Reishi Mushroom

Reishi mushroom is a natural product that may enhance immunity and response to chemo/radiotherapy, improve quality of life, and manage some side effects. 

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This section does not replicate the other information on this topic but provides additional details or context most relevant to professionals.

Modes of action

Studies suggest that the anti-tumor activities of G. lucidum polysaccharide (GLPS) are mediated by its immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenic, and cytotoxic effects. GLPS affects immune cells and immune-related cells including B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells.¹Xu Z, Chen X, Zhong Z, Chen L, Wang Y. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides: immunomodulation and potential anti-tumor activities. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2011;39(1):15-27. 

Network pharmacology revealed that key targets of G. lucidum against endometrial cancer were primarily associated with the Rap1 signaling pathway.²Shi M. The efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum extracts on treating endometrial cancer: a network pharmacology approach. Reproductive Sciences. 2024 Jul;31(7):1881-1894.

Androgen receptor, nuclear factor-kappa B, activator protein-1, p53 and 14-3-3 are reportedly involved in the anticancer properties of G. lucidum triterpenoids.³Wu GS, Guo JJ et al. Anti-cancer properties of triterpenoids isolated from Ganoderma lucidum—a review. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 2013 Aug;22(8):981-92. 

Ganoderic acids might exert their cytotoxicity by altering proteins involved in cell proliferation and/or cell death, carcinogenosis, oxidative stress, calcium signaling, and ER stress.⁴Yue QX, Song XY et al. Effects of triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum on protein expression profile of HeLa cells. Phytomedicine. 2010 Jul;17(8-9):606-13.

More on safety

One cell study found toxic effects of reishi mushrooms on human leukocytes.⁵Gill SK, Rieder MJ. Toxicity of a traditional Chinese medicine, Ganoderma lucidum, in children with cancer. Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2008 Summer;15(2):e275-85. and another study found that “both submerge-cultured intracellular GLP and fruiting body GLP can stimulate the growth of human carcinoma cell lines lacking functional p53, such as HCT-116 p53(-/-), Saos-2, H1299, HL-60, MDA-MB-157. Conversely, the two GLPs inhibit all other assayed cells with functional p53.”⁶Zhang J, Chen JM et al. Inhibitor or promoter? The performance of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum on human tumor cells with different p53 statuses. Food & Function. 2016 Apr;7(4):1872-5.

Preclinical evidence

The strongest preclinical studies for various types of cancer are presented here. Clinical evidence is presented in How can reishi mushroom help you? What the research says ›

Improving treatment outcomes

Cancer as a whole

• Nanoparticles loaded with G. lucidum polysaccharide at 6 µg/ml and chitosan/sodium tripolyphosphate (mass) ratio of 5.5 had significantly greater cytotoxic effects on tumor cells.⁷Li N, Hu YL et al. Preparation, characterisation and anti-tumour activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide nanoparticles. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2010 Jan;62(1):139-44.

• Reishi enhanced anticancer effects of chemotherapeutic agents including cisplatin, arsenic trioxide, and cyclophosphamide⁸Sohretoglu D, Huang S. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides as an anti-cancer agent. Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry. 2018;18(5):667-674; Zhao S, Ye G, Fu G, Cheng JX, Yang BB, Peng C. Ganoderma lucidum exerts anti-tumor effects on ovarian cancer cells and enhances their sensitivity to cisplatin. International Journal of Oncology. 2011 May;38(5):1319-27; Suarez-Arroyo IJ, Loperena-Alvarez Y, Rosario-Acevedo R, Martínez-Montemayor MM. Ganoderma spp.: a promising adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Medicines (Basel). 2017 Mar;4(1):15; Ouyang MZ, Li LZ et al. Effects of the polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma lucidum on chemotherapy-related fatigue in mice. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2016 Oct;91:905-10. although the effects may not be universal.⁹Yue Q-X, Guan S-H et al. Interaction of Ganoderma triterpenes with docetaxel and cisplatin in cytotoxicity against human carcinoma cells. Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines. 2008;6(5):367-71.
• Reishi triterpenes act synergistically with doxorubicin, appearing to induce sensitization of cells to chemotherapeutics through enhanced oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis.¹⁰Yue QX, Xie FB et al. Interaction of Ganoderma triterpenes with doxorubicin and proteomic characterization of the possible molecular targets of Ganoderma triterpenes. Cancer Science. 2008 Jul;99(7):1461-70.

Bile duct cancer cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)

• A supercritical-CO2 extract of reishi spores suppressed cholangiocarcinoma migration in human cholangiocarcinoma cells.¹¹Li L, Guo HJ, Zhu LY, Zheng L, Liu X. A supercritical-CO2 extract of Ganoderma lucidum spores inhibits cholangiocarcinoma cell migration by reversing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Phytomedicine. 2016 May 15;23(5):491-7.

Bladder cancer

• Reishi inhibited the viability and growth of human urothelial cells.¹²Yuen JW, Gohel MD, Au DW. Telomerase-associated apoptotic events by mushroom ganoderma lucidum on premalignant human urothelial cells. Nutrition and Cancer. 2008;60(1):109-19.
• Reishi extracts inhibited the growth of human urothelial cells, and ethanol extracts had a stronger growth inhibition effect than water extracts.¹³Lu QY, Jin YS et al. Ganoderma lucidum extracts inhibit growth and induce actin polymerization in bladder cancer cells in vitro. Cancer Letters. 2004 Dec 8;216(1):9-20.

Blood cancers

• Reishi extracts show anticancer effects against hematologic malignant cells,¹⁴Dulay RMR, Valdez BC et al. Cytotoxicity of medicinal mushrooms Oudemansiella canarii and Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) against hematologic malignant cells via activation of apoptosis-related markers. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. 2022;24(11):83-95. including leukemia.¹⁵Zhong M, Huang J et al. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide inhibits the proliferation of leukemic cells through apoptosis. Acta Biochimica Polonica. 2022 Jun 28;69(3):639-645; Yang G, Yang L, Zhuang Y, Qian X, Shen Y. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide exerts anti-tumor activity via MAPK pathways in HL-60 acute leukemia cells. Journal of Receptor and Signal Transduction Research. 2016;36(1):6-13; Wang JH, Zhou YJ, Zhang M, Kan L, He P. Active lipids of Ganoderma lucidum spores-induced apoptosis in human leukemia THP-1 cells via MAPK and PI3K pathways. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2012 Jan 31;139(2):582-9; Calviño E, Manjón JL et al. Ganoderma lucidum induced apoptosis in NB4 human leukemia cells: involvement of Akt and Erk. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2010 Mar 2;128(1):71-8.

Brain and nervous system cancers

• Anaplastic meningioma: Reishi produced lower tumor volume, less tumor cell proliferation, and longer survival in rats.¹⁶Das A, Alshareef M et al. Ganoderic acid A/DM-induced NDRG2 over-expression suppresses high-grade meningioma growth. Clinical & Translational Oncology: Official Publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico. 2020 Jul;22(7):1138-1145.
• Glioma: Reishi produced slower tumor development and longer survival in rats.¹⁷Wang C, Shi S et al. Antitumor and immunomodulatory activities of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides in glioma-bearing rats. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2018 Sep;17(3):674-683.
• Glioblastoma: Ganoderic acid A isolated from reishi mushrooms inhibited human glioblastoma cell growth and invasion/migration and promoted apoptosis and autophagy.¹⁸Cheng Y, Xie P. Ganoderic acid A holds promising cytotoxicity on human glioblastoma mediated by incurring apoptosis and autophagy and inactivating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology. 2019 Nov;33(11):e22392.
• Neuroblastoma: Ganoderic acid isolated from reishi mushrooms exhibited downregulation in Notch-1 mRNA expression and inhibited proliferation, viability, and ROS activity in neuroblastoma cells.¹⁹Gill BS, Navgeet, Kumar S. Antioxidant potential of ganoderic acid in Notch-1 protein in neuroblastoma. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2019 Jun;456(1-2):1-14.

Breast cancer

• Reishi led to fewer mammary tumors, smaller average number of tumors per animal, and longer tumor latency period in mice and rats.²⁰Smina TP, Nitha B, Devasagayam TPA, Janardhanan KK. Ganoderma lucidum total triterpenes induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and attenuate DMBA induced mammary and skin carcinomas in experimental animals. Mutation Research. 2017 Jan;813:45-51.
• Ganoderic acid D (GAD), a natural triterpenoid compound obtained from reishi mushrooms, reduced gemcitabine resistance and inhibited proliferation and glucose uptake in triple-negative breast cancer cells.²¹Luo B, Song L et al. Ganoderic acid D attenuates gemcitabine resistance of triple-negative breast cancer cells by inhibiting glycolysis via HIF-1α destabilization. Phytomedicine. 2024 Jul;129:155675.
• Reishi enhanced paclitaxel’s effects on tumor control in mice²²Su J, Li D et al. Anti-breast cancer enhancement of a polysaccharide from spore of Ganoderma lucidum with paclitaxel: suppression on tumor metabolism with gut microbiota reshaping. Frontiers of Microbiology. 2018 Dec 17;9:3099. and lowered the rate of breast cancer cell invasion, growth, migration, and metastasis in cell and animal studies,²³Zhong C, Li Y et al. Ganoderma lucidum extract promotes tumor cell pyroptosis and inhibits metastasis in breast cancer. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2023 Apr;174:113654; Loganathan J, Jiang J et al. The mushroom Ganoderma lucidum suppresses breast-to-lung cancer metastasis through the inhibition of pro-invasive genes. International Journal of Oncology. 2014 Jun;44(6):2009-15; Suarez-Arroyo IJ, Rosario-Acevedo R et al. Anti-tumor effects of Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) in inflammatory breast cancer in in vivo and in vitro models. PLoS One. 2013;8(2):e57431; Zhang Y. Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) suppresses proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells via inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2017 Jul 8;488(4):679-684; Weng CJ, Yen GC. The in vitro and in vivo experimental evidences disclose the chemopreventive effects of Ganoderma lucidum on cancer invasion and metastasis. Clinical and Experimental Metastasis. 2010 May;27(5):361-9. including suppression of adhesion and migration of highly invasive breast cancer cells in lab studies.²⁴Sliva D. Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) in cancer treatment. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2003 Dec;2(4):358-64; Wu G, Song Y et al. Ganoderiol A-enriched extract suppresses migration and adhesion of MDA-MB-231 cells by inhibiting FAK-SRC-paxillin cascade pathway. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 29;8(10):e76620.
• Reishi slowed growth and lowered weight of tumors in mice when given with cyclophosphamide injections.²⁵Suarez-Arroyo IJ, Loperena-Alvarez Y, Rosario-Acevedo R, Martínez-Montemayor MM. Ganoderma spp.: a promising adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Medicines (Basel). 2017 Mar;4(1):15. 
• Reishi inhibits cell invasion and disrupts the cell spheroids that are characteristic of the inflammatory breast cancer invasive pathology.²⁶Martínez-Montemayor MM, Acevedo RR, Otero-Franqui E, Cubano LA, Dharmawardhane SF. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) inhibits cancer cell growth and expression of key molecules in inflammatory breast cancer. Nutrition and Cancer. 2011;63(7):1085-94. 

Colorectal cancer

• A water extract of sporoderm-broken spores of reishi mushrooms inhibited colorectal cancer carcinogenesis through regulating genes responsible for cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis cascades.²⁷Na K, Li K et al. Anticarcinogenic effects of water extract of sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum on colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. International Journal of Oncology. 2017 May;50(5):1541-1554. 
• Reishi polysaccharides²⁸Liang ZE, Yi YJ et al. Inhibition of migration and induction of apoptosis in LoVo human colon cancer cells by polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum. Molecular Medicine Reporta. 2015 Nov;12(5):7629-36; Liang Z, Guo YT et al. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides target a Fas/caspase dependent pathway to induce apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2014;15(9):3981-6. and ethanol extracts of sporoderm-broken spores of reishi mushroom²⁹Li K, Na K et al. The ethanol extracts of sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum inhibit colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. Oncology Reports. 2017 Nov;38(5):2803-2813. inhibit colorectal cancer carcinogenesis through induction of apoptosis, inhibition of migration, and promotion of cell cycle arrest.
• Reishi made colon cancer cells more sensitive to 5-fluorouracil (5FU).³⁰Opattova A, Horak J et al. Ganoderma lucidum induces oxidative DNA damage and enhances the effect of 5-Fluorouracil in colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. Mutation Research. 2019 Sep;845:403065.
• Reishi polysaccharide enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, significantly inhibiting tumor growth and activating antitumor immunity in colorectal cancer cells.³¹Li W, Zhou Q et al. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide supplementation significantly activates T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity and enhances anti-PD-1 immunotherapy efficacy in colorectal cancer. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2024 May 29;72(21):12072-12082.
• Ganodermanontriol, a purified triterpene from reishi mushrooms, inhibited proliferation of human colon cancer cells without a significant effect on cell viability.³²Jedinak A, Thyagarajan-Sahu A, Jiang J, Sliva D. Ganodermanontriol, a lanostanoid triterpene from Ganoderma lucidum, suppresses growth of colon cancer cells through ß-catenin signaling. International Journal of Oncology. 2011 Mar;38(3):761-7. 
• Methanol fraction of dried reishi fruiting bodies grown in hemlock inhibited colorectal cancer cell proliferation.³³Hsu SC, Ou CC et al. Ganoderma tsugae extracts inhibit colorectal cancer cell growth via G(2)/M cell cycle arrest. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2008 Dec 8;120(3):394-401.

Esophageal cancer

• Reishi spore powder inhibited esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation, blocked the cell cycle, induced cell apoptosis, and inhibited cell migration and invasion. It also decreased the expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Erk signaling pathways.³⁴Liu G, Zeng T. Sporoderm-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore powder may suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells through PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Erk pathway. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2021 Jan-Dec;20:15347354211062157.

Gynecologic cancer

Cervical cancer:

• Reishi polysaccharide alleviated the activity and aggressiveness, blocked the cell cycle, and promoted the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells.³⁵Jin H, Song C, Zhao Z, Zhou G. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide, an extract from Ganoderma lucidum, exerts suppressive effect on cervical cancer cell malignancy through mitigating epithelial-mesenchymal and JAK/STAT5 signaling pathway. Pharmacology. 2020;105(7-8):461-470.
• Reishi polysaccharides combined with cisplatin slowed growth of cervical tumors.³⁶Zhu J, Xu J et al. Improved antitumor activity of cisplatin combined with Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides in U14 cervical carcinoma-bearing mice. The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences. 2019 Apr;35(4):222-229.
• Modified ganoderic acid T, a triterpenic acid produced by reishi mushrooms, inhibited the growth of human cervical cancer cells.³⁷Liu RM, Li YB, Zhong JJ. Cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of novel ganoderic acid derivatives on human cervical cancer cells in vitro. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2012 Apr 15;681(1-3):23-33.
• Ganoderic acids purified from the fermented mycelia of reishi mushrooms induced apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells.³⁸Liu RM, Zhong JJ. Ganoderic acid Mf and S induce mitochondria mediated apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Phytomedicine. 2011 Mar 15;18(5):349-55. Erratum in: Phytomedicine. 2012 Apr 15;19(6):569.

Endometrial cancer: 

• Reishi extracts had an inhibitory effect on endometrial cancer cell viability and proliferation most probably exerted through induction of autophagy.³⁹Hahne JC, Meyer SR, Dietl J, Honig A. The effect of Cordyceps extract and a mixture of Ganoderma lucidum/Agaricus Blazi Murill extract on human endometrial cancer cell lines in vitro. International Journal of Oncology. 2014 Jul;45(1):373-82.

Liver cancer

• Reishi slowed tumor growth in mice.⁴⁰Li A, Shuai X et al. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth by downregulating regulatory T cells accumulation and function by inducing microRNA-125b. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2015 Mar 26;13:100.
• Ganoderenic acid B, a lanostane-type triterpene isolated from reishi, exhibited potent reversal effect on ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance of HepG2/ADM cells to doxorubicin, vincristine and paclitaxel.⁴¹Liu DL, Li YJ et al. Ganoderma lucidum derived ganoderenic acid B reverses ABCB1-mediated multidrug resistance in HepG2/ADM cells. International Journal of Oncology. 2015 May;46(5):2029-38.
• Ganoderic acid A promoted cisplatin-induced liver cell death by enhancing the sensitivity of HepG2 cells to cisplatin.⁴²Yao X, Li G, Xu H, Lü C. Inhibition of the JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway by ganoderic acid A enhances chemosensitivity of HepG2 cells to cisplatin. Planta Medica. 2012 Nov;78(16):1740-8.

Lung cancer

• Reishi slowed tumor growth⁴³Rossi P, Difrancia R et al. B-glucans from Grifola frondosa and Ganoderma lucidum in breast cancer: an example of complementary and integrative medicine. Oncotarget. 2018 May 15; 9(37): 24837–24856. and lung cancer cell growth⁴⁴Wu C, Lin T et al. Ling Zhi-8 mediates p53-dependent growth arrest of lung cancer cells proliferation via the ribosomal protein S7-MDM2-p53 pathway. Carcinogenesis. 2011 Dec;32(12):1890-6; Chen Y, Lv J et al. Sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum inhibit the growth of lung cancer: involvement of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Nutrition and Cancer. 2016 Oct;68(7):1151-60. and inhibited cancer cell viability and mobility in mice.⁴⁵Hsu W, Qiu W et al. Effects of WSG, a polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum, on suppressing cell growth and mobility of lung cancer. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2020 Dec 15;165(Pt A):1604-1613.
• A fungal protein from Ganoderma microsporum, GMI, elevated the intracellular calcium level and reduced the growth of a multidrug resistant non-small cell lung cancer subline via autophagy and apoptosis.⁴⁶Chiu LY, Hu ME et al. Immunomodulatory protein from Ganoderma microsporum Induces pro-death autophagy through Akt-mTOR-p70S6K pathway inhibition in multidrug resistant lung cancer cells. PLoS One. 2015 May 6;10(5):e0125774.
• Ling Zhi-8 (rLZ-8), a medicinal reishi mushroom recombinant protein, suppressed tumor metastasis and increased the survival rate in Lewis lung carcinoma cell-bearing mice.⁴⁷Lin TY, Hsu HY. Ling Zhi-8 reduces lung cancer mobility and metastasis through disruption of focal adhesion and induction of MDM2-mediated Slug degradation. Cancer Letters. 2016 Jun 1;375(2):340-348.
• Ganoderic acid Me purified from the fermentation mycelia of reishi mushrooms inhibited cell migration of 95-D, a human highly metastatic lung tumor cell line, in dose- and time-dependent manners.⁴⁸Chen NH, Liu JW, Zhong JJ. Ganoderic acid Me inhibits tumor invasion through down-regulating matrix metalloproteinases 2/9 gene expression. Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2008 Oct;108(2):212-6.

Melanoma and other skin cancers

• Topical application of reishi triterpenes reduced the incidence of skin papilloma in mice.⁴⁹Smina TP, Nitha B, Devasagayam TP, Janardhanan KK. Ganoderma lucidum total triterpenes induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and attenuate DMBA induced mammary and skin carcinomas in experimental animals. Mutation Research. Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis. 2017 Jan;813:45-51.
• A steroid extracted and purified from reishi mushrooms regulated apoptosis of melanoma cells.⁵⁰Zheng L, Wong YS et al. Apoptosis induced by 9,11‑dehydroergosterol peroxide from Ganoderma Lucidum mycelium in human malignant melanoma cells is Mcl‑1 dependent. Molecular Medicine Reports. 2018 Jul;18(1):938-944.

Nasopharyngeal cancer

• Lucialdehyde B (LB), a triterpenoid isolated from reishi mushroom, suppressed proliferation and induced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells.⁵¹Liu L, Yu Z et al. Lucialdehyde B suppresses proliferation and induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE2 cells. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2023 Dec;61(1):918-926. 

Oral cancer

• Reishi polysaccharides changed oral squamous cell carcinoma cell morphology and granularity, delayed migration, decreased colony, and impaired sphere formation, thereby leading to a non-invasive and less proliferative behavior of tumoral cells.⁵²de Camargo MR, Frazon TF et al. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides inhibit in vitro tumorigenesis, cancer stem cell properties and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2022 Mar 25;286:114891.
• WSG, a water soluble glucose-enriched polysaccharide from reishi mushrooms, showed a synergistic effect with cisplatin in inhibition of cell viability and induction of apoptosis in tongue cancer cells.⁵³Hsu WH, Hua WJ et al. WSG, a glucose-enriched polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum, suppresses tongue cancer cells via inhibition of EGFR-mediated signaling and potentiates cisplatin-induced apoptosis. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2021 Dec 15;193(Pt B):1201-1208.

Ovarian cancer

• Reishi led to less proliferation in cell studies.⁵⁴Dai S, Liu J, Sun X, Wang N. Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation of human ovarian cancer cells by suppressing VEGF expression and up-regulating the expression of connexin 43. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2014 Nov 5;14:434; Hsieh TC, Wu JM. Suppression of proliferation and oxidative stress by extracts of Ganoderma lucidum in the ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-3. International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2011 Dec;28(6):1065-9.

Prostate cancer

• Reishi polysaccharide synergistically increased the effect of docetaxel and flutamide and increased the sensitivity of the prostate cancer cell lines to these drugs.⁵⁵Rahimnia R, Akbari MR et al. The effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract on sensitizing prostate cancer cells to flutamide and docetaxel: an in vitro study. Scientific Reports. 2023 Nov 2;13(1):18940.
• A high dose (2 mg/ml) of triterpenes from reishi mushrooms inhibited prostate cancer cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner.⁵⁶Qu L, Li S et al. Anticancer effect of triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum in human prostate cancer cells. Oncology Letters. 2017 Dec;14(6):7467-7472.
• Reishi ethanol extracts decreased androgen and glucocorticoide receptors transcriptional activity in breast cancer MDA-kb2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and suppressed androgen receptor (AR) protein level in prostate cancer cells.⁵⁷Zaidman BZ, Wasser SP, Nevo E, Mahajna J. Coprinus comatus and Ganoderma lucidum interfere with androgen receptor function in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Molecular Biology Reports. 2008 Jun;35(2):107-17.
• Reishi led to less adhesion and migration of highly invasive prostate cancer cells.⁵⁸Sliva D. Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) in cancer treatment. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2003 Dec;2(4):358-64.

Sarcoma

• Treatment of mice with oral Ganopoly, an aqueous polysaccharide fraction extracted from reishi mushrooms, for 10 days significantly reduced the tumor weight of sarcoma-180 in a dose-dependent manner.⁵⁹Gao Y, Gao H et al. Antitumor activity and underlying mechanisms of ganopoly, the refined polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma lucidum, in mice. Immunological Investigations. 2005;34(2):171-98.
• Reishi inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis of human osteosarcoma cells.⁶⁰Zhang QH, Hu QX et al. Ganoderma lucidum exerts an anticancer effect on human osteosarcoma cells via suppressing the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2019 Jan-Dec;18:1534735419890917; Sun Z, Huang K et al. A chemically sulfated polysaccharide derived from Ganoderma lucidum induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human osteosarcoma MG63 cells. Tumour Biology. 2014 Oct;35(10):9919-26.
• Reishi polysaccharides inhibited the tumor growth and tumor cell adhesion of sarcoma in mice.⁶¹Li YB, Wang R et al. Serum amyloid A mediates the inhibitory effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells. Oncology Reports. 2008 Sep;20(3):549-56.
• Reishi polysaccharides inhibited growth of sarcoma in mice.⁶²Cao QZ, Lin ZB. Antitumor and anti-angiogenic activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides peptide. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2004 Jun;25(6):833-8.

Stomach cancer

• Recombinant Lz-8 (rLz-8), a protein from the fruiting body of reishi mushrooms, showed cytotoxicity against human gastric cancer cells.⁶³Liang C, Li H et al. Recombinant Lz-8 from Ganoderma lucidum induces endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated autophagic cell death in SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cells. Oncology Reports. 2012 Apr;27(4):1079-89.

• Reishi mushroom suppressed Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma tumor development in mice, which was enhanced by cotreatment with quercetin.⁶⁴Huh S, Lee S et al. Quercetin synergistically inhibit EBV-associated gastric carcinoma with Ganoderma lucidum extracts. Molecules. 2019 Oct 24;24(21):3834.

• Ethanol extracts of reishi mushroom markedly inhibited the cell motility and invasiveness of human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells.⁶⁵Jang KJ, Son IS, Shin DY, Yoon HM, Choi YH. Anti-invasive activity of ethanol extracts of Ganoderma lucidum through tightening of tight junctions and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activities in human gastric carcinoma cells. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. 2011 Dec;4(4):225-35.

Optimizing body terrain

Reishi mushroom modulates the immune system.⁶⁶Zhao SL, Nie YZ, Liang GN, Chen LL, Hou YY. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides combined with low-dose cisplatin inhibits tumor growth and enhances the immune function of tumor-bearing mice. International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2012;34(12):1084–7; Lian S, Li W et al. Ganoderma lucidum spore oil synergistically enhances the function of cyclophosphamide in the prevention of breast cancer metastasis. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association. 2024 Mar 1;87(3):305-313; Liao SF, Liang CH et al. Immunization of fucose-containing polysaccharides from reishi mushroom induces antibodies to tumor-associated Globo H-series epitopes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA. 2013 Aug 20;110(34):13809-14; Wang YY, Khoo KH et al. Studies on the immuno-modulating and antitumor activities of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) polysaccharides: functional and proteomic analyses of a fucose-containing glycoprotein fraction responsible for the activities. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 2002 Apr;10(4):1057-62. Reishi extracts can significantly inhibit the release of IL-8, IL-6, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in melanoma and breast cancer cells under pro-inflammatory conditions.⁶⁷Barbieri A, Quagliariello V et al. Anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of Ganoderma lucidum extract effects on melanoma and triple-negative breast cancer treatment. Nutrients. 2017 Feb 28;9(3). pii: E210. Ling Zhi-8 (LZ-8), a protein isolated from reishi mushrooms, enhanced the immune response of HER-2/neu DNA vaccine against p185^neu expressing tumor MBT-2 in mice.⁶⁸Lin CC, Yu YL et al. A novel adjuvant Ling Zhi-8 enhances the efficacy of DNA cancer vaccine by activating dendritic cells. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. 2011 Jul;60(7):1019-27.

One study found that the mode of extraction of medicinal mushrooms may determine the nature of the immunomodulatory effects on immune cells, presumably owing to the differential solubility of stimulatory and inhibitory mediators. Water extracts enhance NK cell cytotoxic activity against cancer cells, whereas ethanol extracts inhibit cytotoxicity.⁶⁹Lu CC, Hsu YJ et al. Immunomodulatory properties of medicinal mushrooms: differential effects of water and ethanol extracts on NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Innate Immunity. 2016 Oct;22(7):522-33.

Reishi also shows these terrain properties:

• Reduces inflammation⁷⁰Feng X, Wang Y. Anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and sedative-hypnotic activities of lucidone D extracted from Ganoderma lucidum. Cellular and Molecular Biology (Noisy-le-Grand). 2019 Apr 30;65(4):37-42; Sohretoglu D, Huang S. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides as an anti-cancer agent. Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry. 2018;18(5):667-674; Rossi P, Difrancia R et al. B-glucans from Grifola frondosa and Ganoderma lucidum in breast cancer: an example of complementary and integrative medicine. Oncotarget. 2018 May 15; 9(37): 24837–24856; Suarez-Arroyo IJ, Loperena-Alvarez Y, Rosario-Acevedo R, Martínez-Montemayor MM. Ganoderma spp.: a promising adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. Medicines (Basel). 2017 Mar;4(1):15; Habijanic J, Berovic M, Boh B, Plankl M, Wraber B. Submerged cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum and the effects of its polysaccharides on the production of human cytokines TNF-α, IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-17. New Biotechnology. 2015 Jan 25;32(1):85-95; Hasnat MA, Pervin M, Cha KM, Kim SK, Lim BO. Anti-inflammatory activity on mice of extract of Ganoderma lucidum grown on rice via modulation of MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Phytochemistry. 2015 Jun;114:125-36.. 
• Reduces oxidative stress,⁷¹Sun XZ, Liao Y, Li W, Guo LM. Neuroprotective effects of ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides against oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis. Neural Regeneration Research. 2017 Jun;12(6):953-958. protecting neuroblastoma cells from oxidative stress;⁷²Wang C, Liu X, Lian C, Ke J, Liu J. Triterpenes and aromatic meroterpenoids with antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects from Ganoderma lucidum. Molecules. 2019 Nov 28;24(23):4353; XiaoPing C, Yan C et al. Free radical scavenging of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides and its effect on antioxidant enzymes and immunity activities in cervical carcinoma rats. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2009; 77(2):389-393. reishi extracts also protected animal hearts from chemotherapy-induced oxidative stress.⁷³Rajasekaran M, Kalaimagal C. Cardioprotective effect of a medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum against adriamycin induced toxicity. International Journal of Pharmacology. 2012;8(4):252-258; Sheena N, Ajith TA, Janardhanan KK. Protective effect of methanolic extract of Ganoderma lucidum P. Karst. reishi from South India against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine. 2005;5:62–8.
• Improves the microbiome composition in rats⁷⁴Chen M, Xiao D et al. Intake of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides reverses the disturbed gut microbiota and metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2020 Jul 15;155:890-902; Guo WL, Pan YY, Li L, Li TT, Liu B, Lv XC. Ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum ameliorates lipid metabolic disorders and modulates the gut microbiota composition in high-fat diet fed rats. Food & Function. 2018 Jun 20;9(6):3419-3431; Hu R, Guo W et al. Extracts of Ganoderma lucidum attenuate lipid metabolism and modulate gut microbiota in high-fat diet fed rats. Journal of Functional Foods. 2018;46:403–412. and mice⁷⁵Diling C, Yinrui G et al Qingping, W. Metabolic regulation of Ganoderma lucidum extracts in high sugar and fat diet-induced obese mice by regulating the gut-brain axis. Journal of Functional Foods. 2020;65:103639; Rossi P, Difrancia R et al. B-glucans from Grifola frondosa and Ganoderma lucidum in breast cancer: an example of complementary and integrative medicine. Oncotarget. 2018 May 15; Su J, Li D et al. Anti-breast cancer enhancement of a polysaccharide from spore of Ganoderma lucidum with paclitaxel: suppression on tumor metabolism with gut microbiota reshaping. Frontiers of Microbiology. 2018 Dec 17;9:3099; Yang Y, Nirmagustina DE et al. Feeding of the water extract from Ganoderma lingzhi to rats modulates secondary bile acids, intestinal microflora, mucins, and propionate important to colon cancer. Bioscience, biotechnology and biochemistry. 2017 Sep;81(9):1796-1804; Chang CJ, Lin CS et al. Ganoderma lucidum reduces obesity in mice by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota. Nature Communications. 2015 Jun 23;6:7489.

Managing side effects and promoting wellness

Blood-related side effects

• A reishi spore oil nanosystem attenuated X-ray-induced excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and protected animal hearts by attenuating cardiac dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis.⁷⁶Dai C, He L, Ma B, Chen T. Facile nanolization strategy for therapeutic Ganoderma lucidum spore oil to achieve enhanced protection against radiation-induced heart disease. Small. 2019 Sep;15(36):e1902642.
• Reishi led to less radiation-induced DNA damage in bone marrow in mice.⁷⁷Zhao W, Jiang X et al. Antioxidant activities of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides and their role on DNA damage in mice induced by cobalt-60 gamma-irradiation. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2012 Feb;50(2):303-9.

Cardiovascular symptoms

• Reishi significantly reduced cardiotoxicity in rats given doxorubicin.⁷⁸Veena RK, Ajith TA, Janardhanan K. Lingzhi or reishi medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. 2018;20(8):761-774; Xu F, Li X et al. Effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2017 Nov;95:504-512.

Changes in appetite

• Reishi improved appetite and general health in rats.⁷⁹Wang CZ, Basila D et al. Effects of ganoderma lucidum extract on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in a rat model. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2005;33(5):807-15.

Cognitive difficulties

• Fermented reishi water extracts enhanced learning memory and cognitive function via cholinergic dysfunction in rats.⁸⁰Choi YJ, Yang HS et al. Anti-amnesic effect of fermented Ganoderma lucidum water extracts by lactic acid bacteria on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. Preventive Nutrition and Food Science. 2015 Jun;20(2):126-32.

Gastrointestinal effects

Nausea and vomiting:

• Reishi reduced nausea and vomiting in rats.⁸¹Wang CZ, Basila D et al. Effects of ganoderma lucidum extract on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in a rat model. American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2005;33(5):807-15.

Small intestinal damage:

• Reishi reduced small intestinal damage induced by methotrexate.⁸²Chen L, Lin Z, Li W. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides reduce methotrexate-induced small intestinal damage in mice via induction of epithelial cell proliferation and migration. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2011 Dec;32(12):1505-12.
• A cultured reishi extract reduced small intestinal injury caused by several chemotherapy drugs in mice.⁸³Kashimoto N, Ishii S et al. A water-soluble extract from cultured medium of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) mycelia attenuates the small intestinal injury induced by anti-cancer drugs. Oncology Letters. 2010 Jan;1(1):63-68.
• A cultured reishi extract significantly extended survival of small intestinal crypts, which support the regeneration of the intestinal lining, in mice undergoing X-ray irradiation.⁸⁴Kubo N, Myojin Y et al. Protective effects of a water-soluble extract from cultured medium of Ganoderma lucidum (Rei-shi) mycelia and Agaricus blazei murill against X-irradiation in B6C3F1 mice: Increased small intestinal crypt survival and prolongation of average time to animal death. International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2005 Mar;15(3):401-6.

Liver toxicity:

• Reishi reduced cisplatin-induced liver injury in rats.⁸⁵Hassan HM, Al-Wahaibi LH, Elmorsy MA, Mahran YF. Suppression of cisplatin-induced hepatic injury in rats through alarmin high-mobility group box-1 pathway by Ganoderma lucidum: theoretical and experimental study. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2020 Jun 11;14:2335-2353.

Kidney toxicity

• Reishi reduced kidney toxicity (nephrotoxicity) from cisplatin in rats and mice.⁸⁶Mahran YF, Hassan HM. Ganoderma lucidum prevents cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity through inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling and autophagy-mediated apoptosis. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2020 Jul 6;2020:4932587; Pillai TG, John M, Thomas GT. Prevention of cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity by terpenes isolated from Ganoderma lucidum occurring in southern parts of India. Experimental and Toxicological Pathology: Official Journal of the Gesellshaft fur Toxicologische Pathologie. 2011 Jan;63(1-2):157-60.

Lung toxicity

• Reishi reduced bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.⁸⁷Chen J, Shi Y et al. Protective roles of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2016 Nov;92:278-281.

Pain

• Gano oil extracted from reishi mushrooms inhibited edema and showed analgesic effects in mice.⁸⁸Chen X, Veena RK, Ramya H, Janardhanan KK, George V. Gano oil: a novel antinociceptive agent extracted from Ganoderma lucidum inhibits paw oedema and relieves pain by hypnotic and analgesic actions of fatty acid amides. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2020 Dec 5;263:113144.

Radiation damage

• Reishi aqueous extracts reduce radiation damage in animals.⁸⁹González A, Atienza V, Montoro A, Soriano JM. Use of Ganoderma lucidum (Ganodermataceae, Basidiomycota) as radioprotector. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 19;12(4):1143.

Sleep disruption

• Reishi extracts promoted sleep in freely moving rats.⁹⁰Cui XY, Cui SY et al. Extract of Ganoderma lucidum prolongs sleep time in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2012 Feb 15;139(3):796-800. 
• A reishi aqueous extract decreased sleep latency, increased sleeping time, non-REM sleep time, and light sleep time in phentobarbital-treated rats, but had no effect on untreated rats.⁹¹Chu QP, Wang LE et al. Extract of Ganoderma lucidum potentiates pentobarbital-induced sleep via a GABAergic mechanism. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior. 2007 Apr;86(4):693-8.

Reducing cancer risk

Solid tumors

• Reishi polysaccharides inhibited tumor volume and tumor mass in animals when administered prior to tumor inoculation in animals.⁹²Joseph S, Sabulal B, George V, Antony KR, Janardhanan KK. Antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities of polysaccharides isolated from Ganoderma lucidum. Acta Pharmaceutica. 2011 Sep 1;61(3):335-42. 

Bladder cancer

• Reishi slowed tumor formation in mice.⁹³Yuen JWM, Mak DSY, Chan ES, Gohel MDI, Ng CF. Tumor inhibitory effects of intravesical Ganoderma lucidum instillation in the syngeneic orthotopic MB49/C57 bladder cancer mice model. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2018 Sep 15;223:113-121.
• Ethanol extracts of reishi mushrooms inhibited the growth of pre-cancerous human uroepithelial cells.⁹⁴Yuen JW, Gohel MD, Ng CF. The differential immunological activities of Ganoderma lucidum on human pre-cancerous uroepithelial cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2011 Jun 1;135(3):711-8.

Colorectal cancer

• Reishi lowered the rate of carcinogenesis in both cell and animal studies⁹⁵Guo C, Guo D et al. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide modulates gut microbiota and immune cell function to inhibit inflammation and tumorigenesis in colon. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2021 Sep 1;267:118231; Na K, Li K et al. Anticarcinogenic effects of water extract of sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum on colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. International Journal of Oncology. 2017 May;50(5):1541-1554. and prevented and suppressed colitis-associated carcinogenesis in mice.⁹⁶Sliva D, Loganathan J et al. Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum prevents colitis-associated carcinogenesis in mice. PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e47873.

Prostate cancer

• Reishi slowed the growth of premalignant prostate cells.⁹⁷Lee YF, Guo D, Thomas NR, Watson SA. Triterpene extract of Ganoderma lucidum inhibits proliferation of premalignant human prostate cells by regulation of epithelial mesenchymal transition. Cancer Research. 2010 April;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1462.

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