Ganoderma Lucidum or the King Of Herbs the Reishi Mushroom also known as the Mushroom of Immortality has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years.
Recently in the West it has been gaining traction because of its many uses in medicine. Back in ancient times this mushroom was utilized by the wealth(y) in hopes of gaining immortality and a calm state of mind.
This mushroom contains over 400 different types of nutrients to promote long standing health and vitality.
Anti-Tumorย – The present study was to ascertain the immunomodulating and antiโtumor effects of Ganoderma (G.) lucidum. Polysaccharides (PS) from fresh fruiting bodies of G. lucidum (PSโG) were isolated and used to potentiate cytokine production by human monocytesโmacrophages and T lymphocytes.
Since untreated macrophages and T lymphocytes produced little or no cytokine, and normal MNCโCM did not suppress leukemic cell growth, it was suggestive that the antiโtumor activity of PSGโMNCโCM was derived from the elevated levels of cytokines. Antibodyโneutralization studies further revealed that the antiโtumor cytokines in the PSGโMNCโCM were mainly of TNFโฮฑ and IFNโฮณ, and these 2 cytokines acted synergistically on the inhibition of leukemicโcell growth.
Preclinical studies have established that theย Ganoderma lucidumย polysaccharide (GLPS) fractions have potent antiโtumor activity, which has been associated with the immunoโstimulating effects of GLPS.
The present study indicates that Ganopolyยฎย enhanced the immune responses in patients with advancedโstage cancer. Clinical evaluations of response and toxicity are ongoing.
Recent studies also showed that the alcohol extract or the triterpene fraction of G lucidum possessed anti-tumor effect, which seemed to be related to the cytotoxic activity against tumor cells directly. Preliminary study indicated that antiangiogenic effect may be involved antitumor activity of G lucidum.
This paper examines the potential role ofย G. lucidumย polysaccharide (GLPS) in tumor therapy and the possible mechanisms involved. Bothย in vitroย andย in vivoย studies suggested that the anti-tumor activities of GLPS are mediated by its immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenic, and cytotoxic effects.
However, many questions still need to be answered before bothย G. lucidumย and GLPS can be widely accepted and used as anti-tumor agents.
Anti-Inflammatoryย – The fruiting bodies of the fungusย Ganoderma lucidum, were examined for their inhibitory effects on the induction ofย EpsteinโBarrย virus early antigen (EBVโEA) by 12โOโtetradecanoylphorbolโ13โacetate (TPA) inย Rajiย cells, a known primary screening test for antiโtumor promoters.
Further, 20โhydroxylucidenic acid N (18) exhibited inhibitory effects on skinโtumor promotion in anย in vivoย twoโstage mouseโskin carcinogenesis test based on 7,12โdimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) as initiator, and with TPA as promoter.
Results have demonstrated induction of apoptosis, antiโin๏ฌammatory action and differential cytokine expression during induced in๏ฌammation in the human colonic carcinoma cell line, HTโ29. LZE caused no cytotoxicity in HTโ29 cells at doses less than 10 000 ยตg/ml.
These results suggest that LZE has proโapoptotic and antiโin๏ฌammatory functions, as well as inhibitory effects on cytokine expression during early in๏ฌammation in colonic carcinoma cells, which may be of signi๏ฌcance in the use of Chinese herbal alternative medicines for cancer prevention.
Apoptosisย – In the present study, the antiโtumor effect of an alcohol extract ofย Ganoderma lucidumย was investigated using MCFโ7 cells. We found that the alcohol extract ofย Ganoderma lucidumย inhibited cell proliferation in a doseโ and timeโdependent manner, which might be mediated through upโregulation of p21/Waf1 and downโregulation of cyclin D1.
Furthermore, this compound can directly induce apoptosis in MCFโ7 cells, which might be mediated through upโregulation of a proโapoptotic Bax protein and not by the immune system.
Our findings suggest that there are multiple mechanisms underlying the antiโtumor effects ofย Ganoderma lucidum.
Anti-Cancerย – Investigations into the anticancer activity of lingzhi have been performed in both in vitro and in vivo studies, supporting its application for cancer treatment and prevention.
At present, lingzhi is a health food supplement to support cancer patients, yet the evidence supporting the potential of direct in vivo anticancer effects should not be underestimated. Lingzhi or its products can be classified as an anticancer agent when current and more direct scientific evidence becomes available.
Antioxidantย – In this study, antioxidant activities of polysaccharides fromย G. lucidumย in China were investigated. The influence ofย G. lucidumย polysaccharides upon activities of serum antioxidant enzymes and immunity in rats with cervical cancer.
The results still showed thatย G. lucidumย polysaccharides could significantly enhance the antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT and GPx), and reduce levels of IL-1ฮฒ, IL-6 and TNF-ฮฑ in rats with cervical cancer.
Mandatory FDA Disclaimer: Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Mandatory FDA Disclaimer: Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
