Ganoderma Lucidum supplement extract benefit, side effects, dosage, Sinense mushroom and Tsugae information and studies by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
September 26 2016

Ganoderma is a basidiomycete white rot fungus which has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries particularly in China, Japan and Korea. The common names for preparations include Lingzhi, Munnertake, Sachitake, Reishi and Youngzhi. The metabolites consist of mainly polysaccharides and terpenoids. See a list of Chinese herbs.

Q. I have been doing research on Ganoderma Lucidum spore capsules and have been affected by you tube testimonials and results of persons taking this supplement. LHCC capsules have also been recommended. What is your opinion of quality control and purity of the Ganoderma Lucidum as the price is so variable. Are all of them equal?
   A. I am certain that the quality of the different products varies, but I am not aware of a specific study that has compared the various products on the over the counter market.

Do you sell or recommend quality ganoderma lucidum spore powder supplements and coffees? I would like to know more about this product.
   We do not have the coffees at this time.

Ganoderma lucidum is known as a medicinal mushroom that contains lucidenic acid.

Ganoderma and Cancer
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014. Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation of human ovarian cancer cells by suppressing VEGF expression and up-regulating the expression of connexin 43. Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, Reishimax) is an herbal mushroom known to have inhibitory effect on tumor cell growth.

Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2013 August. Anti-cancer properties of triterpenoids isolated from Ganoderma lucidum - a review. Triterpenoids isolated from Ganoderma lucidum are a class of naturally occurring compounds and structurally highly oxidized lanostanes. Accumulated data show that triterpenoids exhibit a broad spectrum of anti-cancer properties, including anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic activities. Extensive research over the last 10 years has provided evidence of the anti-cancer activities of GLTs in different stages of carcinogenesis. These activities include cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and autophagy, and suppression of metastasis and angiogenesis. Androgen receptor, nuclear factor-kappa B, activator protein-1, p53 and 14-3-3 are reportedly involved in the anti-cancer properties of GLTs.

Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells by down-regulation of estrogen receptor and NF-kappaB signaling.
Int J Oncol. 2006.
We have previously demonstrated that Ganderma lucidum inhibits growth and induces cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase through the inhibition of Akt/NF-kappaB signaling in estrogen-independent human breast cancer cells. Collectively, these results suggest that it inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells and contain biologically active compounds with specificity against estrogen receptor and NF-kappaB signaling, and implicate Ganoderma lucidum as a suitable herb for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of breast cancer.

Ganoderma lucidum extract inhibits proliferation of SW 480 human colorectal cancer cells.
Exp Oncol. 2006.
Ganoderma lucidum is a commonly used Chinese herb and an important ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulations for immune dysfunction related illnesses. The effects of this medicinal mushroom on human colorectal cancer cells have not yet been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ganoderma lucidum extract using SW 480 human colorectal cancer cell line. Ganoderma lucidum extract inhibits proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and possesses antioxidant properties.

Comparative studies of various ganoderma species and their different parts with regard to their antitumor and immunomodulating activities in vitro.
J Altern Complement Med. 2006.
Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi) has been commonly suggested in East Asia as a potential candidate for prevention and treatment of different diseases, including cancer. Ganoderma extracts, in particular Ganoderma lucidum (extracts or isolated components), have previously been shown to possess antitumor activities. The present study aimed at comparing three different species of Ganoderma, wildly grown versus cultivated, as well as the different parts of the fruiting body (whole fruiting body, pileus, and stipe), with regard to their antitumor effects in human breast cancer cells and immunomodulatory activities in mouse splenic lymphocytes in vitro. The aqueous extracts of ganoderma lucidum, ganoderma sinense, and ganoderma tsugae were examined for their antiproliferative activities in human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, as well as in normal human mammary epithelial cells (primary culture). The immunomodulatory effects of the extracts were evaluated in mouse splenic lymphocytes. The proliferative responses of the mentioned cell types were determined by MTT assay. The present results demonstrated that the extracts of all tested Ganoderma samples could significantly inhibit cell proliferation in human breast cancer cell MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, with ganoderma tsugae being the most potent. The extracts, however, did not exert any significant cytotoxic effect on human normal mammary epithelial cells. Within the species ganoderma sinense, the inhibitory effects of wildly grown samples were not significantly different from those of the cultivated samples, except at 400 microg/mL. Most of the tested extracts of Ganoderma stimulated mouse splenic lymphocytes proliferation. The extracts from the stipes of the ganoderma tsugae and wildly grown ganoderma sinense showed much stronger inhibitory effects than the other parts of the fruiting body in both cancer cell lines, whereas the extracts from the stipes of ganoderma lucidum and wildly grown ganoderma sinense showed stronger immunopotentiating activities in mouse splenic lymphocytes. These results indicate that the aqueous extracts of these commonly available Ganoderma fruiting bodies, ganoderma lucidum, sinense, and tsugae have antitumor activities in human breast cancer cells and immunomodulatory activities in murine lymphocytes. In addition, the present findings also suggest that the stipes of fruiting bodies of Ganoderma species should be included in the preparation of extract of these fungi in order to obtain the most comprehensive active ingredients.

Depression, mood
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013. Antidepressant-like effects of a water-soluble extract from the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia in rats.

Lipids in blood
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2012. Effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on oxidative stress of hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats. Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China. G. lucidum polysaccharides can significantly reduce the blood fat level of hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats and effectively inhibit oxidant stress, showing the effect on preventing and treating hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats to some extent.

Prostate health
Ganoderma lucidum and prostate tissue
Randomized clinical trial of an ethanol extract of Reishi Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.
Asian J Androl. 2008.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an extract of ganoderma lucidum that shows the strongest 5alpha-reductase inhibitory activity among the extracts of 19 edible and medicinal mushrooms by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized and dose-ranging study in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We randomly assigned 88 men over the age of 49 years who had slight-to-moderate LUTS to 3 month of treatment with ganoderma lucidum extract (6 mg once a day) or placebo. The primary outcome measures were changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and variables of uroflowmetry. Reishi extract was effective and significantly superior to placebo for improving total IPSS. No changes were observed with respect to quality of life scores, peak urinary flow, mean urinary flow, residual urine, prostate volume, serum prostate-specific antigen or testosterone levels. The extract of ganoderma lucidum was well tolerated and improved IPSS scores.

Concerns
Ann Clin Lab Sci. 2013. An abnormal elevation of serum CA72-4 by ganoderma lucidum spore powder. We reported three patients with an abnormal elevation of serum CA72-4 levels when taking GLSP, which is commonly used as a dietary supplement for cancer patients across the globe. Furthermore, the results were not due to the apparent analytical interference. In case 1 and case 2, excessive examinations were carried out because of a lack of timely communication with patients when the abnormal elevation of CA724 was found. In contrast, the lesson from these two cases made us communicate with the patient in a timely manner in Case 3, avoiding unnecessary examinations when the same situation happened. Therefore, it is necessary to communicate with patients in a timely manner once an abnormal elevation of serum CA72-4 is found.

Emails
Q. I have been looking for information on ganoderma herb. I understand that it is great for the immune system. Have you had any experience with it and do you know where one might get it in a form that you might use to supercharge the immune system.
   A. Ganoderma supplements may enhance the immune system in the short term, but long term human studies are not available to determine how effective this mushroom extract is in terms of its influence on the immune system when used for months or years.

Q.  I am distributor of one of the best international Co DXN growing ganoderma Reishi mushroom )and available in capsules form .You may be littel knowing for mushroom but unknown for Reshi mushroom. as it is not studied . It is said to king of herbs, highest therapeutic value, contains more than 200 active elements promoting health. It works at cellular level, makes cells alive, normalise / balance body function, increase immunity, discharge toxins and normalise blood circulation. Medicine works on particular diseases while ganoderma can repair damaged organs. Ganoderma herb is best for every Medical practitioners. No higher or parallel than ganoderma herb. If you intrested in ganoderma , let me inform.
   A. Some distributors become overly enthusiastic about the products they promote.

Other products on the market
Reishi Mushroom by Planetary Formulas
Reishi contains more than 100 substances many of which are known for their ability to support our immune defenses.  Planetary Formulas Full Spectrum Reishi Mushroom combines a highly concentrated extract of the fruiting body with the mycelia biomass, to ensure that every bit of ganoderma lucidum activity is present and easily assimilable.

Buy this ganoderma lucidum product
Supplement Facts:
Proprietary Blend: 920 mg
    Ganoderma lucidum Mycelia Biomass, Mature Ganoderma lucidum extract.

Nature's Way, Reishi Standardized, 100 Capsules
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