Although this article was first published in 2019, it remains touching and insightful even today. By "sharing an old article anew," our aim is to let more friends who are just getting to know us discover the moving story behind GanoHerb's Reishi Spore Oil.

 

Below is the main text of the article.

 

Though it’s the same Reishi spore oil, many people who consume the spore oil produced by GanoHerb Group often feel that it is "somehow different"—it appears crystal clear and emits a subtle fragrance, especially after a few drinks, when its liver-protective effects can be particularly noticeable.

 

Just like a delicious dish requires both high-quality ingredients and skilled chefs, GanoHerb's spore oil stands out not only for its standardized cultivation and harvesting of fresh spore powder but also for the expertise of a seasoned professional in supercritical CO2 extraction technology.

 

He is Weixi Yao, GanoHerb's Chief Scientist, a former research fellow and doctoral advisor at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Due to his enthusiasm for teaching and guiding others, everyone affectionately calls him "Teacher Yao."

 

 

1. Pioneer of Supercritical CO2 Extraction Technology

 

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as CAS), where Teacher Yao worked from his graduation from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1964 until his retirement in 2001, brings together China's top scientists.

 

Having studied radiochemistry in university, he was assigned to the Institute of Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he participated in research on the separation of nuclear material uranium. Later, when the Institute of Environmental Chemistry (the predecessor of the current Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences) was established, he was transferred to this new unit, focusing on the analysis and detection of organic pollutants in the environment (such as benzo[a]pyrene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls) as well as developing new extraction techniques for natural fragrances and essential oils (such as osmanthus oil, rose essential oil, and peppermint oil).

 

Although the work may seem different, they all essentially involve "separating a specific component from a complex substance." To accomplish these tasks, various equipment and techniques are inevitably required. As a researcher at the nation's highest academic institution and a pioneer in leading the country's industrial development, Teacher Yao had access to the most advanced equipment, technologies, and knowledge that were aligned with international standards. Supercritical CO2 extraction technology was one of these innovations. Beginning in 1991, Teacher Yao was sent to the United States, Germany, and France to participate in research on supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography, becoming one of the first researchers in China to apply this advanced technology."

 

He not only applied supercritical CO2 extraction technology during his research at the Institute of Environmental Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, but also continued to use it after retirement when he was recruited as a scientific advisor at Hong Kong's "CK Life Sciences." There, he employed the technology for the extraction, separation, and purification of bioactive components from fermentation products, contributing to new drug development. After joining GanoHerb's R&D team in 2009, Teacher Yao's primary focus became designing a "better" extraction method for Reishi spore oil using supercritical CO2 extraction technology.

 

2. Why Use Supercritical CO2 to Extract Reishi Spore Oil?

 

CO2, commonly known as carbon dioxide, can be brought to a supercritical state by controlling temperature and pressure, where it exists as neither a gas nor a liquid but as a fluid. In this state, CO2 exhibits excellent solubility for oil-soluble and fat-soluble substances, making it highly efficient at extracting and separating these components from raw materials.

 

When supercritical CO2 is used for extracting Reishi spore oil, no solvents are required. The sporoderm-broken Reishi spore powder is simply placed into an extraction tank, and supercritical CO2 is passed through the spore powder to dissolve and extract the spore oil. Compared to spore oil extracted using chemical solvents like petroleum ether or n-hexane, supercritical CO2 extraction has two major advantages:

 

(1) Safe for consumption and environmentally friendly: CO2 is non-toxic, tasteless, and odorless. After supercritical CO2 dissolves the spore oil, it can be converted into gas by changing the pressure, allowing it to completely separate from the spore oil without leaving any residue. The CO2 that is converted into gas can also be pressurized and recycled for reuse, minimizing environmental impact.

 

(2) Preservation of active ingredients: The entire extraction process is conducted at relatively low temperatures, which prevents the destruction of the bioactivity of the active ingredients in spore oil.

▲ GanoHerb's pilot-scale supercritical CO2 extraction equipment

 

GanoHerb's Exclusive Process for Producing High-Quality Spore Oil

 

Actually, in the early 21st century, there were already some instances of using supercritical CO₂ to extract spore oil in China. However, before Teacher Yao developed new patented technologies for GanoHerb, the industry’s approach typically involved first extracting the oil-soluble substances, lipids, and moisture from the spores together, and then separating the spore oil from other impurities using additional purification equipment, such as high-speed centrifuges.

 

This method often struggles to achieve complete separation, leaving some impurities in the spore oil that can affect product quality. This long-standing challenge in the industry was quickly resolved by the experienced Teacher Yao. He designed a new supercritical CO2 extraction method for GanoHerb's spore oil: utilizing the property of supercritical CO2 to have varying solubility at different pressures, he applied different pressures in two stages. This process first removes impurities and moisture from the spore powder, and then extracts the spore oil.

 

Therefore, unlike traditional methods that require two sets of equipment, Teacher Yao's new approach only requires one set of equipment to separate the oil from impurities and moisture on the same production line.

 

 

This online extraction and separation method of "fractional purification" not only improves the purity and yield of the spore oil but also simplifies production equipment and operational processes, reducing energy consumption during production and categorizing it as a low-carbon production technology. Teacher Yao not only achieved GanoHerb's goal of "creating high-quality Reishi spore oil," but also advanced the industry’s use of supercritical CO2 extraction technology for spore oil significantly. As a result, this invention patent was applied for in 2010 and quickly received national authorization in 2012.

 

 

4. Reishi spore oil with antitumor activity

 

To gain a deeper understanding of the Reishi spore oil obtained through patented methods, Professor Yao led the research and development team at GanoHerb to explore its biological activity and efficacy. The study found that this spore oil contains specific active compounds that can not only inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro but also suppress tumor growth in prostate cancer mice in vivo, with an inhibition rate of over 56.3% (oral dosage of 110 mg/kg, administered over 10 consecutive days). This scientific achievement enabled GanoHerb to secure another invention patent in 2014.

 

 

In 2016, a research team jointly formed by GanoHerb, the School of Pharmacy at Fujian Medical University, and the Molecular Biology Laboratory at the University of Arizona published a paper in the international journal *Oncology Letters*, confirming that Reishi spore oil extracted using GanoHerb's patented method can reduce the weight of sarcomas and liver tumors in mice by 30.9% and 44.9%, respectively (administered orally at a dosage of 1.2 g/kg per day for 10 consecutive days).

 

 

5. Reasons for choosing GanoHerb to "make the most of my experience": Timing, shared hometown, and the character of the boss.

 

The supercritical CO₂ extraction technology for spore oil developed by Professor Yao has created a new milestone for GanoHerb. However, it raises the question: why did this authority on supercritical technology choose to join GanoHerb, which was not well-known and relatively small at the time, ten years ago? The connection dates back 27 years to when Professor Yao first met Chairman Li Ye of GanoHerb. At that time, "Chairman Li" was working as a technician at the Xingpu Ganoderma Experimental Station, a collaboration between the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Pucheng County government, while Professor Yao was employed at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

 

 

Let us now hear Professor Yao's reflection on this history: "Like Chairman Li, I am also from Pucheng. I completed my primary and secondary education in Pucheng and have deep feelings for my hometown and its people, as well as for every tree and blade of grass. After the reform and opening up, the Nanping City Office in Beijing gathered around one to two hundred people from Pucheng living in Beijing to establish the "Pucheng Association of People in Beijing," of which I was the first president. In 1992, I returned to Pucheng with members of the association, hoping to contribute ideas and strategies for the economic development of our hometown. The county leaders responsible for science and technology and the chairman of the Science and Technology Association expressed that while Pucheng had excellent Ganoderma cultivation, it lacked technology-oriented talent and hoped we could provide technological support. They recommended that we meet with Chairman Li. At that time, Chairman Li was a key technical staff member at the Xingpu Ganoderma Station. He personally took us to see the Ganoderma base and engaged us in technological exchanges. I found this young man in his twenties to be very sincere and his work to be solid. When I met him again later, he had already become Chairman Li of GanoHerb. He successfully sustained the Xingpu Ganoderma Station, which was on the verge of dissolution, established his own company, and transitioned from exporting raw materials to developing his own brand and "organic" products. That is truly remarkable."

 

In 1992, Li Ye (right), who was then a technician at the Xingpu Ganoderma Experimental Station, personally introduced the log-based wild-simulated cultivation of Ganoderma to Yao Weixi (left), the president of the "Pucheng Association of People in Beijing" at that time.

 

When the two met again in 2004, Researcher Yao Weixi (center) had retired from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Chairman Li Ye (right) had established Fujian Xianzhilou Biological Science and Technology Co., Ltd. in Fuzhou.

 

In 2009, Chairman Li invited me because he needed to use supercritical technology to extract spore oil. At that time, I had just completed my work in Hong Kong and returned to the mainland. Concurrently, two organizations from Hunan and Guangxi undertaking national science and technology projects also invited me to participate in technical work. Additionally, an academician from my former organization invited me to assist in guiding doctoral students' research. Since Chairman Li's company was a hometown enterprise recommended by the county leaders for technological support, I was driven by the ideal of contributing to the economic development of my hometown and helping mushroom farmers escape poverty and achieve prosperity, so I chose GanoHerb without hesitation. Initially, I just wanted to give it a try, but because Chairman Li had great character, he possessed both strategic vision and tactical arrangements for the company's development, maintained a well-organized management style, and showed great respect for intellectuals, as well as being very tolerant of me. As a result, I continued working there for ten years.

 

Because they are both from Pucheng, Fujian, Professor Yao (right) chose to join GanoHerb ten years ago; and due to Chairman Li Ye's (left) character and vision, Professor Yao has remained with GanoHerb to this day. (Photo by Ye Cheng, Fuzhou Evening News)

 

6. He makes GanoHerb unique; and Ganoderma makes him, at 78 years old, unique as well.

 

Due to favorable timing, geographic and human conditions, Professor Yao has dedicated ten years at GanoHerb to utilizing his expertise and deeply researching Ganoderma. He has participated in the application and defense of a total of 31 national patents, and under his assistance, GanoHerb has obtained 23 national invention patents and 5 utility model patents to date. He is not only the soul of GanoHerb's R&D team but has also accompanied the company through its growth. Reflecting on the journey from 2009 to the end of 2019, when asked about his expectations for GanoHerb, Professor Yao replied without hesitation: "I believe Ganoderma represents a very promising health industry that aligns with the national strategy for health. Over the past decade, GanoHerb has developed well, and as we continue on our path of development, we must have sound strategies, innovative thinking, and increase investment in R&D while accelerating the cultivation of research talent. Although not all R&D results can ultimately be transformed into products, solid R&D work is essential for producing quality products."

 

 

As the Chief Scientist of GanoHerb, Yao Weixi (third from the right in the front row) emphasizes that research and development are central to improving product quality and enhancing the competitiveness of the company, serving as a driving force for innovation. So, what about Ganoderma? What are Professor Yao's insights on Ganoderma? "I didn't consume it much before, but about three years ago, when I was 75 and my physical condition noticeably declined, I began taking Ganoderma spore oil and GanoExtra (a blend of Ganoderma water extract, Ganoderma alcohol extract, and Ganoderma spore powder), following the recommended dosage on the product packaging. After taking it, my health improved significantly, especially during reunions with old classmates, where I felt noticeably better than my peers of the same age."

 

 

"I believe that Ganoderma has a beneficial effect on various aspects of the human body, much like a magic herb; however, it requires prolonged use to truly experience its effects."

 

▲ In 2019, GanoHerb celebrated the 70th anniversary of the motherland with a themed event at Jinggangshan, featuring a photo of Professor Yao and his wife at Jinggangshan.

 

"I once collaborated with teachers from the School of Pharmacy at Fujian Medical University and discovered that using only Ganoderma triterpenes (the main component of the alcohol extract) or only Ganoderma polysaccharides (the main component of the water extract) does not yield results as effective as combining both triterpenes and polysaccharides. Therefore, the benefits of Ganoderma stem from the synergistic effects of multiple components. It is difficult to expect noticeable effects from consuming it for just one or two days; however, consistent long-term consumption is undoubtedly beneficial for the body. For instance, I haven't experienced much cold or illness in the past three years, which is certainly related to Ganoderma."

In September 2019, Yao Weixi represented GanoHerb at the 10th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference, where he presented the latest research findings on the extraction of Ganoderma triterpenes and sterols using ultra-high pressure supercritical CO₂, along with their antitumor activity.

 

7. The scientist's integrity and the entrepreneur's benevolence contribute to GanoHerb's unique Ganoderma.

 

Yao Weixi provides GanoHerb with the unique confidence in R&D and Ganoderma spore oil; in turn, Ganoderma grants Yao Weixi a distinct sense of purpose in life and good health, offering people around the world unique choices for taking care of themselves and their families. As a scientist, his greatest wish is for the research achievements in the laboratory to be applied in the market and benefit the wider population. As an entrepreneur, his highest aspiration is for the company to continuously innovate with technologically advanced products, ensuring that the mission to benefit humanity is not just a slogan but a reality that can be experienced. Yao Weixi and Li Ye, two individuals from different eras and backgrounds—one a scientist, the other an entrepreneur—are united by their common hometown of Pucheng and the shared cause of Ganoderma, which brings health to people, allowing their visions to be realized more fully. The platform for this realization is GanoHerb.

 

END

 

 

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★ The original manuscript of this article was authored in Chinese by Wu Tingyao and subsequently translated into English by Alfred Liu. In the event of any inconsistencies between the English translation and the original Chinese text, the latter shall take precedence. For any queries, pls reach out to the original author, Ms. Wu Tingyao.