Historically, Ganoderma lucidum has been lauded as the “miraculous king of herbs” and stands as one of the world’s most celebrated medicinal macrofungi. For many years, it has been recognized as a precious functional food, conferring numerous health benefits in preventing or combating conditions such as constipation, gastritis, cough and asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that Ganoderma lucidum can enhance vitality, strengthen cardiac function, improve memory, and combat aging [1].

Ganoderma lucidum is abundant in a wide range of active compounds. Among these, triterpenoids and polysaccharides constitute two major classes of bioactive components within the fungus. Specifically, compounds such as ganoderic aldehyde, ganoderol, and ganoderic acid exhibit potent antioxidant properties. These substances are capable of scavenging free radicals within the body, thereby shielding cells from the detrimental effects of oxidative stress. Moreover, they possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, enabling them to counteract a diverse array of viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens [2]. Clinical investigations have revealed that the triterpenoids present in Ganoderma lucidum play a crucial role in facilitating metabolism, regulating the body’s constitution and physiological functions, and enhancing the immune system [3].

A substantial amount of polysaccharides (GL – PS) in Ganoderma lucidum contributes to immune regulation and may play a role in stabilizing blood glucose levels [3]. Beyond that, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides exhibit antioxidant and anti – inflammatory effects. By alleviating cellular oxidative stress and decreasing the quantity of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in senescent cells, these polysaccharides are conducive to retarding the process of skin photoaging. Specifically, they can enhance the improvement of skin color, augment skin elasticity and luster. Meanwhile, they are capable of reducing the appearance of wrinkles and age – related pigmentation. Furthermore, they assist in alleviating the symptoms of skin allergies and eczema [4, 5].

The ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum (EGL) plays a role in liver protection by increasing the level of glutathione in the body [6]. Given that glutathione is a powerful antioxidant factor, it helps safeguard liver cells and eliminate liver cell damage caused by oxidative stress, thereby promoting liver metabolism and detoxification functions [7].

Related Product: YesNutri Premium Ganoderma Contains CoQ10

**This article is for reference purposes only. It is not intended to provide professional treatment or medical care or prevent any disease. Please consult with healthcare professionals regarding any concerns.

Reference：

1. Wachtel-Galor S, Yuen J, Buswell JA, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A Medicinal Mushroom. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 9. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
2. El Sheikha A. F. (2022). Nutritional Profile and Health Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum“Lingzhi, Reishi, or Mannentake” as Functional Foods: Current Scenario and Future Perspectives. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 11(7), 1030. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11071030
3. Suárez-Arroyo, I. J., Loperena-Alvarez, Y., Rosario-Acevedo, R., & Martínez-Montemayor, M. M. (2017). Ganoderma: A Promising Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland), 4(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines4010015
4. Shahid, A., Huang, M., Liu, M., Shamim, M. A., Parsa, C., Orlando, R., & Huang, Y. (2022). The medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum attenuates UV-induced skin carcinogenesis and immunosuppression. PloS one, 17(3), e0265615. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265615
5. Han Wang, Meiling Tai, Wanzhao Li, Yawen Li, Zhimeng Zhang, Dongli Zhang, Lishe Gan, Junhao Li, Xiaojuan Song, Honghong Qiu, Manmei Li, Heyun Zhang, Zhong Liu, Ganoderma lucidum extract reduces skin aging by reducing mitochondrial stress and controlling mitochondrial numbers, Fitoterapia, Volume 184, 2025, 106627, ISSN 0367-326X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106627.
6. Wang, J., Cao, B., Zhao, H., & Feng, J. (2017). Emerging Roles of Ganoderma Lucidumin Anti-Aging. Aging and disease, 8(6), 691–707. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2017.0410
7. Chen, Y., Han, M., Matsumoto, A., Wang, Y., Thompson, D. C., & Vasiliou, V. (2018). Glutathione and Transsulfuration in Alcohol-Associated Tissue Injury and Carcinogenesis. Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 1032, 37–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98788-0_3