Strengthening the kidneys, protecting the liver, safeguarding the heart, and alleviating symptoms associated with tumor radiotherapy and chemotherapy? Let’s see how Professors Lin Zhibin and Yang Baoxue from Peking University evaluate Ganoderma lucidum fruit bodies and their extracts.

If you're taking lingzhi for health benefits but haven't yet tried the extract from the fruiting body of lingzhi, that'd be such a pity!

Professor Lin Zhibin from Peking University:
The pharmacopoeia defines "Lingzhi" as the "fruiting body," and its indications and main therapeutic effects include symptoms caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy for tumors.

During the 2019 Annual Meeting and the “Forum on the Healthy and Sustainable Development of the Ganoderma lucidum Industry,” organized by the Ganoderma Professional Committee of the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine in May of this year, Professor Lin Zhibin from the Department of Pharmacology at Peking University specifically pointed out that the Ganoderma lucidum referred to in both the "Shennong's Materia Medica" and the "Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China" refers exclusively to the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum.

Taking the record from the "Shennong’s Materia Medica," which states that red reishi mushroom is “bitter, neutral, and non-toxic, and primarily treats chest stagnation and strengthens heart qi,” as an example, he pointed out that modern pharmacological and clinical studies have indeed confirmed that reishi mushroom has certain therapeutic and protective effects on the cardiovascular system. This demonstrates that although ancient people lacked today’s sophisticated instruments and equipment, they were able to distill the efficacy of reishi into concise and insightful statements through practical experience. Thus, the ancients were not unscientific—rather, their scientific approach simply differed from that of modern people.

In 2000, the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China included Lingzhi for the first time, thereby establishing its status as a legally recognized Chinese medicinal material. The Pharmacopoeia explicitly defines the Lingzhi species included as either red Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) or purple Lingzhi (Ganoderma sinense), both of which are dried fruiting bodies. Lingzhi has a sweet and neutral flavor, and according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, it enters the heart, lung, liver, and kidney meridians. Its primary functions include tonifying qi, calming the spirit, relieving cough, and easing asthma. It is primarily indicated for conditions such as restlessness of the heart and mind, insomnia accompanied by palpitations, lung deficiency causing cough and asthma, weakness due to chronic illness with shortness of breath, and loss of appetite.

Lin Zhibin said that he has discussed this issue with many Chinese medicine practitioners, and they all unanimously agree that the functions and indications explicitly listed in the Pharmacopoeia for Ganoderma lucidum actually encompass the symptoms typically associated with cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, in theory, any product made from the dried fruiting bodies of either Red Ganoderma or Purple Ganoderma as specified in the Pharmacopoeia could have an auxiliary therapeutic effect on tumors. However, there are some differences in the specific ingredient profiles among products from different companies. Thus, it would be even more reliable if these products were backed by clinical trials.

▲ Lin Zhibin, a professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Peking University who has been studying Lingzhi for nearly half a century, also serves as the honorary chairman of the Lingzhi Professional Committee. In his speech, he pointed out that throughout history, the Lingzhi referred to in medical texts has always been the fruiting body; the fruiting body possesses the effects of tonifying qi, calming the spirit, relieving coughs, and easing asthma—and can even alleviate the discomfort caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy for tumors. (Photo/Wu Tingyao)

Professor Yang Baoxue of Peking University confirmed:
Ganoderma lucidum fruiting body extract strengthens the kidneys, protects the liver, and also safeguards the heart.

During the same conference, Professor Yang Baoxue from the Department of Pharmacology at Peking University presented his team’s research findings to date on Ganoderma lucidum. The study demonstrated that polysaccharides, triterpenes, and ganoderic acids extracted from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum exert remarkable protective effects on the kidneys, liver, heart, and blood vessels (as shown in the table below), which closely aligns with the pharmacopoeial record that the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum are attributed to the heart, lung, liver, and kidney meridians.

▲ Professor Yang Baoxue from Peking University, who also serves as the Chairman of the Ganoderma Committee of the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and his research team have verified that Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies have the effects of strengthening the kidneys, protecting the liver, and safeguarding the heart—findings that are consistent with the properties, flavors, and meridian tropism of Ganoderma lucidum as described in the Pharmacopoeia. (Photo by Wu Tingyao)

Professor Lin Zhibin from Peking University:
The extraction process for Lingzhi mushrooms is highly demanding—not every company can do it.

In July of this year, Fujian Strait TV’s “Xianzhi Yuqi Shuo” invited Professor Lin Zhibin to explain exactly what makes Lingzhi—also known as Reishi mushroom—so special.

When the host asked about how to consume Lingzhi, Professor Lin not only reiterated that, as documented in ancient medical texts and the current National Pharmacopoeia, Lingzhi refers exclusively to the fruiting body—but also went on to point out that “using the fruiting bodies of Lingzhi just as they’re about to release their spore powder is the best choice for product ingredients.” This is because at this stage, the Lingzhi fruiting body is at its peak maturity and contains both spore powder and mycelium, making it truly a “whole herb.”

When the host asked about the recommended products, Professor Lin responded by focusing on the production process: "Any company producing ganoderma extract must have relatively advanced and sophisticated equipment... Nowadays, for example, after extracting the active compounds with water, they proceed to alcohol extraction. This extraction process has very high requirements, and it also demands top-notch production equipment. Generally speaking, not every company can meet these standards—it takes considerable strength and capability to do so."

The Ganoderma lucidum extract Professor Lin refers to is actually an extract from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum. Water extraction can isolate water-soluble components from the fruiting bodies, such as polysaccharides, polysaccharide peptides, and amino acids. Alcohol extraction, on the other hand, can extract lipid-soluble components from the fruiting bodies, including triterpenes, ganoderic acids, and sterols. The essence of Ganoderma lucidum is fully concentrated in its extracts, making it convenient for modern people to enhance their health and nourish their vital energy.

▲ In his book “The Theory of Xianzhi Vitality,” Professor Lin Zhibin explains reishi mushroom in simple and easy-to-understand language. He points out that using the fruiting body of reishi mushroom just before it releases its spore powder is the best choice for product ingredients. At this stage, the reishi fruiting body contains both spore powder and mycelium, making it truly a “whole herb.”

Lingzhi fruiting body extract is precisely the product feature of GanoHerb.

In fact, the inclusion of Ganoderma lucidum fruiting body extract in our products is precisely what sets GanoHerb products apart. For example:

● Kang Aizhibao (Capsules/Powder)

Based on "Ganoderma lucidum alcohol extract + water extract" supplemented with cell-wall-broken spore powder, this product contains 10% crude polysaccharides and 8% total triterpenes, and offers three health benefits: anti-radiation, liver protection, and immune enhancement.

● Ganoderma spore extract (capsules/powder)

Based primarily on broken-wall spore powder, supplemented by “Ganoderma lucidum alcohol extract + water extract,” this product contains 8% crude polysaccharides and 2.4–2.5% total triterpenes, offering two health benefits: liver protection and immune enhancement.

● Zhi Sheng (Capsules)

Based on aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Ganoderma lucidum, as well as cell-wall–broken Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, combined with Paecilomyces tenuis powder derived from the bat moth, this product contains 0.12% adenosine and 0.6% total triterpenes, and offers health benefits in alleviating physical fatigue.

● Zhining (capsules)

Based primarily on ultrafine powder of Ganoderma lucidum, aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Ganoderma lucidum, combined with cell-wall-broken Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, this product contains 12.5% crude polysaccharides and 1% total triterpenes, and offers health benefits for improving sleep.

“Extraction technology” has always been a key area of continuous improvement and innovation for GanoHerb.

In fact, the innovation and R&D of "Ganoderma lucidum fruiting body extraction technology" have always been areas in which GanoHerb continuously refines and innovates. For example:

◆ Utilizing a uniquely invented supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technology (Patent No.: ZL201310615472.3) to enhance the dissolution rate of active ingredients in Ganoderma lucidum herbal slices;

◆ Utilizing the innovative “Ganoderma lucidum water extraction” technology (Patent No.: ZL01101789.9) and the industry-leading “Ganoderma lucidum alcohol extraction” technology (Patent No.: ZL201210222724.1) to enhance the bioactive components of Ganoderma products;

◆Developed an extraction method for isolating ganoderic acids C1 and F from fruiting bodies, which exhibit anti-tumor activity (Patent No.: ZL201310712528.7)...

In addition to fruiting bodies, GanoHerb is also committed to applying its extraction technology to the extraction of spore oil and spore powder. GanoHerb’s extraction process has not only been jointly certified by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products (CCCMHPIE) and the U.S. National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), meeting the requirements of the GEP (Good Extract Production Practices) quality management system; moreover, GanoHerb’s Ganoderma lucidum spore polysaccharide extraction process was even awarded the “2019 China Plant Extract Technology Innovation Award.”

Fruiting-body extract + spore powder + spore oil = Whole Reishi = All-round health care

GanoHerb is committed to producing high-quality Reishi mushrooms and dedicated to safeguarding human health. We offer spore oil, spore powder, and Reishi fruitbody extract. It’s the combination of these three—what we call “Whole Reishi”—that represents the health and wellness solution we’re most eager to provide to consumers.

For health and wellness with Lingzhi, the extract from Lingzhi fruiting bodies offers even more comprehensive benefits!

[Further Reading]
1. The extraction process of GanoHerb's Ganoderma lucidum spore polysaccharides has won the “2019 China Plant Extract Technology Innovation Award.”
2. Scientific evidence shows that “Ganoderma lucidum extract + cell-wall-broken spore powder” protects bone marrow and reduces radiation damage.
Note: Some content and photos in this article have been reprinted with permission from Wu Tingyao from Ganoderma News (www.ganodermanews.com).