Health Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum as a Medicinal Mushroom


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BULAM S., ÜSTÜN N., PEKŞEN A.

Türk Tarım - Gıda Bilim ve Teknoloji dergisi, vol.7, no.sp1, pp.84-93, 2019 (Peer-Reviewed Journal) identifier

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst., known as “Lingzhi” in China or “Reishi” in Japan, is a wellknownmedicinal mushroom and traditional Chinese medicine, which has been used for theprevention 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 plasticbags or bottles to meet the demands of international markets. Diverse groups of chemicalcompounds 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 compoundsas primarily triterpenoids and polysaccharides of G. lucidum have been reported to possesshepatoprotective, antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic, antihistaminic effects and antioxidant,antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antiangiogenic activities. Several formulations have beendeveloped, 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 clinicaltrials, various products have commercially become available as syrup, injection, tablet, tincture orbolus of powdered medicine and an ingredient or additive in dark chocolate bars and organicfermented medicinal mushroom drink mixes such as green teas, coffees, and hot cacaos. This reviewhas intended to give and discuss recent knowledge on phytochemical and pharmacologicalcompositions, therapeutic and side effects, clinical trials, and commercial products of G. lucidum.