Pharmacological effects of whole Ganoderma (Reishi) extracts in vivo and in vitro (for references see Hobbs, 1995)

• Analgesic
• Anti-allergic activity
• Bronchitis-preventative effect, inducing regeneration of bronchial epithelium
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antibacterial, against Staphylococci, Streptococci, and Bacillus pneumoniae (perhaps due to increased immune system activity)
• Antioxidant, by eliminating hydroxyl free radicals
• Antitumor activity
• Antiviral effect, by inducing interferon production
• Lowers blood pressure
• Enhances bone marrow nucleated cell proliferation
• Cardiotonic action, lowering serum cholesterol levels with no effect on triglycerides, enhancing myocardial metabolism of hypoxic animals, and improving coronary artery hemodynamics
• Central depressant and peripheral anti-cholinergic actions on the autonomic nervous system reduce the effects of caffeine and relax muscles
• Enhanced natural killer cell (NK) activity in vitro in mice
• Expectorant and antitussive properties demonstrated in mice studies
• General immunopotentiation
• Anti-HIV activity in vitro and in vivo
• Improved adrenocortical function
• Increased production of Interleukin-1 by murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro
• Increased production of Interleukin-2 by murine splenocytes in vitro

Key active constituents:

• Beta and hetero-Beta-glucans (antitumour, immunostimulating )
• Ling Zhi-8 protein (anti-allergenic, immuno-modulating)
• Ganodermic acids triterpenes (anti-allergenic agents, cholesterol and blood pressure reducing.

Ganoderma Lucidum is the scientific name for a species of Red Mushrooms and is said to be more powerful than Ginseng. Known as the "Miraculous King of Herbs", Ganoderma (also known as Lingzhi in China; Reishi in Japan and Youngchi in Korea) is listed as a Superior Herb in Sheng Nong's Pharmacopeia, an ancient Chinese Herbal Text dating back over 2,000 years.
For thousands of years, Ganoderma Lucidum (the Red Mushroom), a kind of medicinal fungi, has been highly regarded by the Chinese as the "Miraculous King of Herbs." Ganoderma is said to be able to improve the body's healing ability, maintain a healthy body and promote longevity. Under the attentive research done by domestic and foreign scholars in recent years, as well as the cooperative analysis and clinical experiments done by hospitals, colleges and pharmaceutical manufacturers, Ganoderma has shown to have the ability to help and strengthen the body function more effectively and efficiently.

What is so special about Ganoderma?

Among many types of mushroom, only Ganoderma was highly praised for more than 2000 years. What makes it stands out from the other fungi? What are the beneficial active components found in Ganoderma that make it so precious?

Ganoderma is from the Mycetes kingdom. These are generally short and tiny fungi unable to produce their own nutrient through photosynthesis like green plants. They can either Earth breed or lead a parasitic life by surviving on nutrients of other plants and animals.

Within the Mycetes kingdom, Basidiomycetes such as Ganoderma Lucidum and mushroom are the superior grade. Many are edible and have excellent healing properties. These fungi naturally become the more precious medicinal herb in the Basidiomycetes kingdom.

The unique of Ganoderma

Ganoderma Lucidum is the only fungus with an unusual combination of beneficial components such as:

• Polysaccharides
• Organic Germanium
• Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)
• Triterpenes

Other mushroom family may contain one or the other active components. However, Ganoderma contains all of those in significant concentration. So what are the healing effects of those substances in your body?

Modern researches on Ganoderma Lucidum successfully extracted each component to test its healing effects. Scientists found that these active components can:

• enhance immune system and improve cancer
• neutralize toxics in the body
• reduce free radicals to slow down aging
• remove circulation blockage

In fact, these health benefits were recorded in ancient China medical text more than 2000 years ago. This herb is grouped into 6 main categories. And the Red Reishi, or Ganoderma Lucidum is currently the most popular because of its high medicinal values.