About
Ganoderma lucidum, widely known as Reishi (Japan) or Lingzhi (China), is one of the most revered medicinal mushrooms in traditional Eastern medicine. Distinguished by its glossy, reddish-brown, kidney-shaped cap and tough, woody texture, this polypore fungus is famed for its adaptogenic, immune-boosting, and anti-aging properties. Though naturally rare, it is now cultivated globally and forms the basis of countless herbal products, teas, tinctures, and supplements.
History
Reishi has a documented use stretching back over 2,000 years in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese medicinal traditions, where it was considered the “Mushroom of Immortality” and reserved for emperors and nobility. Ancient Taoist texts and materia medica referred to Ganoderma lucidum as a symbol of spiritual potency, longevity, and wisdom.
Western science began studying the mushroom more rigorously in the 20th century, confirming the presence of biologically active compounds such as triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and beta-glucans. These have demonstrated potential effects on immune modulation, inflammation, liver health, and cancer resistance.
Overview
Ganoderma lucidum is a wood-decomposing fungus that typically grows on hardwood stumps, especially oak and maple. Its fruiting body has a shiny varnished appearance due to natural lacquer-like compounds on its surface. It is non-edible in its raw form due to its tough texture, but highly valuable as a medicinal extract.
Modern cultivation has made this once-rare mushroom more accessible, and it is now a cornerstone of the global functional mushroom industry. Reishi supplements are commonly used for stress relief, sleep support, cardiovascular health, and overall wellness. Its deep spiritual and therapeutic legacy continues to influence holistic health practices worldwide.
Physical Characteristics
Caps:
Distinctive kidney or fan-shaped cap with a shiny, lacquered appearance
Gills:
N/A
Cognitive Effects
Endurance
Reishi mushroom is often consumed for its adaptogenic properties, which can help the body and mind cope with stress. By reducing mental fatigue and promoting relaxation, it may indirectly support cognitive performance.
Calm
Studies have shown that Reishi may have positive effects on mood and emotional well-being. It is believed to support a healthy stress response and may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Helps With
Gut Microbiome
Reishi mushrooms help reduce inflammation in the gut, which is beneficial for individuals with IBD and other inflammatory conditions. By modulating the immune response, Reishi mushrooms can help maintain a balanced immune system, crucial for preventing autoimmune reactions that can harm the gut lining.
Fertility
Known as an adaptogen, it has shown to improve adrenal cortical function, which can support the body during certain states
Arthritis
Reishi mushrooms contain a trio of bioactive molecular families that fight immunosenescence, helping to restore both appropriate responses to infection and appropriate resolution of inflammation.
Diabetes
Reishi has been found to have anti-diabetic activity due to their polysaccharides and terpenoids.
Injury Recovery
Reishi has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation and pain. It may also help reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.
Heart Health
Contains many bioactive compounds such as triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and peptidoglycans that influence its health properties. In a clinical trial on people with diabetes, reishi helped reduce both blood cholesterol and insulin resistance.
Immune System
Reishi mushrooms, known as the "mushroom of immortality," offer powerful benefits to the immune system. Rich in bioactive compounds like triterpenes and beta-glucans, Reishi enhances immune function by stimulating the activity of white blood cells, including macrophages and natural killer cells. These cells play a critical role in defending the body against infections and diseases.
Cancer
Reishi has been shown to have anti-cancer properties, which may help reduce the risk of certain cancers. It may also help reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.
Inflammation
Reishi has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation and pain. It may also help reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.
Medicinal Chemistry
Similar Species
Species: Ganoderma applanatum
Edibility: Inedible
Key Differences: Ganoderma applanatum has a flat, fan-like appearance, while Ganoderma lucidum typically has a more kidney or oval shape with a shiny, varnished appearance.
Species: Ganoderma applanatum
Edibility: Inedible
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Artist's Conk
Ganoderma Applanatum
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References
Exploring the Phytochemical Compositions, Antioxidant Activity, and Nutritional Potentials of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms
Invitro Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma Lucidum) Against a Select Gram Positive and Negative Bacteria
Medicinal Mushrooms: Their Bioactive Components, Nutritional Value and Application in Functional Food Production—A Review
Polypore fungus extracts reduce cytotoxicity of cadmium ions in the Hordeum test
Extracts of Polypore Mushroom Mycelia Reduce Viruses in Honey Bees
Polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum attenuate microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and modulate microglial phagocytosis and behavioural response
Antitubercular Activity of Mycelium-Associated Ganoderma Lanostanoids
Antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts made of mushroom mycelia developed in submerged culture
Culture broth of Ganoderma lucidum exhibited antioxidant, antibacterial and α-amylase inhibitory activities
The effects of freeze-dried Ganoderma lucidum mycelia on a recurrent oral ulceration rat model
This review provides a bibliometric analysis of the recent literature on biological activities, highlights trends in the field, and highlights the countries and journals with the highest contribution. It also discusses the nutritional value of the total content of phenolic and other phytochemicals in some species of mushrooms.
2024
The antimicrobial activity of water extract of reishi extract was first observed as early as 3h of incubation. The antibacterial activity of the extract increased linearly with the increasing concentration of extracts. The results revealed that Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to reishi mushrooms than Gram-negative bacteria. The HPLC analysis of the aqueous extract of reishi revealed the presence of beta [1-3] glucans, ganoderic acid and triterpenoids that may have contributed to the antimicrobial activity. Overall results suggest that aqueous extract of reishi mushroom has considerable antimicrobial potential against gram positive bacteria.
2024
Medicinal mushrooms, e.g., Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers.), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst.), Chaga (Inonotus obliquus (Ach. ex Pers.) Pilát), Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones and Spatafora), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler), and Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd), are considered new-generation foods and are of growing interest to consumers. They are characterised by a high content of biologically active compounds, including (1,3)(1,6)-β-d-glucans, which are classified as dietary fibre, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, and sterols.
2023
The search for new plant growth regulators that have an adaptogenic and protective effect, for example, in polluted with heavy metals environment, is of great interest. Under the requirements for the environmental friendliness, natural products can be considered as prospective sources of such biologically active substances, for example, the fruiting bodies of xylotrophic fungi, which are widespread in the forests of Russia.
2022
Waves of highly infectious viruses sweeping through global honey bee populations have contributed to recent declines in honey bee health. Bees have been observed foraging on mushroom mycelium, suggesting that they may be deriving medicinal or nutritional value from fungi. Fungi are known to produce a wide array of chemicals with antimicrobial activity, including compounds active against bacteria, other fungi, or viruses.
2018
Ganoderma lucidum (GL) has been widely used in Asian countries for hundreds of years to promote health and longevity. The pharmacological functions of which had been classified, including the activation of innate immune responses, suppression of tumour and modulation of cell proliferations. Effective fractions of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) had already been reported to regulate the immune system. Nevertheless, the role of GLP in the microglia-mediated neuroinflammation has not been sufficiently elucidated.
2017
In a continuation of our research into antitubercular lanostane triterpenoids from submerged cultures of Ganoderma species, three strains, Ganoderma orbiforme BCC 22325, Ganoderma sp. BCC 60695, and Ganoderma australe BCC 22314, have been investigated. Fourteen new lanostane triterpenoids, together with 35 known compounds, were isolated. Antitubercular activities of these mycelium-associated Ganoderma lanostanoids against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra were evaluated.
2017
The ethanolic extracts of dried biomass made of mushroom mycelium produced in the submerged cultures of eight edible/medicinal macromycete species Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma lucidum, Laetiporus sulphureus, Flammulina velutipes, Trametes versicolor, Hericium coralloides, Pleurotus eryngii 2600 and Agaricus campestris were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities. Pathogenic tested microorganisms were represented by five bacteria and two yeasts B.subtilis subsp. spizizenii ATCC 6633, Staphilococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, E.faecalis ATCC 29212, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Candida parapsilosis CBS604.
2017
Culture broth of Ganoderma lucidum was determined for antioxidant, antibacterial and α-amylase inhibitory activities. The culture broth contained protein as determined by Bradford method equaled to 0.2 mg/ml and total phenol content as 0.078 mg GAE/mg protein (0.557 mg GAE/g extract). It exhibited radicals scavenging activities against ABTS+· and DPPH·radicals with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) less than 1.70 ± 0.02 and 2.28 ± 0.02 µg protein/ml, respectively and reducing power equaled to 4.38 ± 0.02 µmol Trolox/µg protein as investigated by ferric ion reducing antioxidant power method.
2017
Conventional scientific studies had supported the use of polysaccharides and β-glucans from a number of fungi, including Ganoderma lucidum for the treatment of recurrent oral ulceration (ROU). Our aim of the present study was to evaluate whether freeze-dried powder from G. lucidum mycelia (FDPGLM) prevents ROU in rats. Methods: A Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model with ROU was established by autoantigen injection.
2017