Research Sharing | The Value of Ganoderma—Time Will Tell!

In an era when everyone is eagerly pursuing health, every so often a new “trend” emerges, confidently pushing forward like the waves of the Yangtze River overtaking those that came before, frequently beckoning to the market and irresistibly prompting many health-conscious consumers to wonder: Is it time to try something new?

However, if you observe long enough, it’s not hard to notice that countless “new faces” once adorned with unparalleled beauty have already been replaced by a new generation—while the lingzhi mushroom, so familiar to you and me, has steadfastly endured from our grandparents’ and parents’ generations all the way to ours. Chances are that when it reaches our children’s and grandchildren’s generations, it will still remain as fresh and enduring as ever.

Time has proven the value of “medicinal mushrooms in promoting health.”

This value, proven over time, is particularly evident in several regularly held international large-scale conferences. The International Medicinal Mushroom Conference (IMMC)—held every two years and regarded as a major professional platform for the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the medicinal mushroom industry—is an excellent indicator for observing this phenomenon.

In September 2001, the first International Conference on Medicinal Mushrooms was held in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. A total of 384 scientists and industry professionals from 38 countries and regions attended the conference. This year (2019), in September, the 10th International Conference on Medicinal Mushrooms was held in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, bringing together over 1,000 participants from 43 countries and regions.

Scientists are objective and realistic; industrialists are pragmatic—and naturally even more realistic. As a result, after 18 years of collaborative industry-academia development, the number of people participating in the exchange of the latest research findings on medicinal mushrooms has tripled, which undoubtedly provides the best evidence that “medicinal mushrooms truly do contribute to human health.”

▲ Professor Wasser from the University of Haifa in Israel, Honorary Chairman of the 10th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference, delivered a speech titled “Can Mushrooms Really Be Used as Medicines?” (Photo by Wu Tingyao)

Time has also proven the value of "Lingzhi."

Further analysis of the presentation topics from these two conferences reveals that the presentations at the 1st Medicinal Mushroom Conference were primarily characterized by holistic and comprehensive discussions (Table 1). In contrast, at the 10th Conference, more than 60% of the presentations explicitly focused on specific medicinal mushrooms or particular active ingredients (Table 2). This indicates that, after many years of exploration, both the scientific community and the industry have gained an increasingly clear understanding of the potential and commercial value of various types of medicinal mushrooms.

And amidst a sea of mushrooms, Lingzhi is not only one of the few medicinal fungi at the first-ever conference to single-handedly carry an entire presentation on its own, but also the only medicinal fungus whose product—specifically, an injectable formulation made from Lingzhi spore powder extract—has been rigorously studied from cell experiments and animal trials all the way through to human clinical observations.

This Ganoderma ( Ganoderma lucidum The formulation has been shown in vitro to possess antioxidant and free-radical-scavenging properties. In vivo studies have demonstrated that it can improve immune-mediated dermatomyositis, myotonia, sleep quality, and immune function in animals, and also promote microcirculation in the brain and heart. When used in patients, it exhibits remarkable therapeutic efficacy against a variety of neuromuscular disorders, with no significant side effects observed. The unique feature of Lingzhi—“treating different diseases with the same approach”—is clearly evident here.

The speaker for this lecture was Professor Liu Gengtao, a pioneering figure who developed the application of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder in the 1970s—a late Chinese Academy of Engineering academician and former researcher at the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Although he has passed away, the legacy of Ganoderma research and its applications continues to thrive, growing ever more brilliant through generations of successors.

The keynote speech on Ganoderma lucidum at the 10th International Medicinal Mushroom Conference not only far surpasses other medicinal mushrooms in terms of quantity but also covers a wide range of topics—including mushroom species, active ingredients, pharmacological effects, human applications, and industrial development—topics that no other medicinal mushroom can even begin to match. And this does not even include the Ganoderma-related discussions featured in the broader presentations on various medicinal mushrooms.

The 10th International Conference on Medicinal Mushrooms
A presentation related to Ganoderma lucidum

▲ Professor Yang Baoxue from the Department of Pharmacology at the School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, provides a clear and concise introduction to the pharmacological mechanisms behind how ganoderma extract protects the liver and kidneys. (Photography/Wu Tingyao)

▲ Researcher Zhang Jinsong from the Edible Mushroom Research Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences offers a comprehensive analysis of “Key Issues in the Development of China’s Ganoderma lucidum Industry.” (Photo by Wu Tingyao)

▲ Associate Professor Kuniyoshi Shimizu from Kyushu University in Japan delivered a remarkably insightful presentation on “the types of triterpenes synthesized at various growth stages of Ganoderma lucidum, and how to efficiently harness these ganoderma triterpenes to develop products tailored to different efficacy needs.” (Photo by Ting-yao Wu)

▲ Professor Zhao Mingwen from the School of Life Sciences at Nanjing Agricultural University offers an insightful discussion on “how to enhance the content of ganoderic acids during cultivation through environmental regulation.” (Photo by Wu Tingyao)

▲ Yao Weixi, Chief Expert at the GanoHerb R&D Center and former Researcher at the Research Center for Eco-Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, shared with the attendees his innovative idea on "Using Supercritical Extraction Technology to Extract Ganoderma Triterpenes and Ganoderma Sterols."

▲ In his presentation at IMMC10, Professor Miomir Nikšić from the Institute of Biochemistry and Food Technology at the University of Belgrade in Serbia shared unique insights on “how to incorporate medicinal mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum into everyday beverages, desserts, and foods.” (Photo by Wu Tingyao)

Lingzhi’s scientific research depth and industrial strength are unparalleled.

While certain mushroom species still cannot be definitively linked to the legendary names they’re associated with—or to which specific species they actually correspond—Ganoderma lucidum is already moving toward the development of specially bred strains for specific purposes.

While some mushroom species are still exploring how to replicate nature’s original forms through artificial cultivation in a way that is economically viable, Lingzhi has already advanced to the stage of developing technologies for the large-scale production of specific active ingredients.

While some mushrooms are still just beginning to explore which specific bioactive compounds are worth studying, Ganoderma lucidum has already advanced to the cellular and molecular level, analyzing the causal relationship between its mechanisms of action and pharmacological effects.

While some mushrooms are still undergoing safety and efficacy studies on animals, the reputation of Lingzhi has long been passed down by word of mouth—among ancient medical texts, modern science laboratories, and the general public alike.

Whether a medicinal mushroom can transcend legend, step out of the laboratory, and integrate into the industrial chain—and ultimately stand firm through the rigorous trials of the market, earning international acclaim—requires a long period of time and enduring numerous tests across science, industry, and the marketplace before its true potential can be fully realized.

I’m not sure whether any other medicinal mushrooms possess such capabilities and value, but “Lingzhi,” which has been extensively studied—inside and out—by both Eastern and Western researchers for over half a century, is already at the forefront.

Old friends are still the best.

Whenever you come across celebrity-endorsed products claiming to promote health and wellness, before jumping in to believe them, buy them, or start using them, be sure to first find out: How long has this product been studied by scientific research? Has it been examined by just a handful of researchers, or by scientists from many different institutions? And is the so-called “scientific evidence” merely anecdotal, or has it been documented in peer-reviewed papers published in internationally recognized scientific journals?

At the same time, it’s crucial to gather as much information as possible: Is this product technically already capable of being manufactured with stable ingredients and proven efficacy, or is it still in the early stages—where the raw materials remain uncertain, their sources are unstable, and its effectiveness is merely “alleged” or “reportedly effective”?

Prevention is better than cure; maintaining health lies in addressing issues before they become serious. I wonder, what do you choose to use to take care of your own health and that of your family?

We should be glad that at least one mushroom—“Lingzhi”—has stood the test of time, boasts deep-rooted scientific research, boasts mature technology, enjoys a stellar reputation both domestically and internationally, and has been validated through generations. It’s a resource that you and I can confidently rely on.

[About the Author / Wu Tingyao]
Having reported firsthand news about Lingzhi since 1999, I have continued to do so until now and authored “Lingzhi: Marvelous Beyond Words” (published by People’s Medical Publishing House in April 2017).

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