproteins, and peptidoglycans
isolated from G. lucidum, preparation methods of crude
extracts from G. lucidum with complex compositions and
anticancer pharmaceutical formulations containing G.
lucidum.

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The simplest manufacturing type consists of intact
fruiting bodies dried and ground to powder and then
processed to capsule or tablet form. Other “nonextracted”
products are prepared from the following three sources: (1)
dried and powdered mycelia harvested from submerged
liquid cultures grown in fermentation tanks; (2) dried and
powdered combinations of substrate, mycelia, and
mushroom primordia, following inoculation and incubation
of a semisolid medium with fungal mycelia; and (3) intact
fungal spores or spores that have been broken by mechanical
means or have had the spore walls removed (Wachtel-Galor
et al., 2011). Generally, for other products preparing with
biocompounds “extracted”, most polysaccharides are
extracted by using hot water-extract-alcohol or water-
extract-alkali precipitation methods. Novel technologies
using ultrasound, microwave, and enzymatic methods have
recently been developed to increase the yield in shorter
extraction times. The extracted polysaccharides are further
isolated and purified by fractional precipitation, acidic
precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration,
affinity chromatography, and TLC. Triterpenes are usually
extracted by using organic solvents such as methanol,
ethanol, acetone, chloroform, ether, or a mixture of these
solvents followed by different separation methods.
Ultrasonic, normal and reverse-phase HPLC, and silica gel
column chromatography techniques are currently being used
to enhance the rate of extraction of triterpenes by destroying
the dense structure in the cells. G. lucidum proteins,
peptidoglycans, and glycoproteins are extracted with the
processes containing preparative chromatographic
techniques, such as gel filtration and ion exchange
chromatographies in addition to initial extractions with
water or alkaline aqueous solutions (Wachtel-Galor et al.,
2011; Boh, 2013; Kao et al., 2013; Ferreira et al., 2015;
Sudheer et al., 2018). Moreover, supercritical CO2 with or
without co-solvent, subcritical water, and subcritical
petroleum ether were previously used to extract various
biocompounds such as ganoderic acids, ganoderic alcohols,
β-glucans, and other polysaccharides, chitins, ergosterol,
and fatty acids of G. lucidum (Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011;
Boh, 2013; Morales et al., 2018). The use of nanotechnology
to administer extracts of G. lucidium might also improve the
bioavailability of the drugs and effectiveness (Li et al.,
2010). After extraction of biocompounds, they were
evaporated to dryness and tabulated/encapsulated either
separately or integrated together in designated proportions.
Several other products have been prepared as binary,
ternary, or more complex mixtures of powdered G. lucidium
and other mushrooms and even with other medicinal herbs
(Wachtel-Galor et al., 2011).
However, the amount and percentage of each component
could be very diverse in natural and commercial products
(Wachtel-Galor et al, 2011; Zhou et al., 2012). Chang and
Buswell (2008) randomly selected 11 samples of
commercial G. lucidum products purchased in Hong Kong
shops and evaluated for the two major active components,
triterpenes and polysaccharides. The triterpene content
ranged from undetectable to 7.8% and the polysaccharide
content varied from 1.1-15.8%. Boh (2013) and Zeng et al.
(2018) underlined that the major obstacle for the acceptance
of natural products, such as G. lucidum, in the doctrines of
Western pharmaceutical and medical systems, is the
complexity and variability of preparations from natural
sources. If complex mixtures were of a standardised high
quality and the homogeneity, they could bring significant
advantages due to synergistic effects. Paterson (2006)
informed that in the United States, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) does not regulate the marketing of
fungal medicinal products. Thus, Wu et al. (2017) evaluated
19 batches of products of G. lucidum herbal/mushroom
supplements purchased in the United States based on their
bioactive components including triterpenes and
polysaccharides by using chromatographic methods and
saccharide mapping. The results showed that the measured
ingredients of only 5 tested samples (26.3%) were in
accordance with their labels. Loyd et al. (2018) analyzed 20
manufactured products (e.g., pills, tablets, teas, etc.) and 17
grow your own (GYO) kits labeled as containing G.
lucidum. They identified the majority (93%) of the
manufactured reishi products and almost half of the GYO
kits as G. lucidum. Their results indicated that the content of
these products varied and a better labeling was needed to
inform consumers before these products were ingested or
marketed as medicine. In addition, some researchers have
developed methods to aid with assessment of the
bioavailability of various ganoderic acids, while others have
studied factors that may influence the bioavailability
(Bishop et al., 2015). Although the pharmacokinetics of
other fungal polysaccharides were previously evaluated,
how to figure out the pharmacodynamics, standardize the
quality and perform reliable pharmacokinetic and
bioavailability studies of G. lucidum polysaccharides
remained to be determined (Cheng and Sliva, 2015; Ferreira
et al., 2015; Cao et al., 2018; Zeng et al., 2018). In
phytotherapeutic approach, a fraction of an active extract or
mixture of such fractions might prove better therapeutically,
less toxic, and inexpensive compared to pure isolated
compounds. However, some problems have been with G.
lucidum based products because of low reproducibility and
poor quality control. Hence, it has been important to develop
acceptable and reproducible protocols for manufacturing,
extraction and purification processes to ensure high quality,
effective, standard, and safe crude G. lucidum products and
preparations (Zhou et al., 2012; Nahata, 2013; Hapuarachchi
et al., 2018).
Conclusion
G. lucidum has long been reputed to extend the life span
and to increase youthful vigour and vitality. The specific
reported attributes of G. lucidum include lowering the risk
of cancer, heart disease, and infection. These health-
promoting effects are believed to be mediated via the
antioxidant, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and
immunomodulatory properties of the mushroom. The data
obtained from the research studies demonstrate the effect
of G. lucidum only on the molecular level. Hence, more
preclinical and clinical studies are necessary for the
validation of this natural product in the prevention and/or
therapy of cancer. In addition, G. lucidum-derived products
could not meet the demand of consumers and achieve the
goals of development not only in the technology content
but also in the product quality. Therefore, it is necessary to
deeply study the bioactive components from different G.
lucidum and identify their structures and their affecting
mechanisms. Then, based on the chemistry and

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pharmacodynamics research, the new control standard and
production process of G. lucidum products should be
developed in addition to modern cultivation methods. The
application of standard pharmaceutical methods to the
quality assurance, safety assessment, and efficacy testing
of G. lucidum compounds will be the first step in the
process of bringing them from the field into the health
establishments.
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