Red Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Reishi is known as Lingzhi in China which means "herb of spiritual potency." It is evident in Chinese medical texts that Reishi has been documented for its powerful medicinal properties for over 2,000 years now, earliest documented in Shen Nong Materia Medica for treating fatigue, asthma, cough, liver ailments, and to promote longevity. Recent reports now provide scientific support to many of the ancient claims of the health benefits of Red Reishi mushroom supplement. Detailed summaries of previous studies are provided by Mógū in our section of Reishi and its Activity Against Diseases below.

Reishi mushrooms grow at the base of deciduous trees, primarily plum tree, oak, maple and hemlock trees. This fungi specie is native to China, Japan, and North America, belonging to a special class of medicines known as ‘tonic herbs’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Reishi mushroom supplement is one of the most powerful adaptogens that we can find in nature, a substance that helps balance the function of the body and mind in a more harmonious way, even when we are exposed to extreme levels of stress.

The fact is, Reishi is tough and highly bitter, which means this fungi is not used for culinary purposes, but strictly for its medicinal benefits. The bitterness comes from its high content of triterpene compounds (documenting over 140 different types as we know today), which is one of the main class of compounds that makes reishi mushroom supplement widely used.

Active Compounds found in Reishi Mushroom Supplement

Polysaccharides, Monosaccharides, Peptidoglycans (β-D and hetero-β-glucans) exhibiting significant antitumor properties, immunomodulatory activity, antioxidant activity, and neuroprotection.
>140 different Triterpene compounds. Among them, more than 50 were found to be new and unique to Reishi. Vast majority are ganoderic and lucidenic acids - exhibiting cholesterol reduction, blood pressure reduction and anti-allergenic agents.
Oleic Acid and Cyclooctasulfur - strong inhibitors of histamine release
Main Mineral Elements: phosphorus, silica, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and magnesium
Proteins and Lectins
Vitamins B, D, K, A and C
GABA and TNF-alpha - known for its sedative effects
Amino Acids
Other myco-nutrients include: Germanium, Adenosine, Riboflavin, Ascorbic acid, Lipids, Alkaloids, Glucosides, Coumarins, Volatile oil
 Red Reishi Ganoderma lucidum in the wild  Red Reishi Ganoderma lucidum wall of reishi mushrooms

Reishi and its Activity Against Diseases

Reishi has been found to alleviate symptoms in many diseases. Click a condition below to explore some of the health promoting benefits found in Reishi experiments:

Unlocking the Power of Triterpenes

Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes.

Recently, triterpenes have risen as a major group of secondary metabolites with important spectrum of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, antiatherosclerotic, immunoregulatory, anticancer, and also have a role in the prevention of cancer. Different reports have described that triterpenes inhibit multiple intracellular signal molecules and transcription factors. In addition, these molecules are involved in the regulation of tumor cell proliferation, transformation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, chemoresistance and radioresistance.

As we can see in Medicinal Properties of Reishi above, Reishi mushrooms are highly nutritious, packed with macro nutrients and minerals. One of the star ingredients unlocking the specialties of this power herb (as well as in most medicinal mushrooms), are the triterpenes. More than 140 triterpenes have been isolated from Reishi fruiting bodies, spores and mycelia, and over 50 were found to be new and unique among Reishi mushrooms! Research studies on Reishi mainly focus in triterpenes ganoderic acids, lucidenic acids, and sterols.

Many of the positive effects against the diseases and conditions mentioned in the section Reishi and its Activity Against Diseases have direct correlation with the consumption of triterpenes from Reishi. This power unit of unsaturated hydrocarbon is one of the most exciting medicinal elements that occur in nature, especially in the world of Fungi.

Disclaimer: 

With its growing popularity, many studies on Reishi composition, cultivation, and reputed effects are being carried out, and there are data that support its positive health benefits. However, most studies have been performed on animals or in cell-culture models, as seen in our section of Reishi and its Activity Against Diseases. Human experimental studies have often been small, due to the lack of experimental clinical funding to further support the in vitro and in vivo findings. The great wealth of chemical data and anecdotal evidence on the effects of Reishi needs to be complemented by reliable experimental and clinical data from well-designed human trials in order to clearly establish if the reported health-related effects are valid and significant.
Mógū Mushrooms products and the claims made about them on or through this site have not been evaluated by the FDA or United States Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your doctor/physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or as a substitute for medication or other treatment prescribed by your doctor/physician or health care provider.