Reishi (Immune)

Ganoderma lucidum (a mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine) compounds may attenuate ageing-related physiological changes and restore normal immunity. However, studies on the physiological effects of Ganoderma lucidum dry extract food supplements are few. Therefore, here, we aimed to investigate the effects of Ganoderma lucidum dry extract food supplement on the lymphocyte function of older women. This was a double-blind clinical trial (n 60) with a final 39 older volunteers, divided into two groups Ganoderma lucidum (n 23) and placebo (n 16). The Ganoderma lucidum group received 2000 mg/d of Ganoderma lucidum dry extract for 8 weeks. We used flow cytometry to determine the lymphocyte profile. CD4+ lymphocyte gene expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. We observed that in the Ganoderma lucidum group, concanavalin A stimulation increased lymphocyte proliferation. Further, we observed an increase in expression of Forkhead box P3, transforming growth factor-beta, IL-10, IL-6, retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma, GATA-binding protein 3 and interferon gamma genes in the Ganoderma lucidum group. Furthermore, in the Ganoderma lucidum group, ionomycin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation led to decrease in Th17+ cells and increase in Th2+ cells. Thus, in older women, Ganoderma lucidum regulates T lymphocyte function leading to a predominant anti-inflammatory action but does not induce T lymphocyte proliferation through CD28 signalling pathway. © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

BACKGROUND: Ganoderma lucidum is a natural medicine that is widely used and recommended by Asian physicians and naturopaths for its supporting effects on immune system. Laboratory research and a handful of preclinical trials have suggested that G. lucidum carries promising anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. The popularity of taking G. lucidum as an alternative medicine has been increasing in cancer patients. However, there is no systematic review that has been conducted to evaluate the actual benefits of G. lucidum in cancer treatment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical effects of G. lucidum on long-term survival, tumour response, host immune functions and quality of life in cancer patients, as well as adverse events associated with its use. SEARCH METHODS: We searched an extensive set of databases including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, NIH, AMED, CBM, CNKI, CMCC and VIP Information/Chinese Scientific Journals Database was searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in October 2011. Other strategies used were scanning the references of articles retrieved, handsearching of the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms and contact with herbal medicine experts and manufacturers of G. lucidum. For this update we updated the searches in February 2016. SELECTION CRITERIA: To be eligible for being included in this review, studies had to be RCTs comparing the efficacy of G. lucidum medications to active or placebo control in patients with cancer that had been diagnosed by pathology. All types and stages of cancer were eligible for inclusion. Trials were not restricted on the basis of language. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Five RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Two independent review authors assessed the methodological quality of individual trials. Common primary outcomes were tumour response evaluated according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, immune function parameters such as natural killer (NK)-cell activity and T-lymphocyte co-receptor subsets, and quality of life measured by the Karnofsky scale score. No trial had recorded long-term survival rates.

BACKGROUND: Ganoderma lucidum is a natural medicine that is widely used and recommended by Asian physicians and naturopaths for its supporting effects on immune system. Laboratory research and a handful of preclinical trials have suggested that G. lucidum carries promising anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. The popularity of taking G. lucidum as an alternative medicine has been increasing in cancer patients. However, there is no systematic review that has been conducted to evaluate the actual benefits of G. lucidum in cancer treatment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical effects of G. lucidum on long-term survival, tumour response, host immune functions and quality of life in cancer patients, as well as adverse events associated with its use. SEARCH METHODS: The authors ran an extensive set of databases including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, NIH, AMED, CBM, CNKI, CMCC and VIP Information/Chinese Scientific Journals Database was searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in October 2011. Other strategies used were scanning the references of articles retrieved, handsearching of the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms and contact with herbal medicine experts and manufacturers of G. lucidum. SELECTION CRITERIA: To be eligible for being included in this review, studies had to be RCTs comparing the efficacy of G. lucidum medications to active or placebo control in patients with cancer that had been diagnosed by pathology. All types and stages of cancer were eligible for inclusion. Trials were not restricted on the basis of language. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Five RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Two independent review authors were assigned to assess the methodological quality of individual trials. Common primary outcomes were tumour response evaluated according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, immune function parameters such as natural killer (NK)-cell activity and T-lymphocyte co-receptor subsets, and quality of life measured by the Karnofsky scale score. No trial had recorded long-term survival rates. Associated adverse events were reported

Many herbal medicines are widely used as immuno-modulators in Asian countries. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) is one of the most commonly used herbs in Asia and preclinical studies have established that the polysaccharide fractions of G. lucidum have potent immuno-modulating effects. However, clinical evidence for this is scanty. The present open-labeled study aimed to evaluate the effects of G. lucidum polysaccharides on selected immune functions in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Forty-seven patients were enrolled and treated with oral G. lucidum at 5.4 g/day for 12 weeks. Selected immune parameters were monitored using various immunological methods throughout the study. In 41 assessable cancer patients, treatment with G. lucidum tended to increase mitogenic reactivity to phytohemagglutinin, counts of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD56 lymphocytes, plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6 and interferon (IFN)-gamma, and NK activity, whereas plasma concentrations of IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were decreased. For all of these parameters, no statistical significance was observed when a comparison was conducted between baseline and those values after a 12-week treatment with G. lucidum. The changes of IL-1 were correlated with those for IL-6, IFN-gamma, CD3, CD4, CD8 and NK activity (p<0.05) and IL-2 changes were correlated with those for IL-6, CD8 and NK activity. The results indicate that G. lucidum may have potential immuno-modulating effect in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Further studies are needed to explore the benefits and safety of G. lucidum in cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically identify herbal supplements with immunostimulatory properties that may trigger or exacerbate autoimmune skin diseases. METHODS: We conducted a systematic scoping review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. PubMed was searched for studies published before 3 August 2025 using predefined immune, herbal supplement, autoimmune, skin and interferon terms. Articles in English that described immunostimulatory effects of herbal supplements in vitro, in model organisms or in human/clinical studies were included. Data were extracted by four reviewers and synthesised qualitatively, with herbs categorised according to levels of supporting evidence for their immunostimulatory properties. A subgroup of herbs with the strongest evidence was identified based on predefined criteria. RESULTS: From 11 819 unique articles screened, 469 studies met inclusion criteria. Across these, 227 distinct immunostimulatory herbal supplements were identified: 79 supported by human studies, 145 by model organism studies and 148 by in vitro studies. 15 herbs demonstrated the most robust evidence across all three evidence types, supported by more than five single-ingredient studies or more than 25 references overall. These included alfalfa, ashwagandha, astragalus, chlorella, echinacea, garlic, ginseng, green tea extract, Indian mulberry, liquorice, mistletoe, reishi mushroom, skullcap, spirulina and tinospora. These herbs were widely marketed for 'immune support' and shared proinflammatory mechanisms, including toll-like receptor activation, NF-κB/MAPK signalling and increased production of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN-γ. CONCLUSIONS: We identified 227 herbal supplements with immunostimulatory properties, of which 15 were most strongly supported by the evidence. This article may serve as a reference to help clinicians counsel patients with autoimmune skin diseases on the risks associated with use of specific herbal supplements. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and perm

Psychological disparities impact physical activity and fitness in sedentary female college students by affecting cardiovascular efficiency. Ganoderma lucidum, vitality-enhancing herb alleviates health and rejuvenates the mind-body to improve endurance fitness. A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel design study was conducted to determine whether supplementation of G. lucidum in daily dosages of 500 mg (GL500mg group) and 1000 mg (GL1000mg group) improves psychophysiological health capabilities during the different phases of the experimental trial. Analysis for pre-experimental trial (day 0), experimental trial (day 15), and post-experimental trial (after day 30) on anthropometric, psychological, physiological, and physical fitness parameters were executed. Seventy-eight participants (n = 78, age 20.64 ± 3.21 years) were assigned randomly and equally divided (n = 26) to one of the three treatment groups for intragroup and intergroup comparisons. Significant differences in the post-experimental GL1000mg group for heart rate (HR), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), physical work capacity (PWC170), and right-hand grip strength (P < 0.05) compared with the placebo group were observed. GL1000mg-supplemented group also significantly improved (P < 0.05) HR, VO2max and PWC170 (P < 0.001) after pre- to post-trials. Experimental trial between placebo and GL1000mg group and post-experimental trial between the GL500mg and GL1000mg group showed significant changes in VO2max(P < 0.001) and PWC170 (P < 0.05). Anxiety, depression, vitality and positive well-being scores significantly improved, leading to improved psychological well-being after GL1000mg supplementation. GL1000mg supplementation for 30 days might act as a longevity-promoting tonic for endurance and strength performance by ameliorating stress to improve the overall psychophysiological health, vitality and quality of life for better cardiovascular efficacy.

BACKGROUND: The effects of herbs on brain function are often investigated in isolation, yet herbal preparations are often complex combinations of phytochemicals, designed to target widespread mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of chronic, 12 weeks, supplementation of a multi-ingredient herbal supplement (containing Bacopa monnieri, Gotu kola leaf, Turmeric whole powder, Reishi full spectrum, Rosemary, Cardamom, Holy Basil, Turmeric Wholistic™ extract, Green Tea & Seagreens) on cognitive function in older adults with subjective memory decline. Secondly, to investigate whether effects are underpinned by shifts in microbial composition and/or metabolism of the herbs. METHODS: Male and female participants (N = 128) aged between 55-75 years completed lab-based cognitive assessments, and provided stool and urine samples, at baseline and then following 90 days of multi-ingredient herb, or placebo, supplementation. RESULTS: Deficits in memory were observed in response to 90 days of multi-ingredient herbal supplement supplementation but the positive effects were all focused on speed of cognitive task performance, with an additional improvement in the false alarm rate on the rapid visual information processing task. These improvements coincided with an increased presence of tyrosine in the urinary metabolome and this may implicate the role of dopamine in these processing and/or motor speed increases. Finally, multi-ingredient herbal supplementation significantly reduced levels of 3 bacterial species in the gut microbiome and one of these, Sutterella, coincides with lower levels of constipation reported in the multi-ingredient herbal supplement condition. CONCLUSION: A multi-ingredient herbal supplement increases speed of cognitive task performance and increased metabolism of tyrosine suggests that this is modulated by increased dopaminergic activity. Reduced levels of Sutterella in the gut is associated with improved bowel movements of participants. Interpretation of the negative effects on memory are, however, stymied by an unequal randomization of participants into treatment groups pre- and post-COVID 19.Clinical trial registration: identifier NCT05504668.

CONTEXT: Lyme disease is the most common, tick-borne disease in the USA. While most patients successfully recover with antibiotics, some patients experience persistent symptoms for months to years. Patients who attribute chronic symptoms to Lyme disease commonly use herbal supplements. The complexity, variability in dose and formulation, and lack of data for these herbal compounds make it difficult to assess their efficacy and safety. OBJECTIVE: This review examines the evidence for the antimicrobial activity, safety, and drug-drug interactions of 18 herbal supplements that patients commonly use for treatment of persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease. DESIGN: The research team performed a narrative review by searching the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Natural Medicines databases, and NCCIH website. The search used the keywords for 18 herbal compounds: (1) andrographis (Andrographis paniculate), (2) astragalus (Astragalus propinquus), (3) berberine, (4) cat's claw bark (Uncaria tomentosa), (5) cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), (6) cryptolepis (Cryptolepis sanguinolenta), (7) Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), (8) garlic (Allium sativum), (9) Japanese knotwood (Polygonum cuspidatum), (10) reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum), (11) sarsaparilla (Smilax medica), (12) Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), (13) sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), (14) teasle root (Dipsacus fullonum), (15) lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), (16) oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare), (17) peppermint (Mentha x piperita), and (18) thyme (Thymus vulgaris). The team also searched for terms related to protocols, including Dr. Rawls' protocol and the Buhner protocol. SETTING: University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore MD. RESULTS: Seven of the 18 herbs reviewed had evidence for in-vitro activity against B. burgdorferi. These compounds included: (1) cat's claw (2) cryptolepis, (3) Chinese skullcap, (4) Japanese knotweed, (5) sweet wormwood, (6) thyme, and (7) oil of oregano. With the exception of oil of oregano these compounds also have anti-inflammatory activity. In vivo data and clinical trials are lacking. Clinicians should be cautious as many of the identified compounds h

Introduction: fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic rheumatic disorder that is related to high levels of cholesterol, high values of diastolic pressure, higher waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR), and higher body mass index. Objectives: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) and Ceratonia siliqua (CS) on blood parameters and anthropometrical measures in women with fibromyalgia. Methods: a double-blind randomized pilot trial was carried out. One group took 6 g/day of micro-milled carpophore powder of GL for 6 weeks, while the second group took the same dose of CS flour. Fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides levels, weight, fat mass, muscular mass, waist-hip ratio, and blood pressure were assessed. Results: our results did not show any statistically significant differences in any of the outcome measures, even if there was a CS tendency to reduce fasting glucose levels and increase WHR. Conclusions: our results did not support the utility of both GL and CS as nutritional supplements to control blood parameters and anthropometric measures as assessed in women with fibromyalgia. Due to the limitations of the research, additional studies will be necessary to confirm our findings. Publisher: Introducción: la fibromialgia (FM) es una afección reumática crónica que está relacionada con altos niveles de colesterol, altos valores de presión diastólica, una mayor relación cintura-cadera y un mayor índice de masa corporal. Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de Ganoderma lucidum (GL) y Ceratonia siliqua (CS) sobre los parámetros sanguíneos y antropométricos de mujeres con fibromialgia. Métodos: se realizó un ensayo piloto aleatorizado con doble ciego. Un grupo tomó 6 g/día de carpóforos micromolidos de GL durante 6 semanas, mientras que el segundo grupo tomó la misma dosis de harina de CS. Se evaluaron los niveles de glucosa, colesterol y triglicéridos, el peso, la masa grasa, la masa muscular, la relación cintura-cadera y la presión arterial. Resultados: los resultados no han evidenciado ninguna diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre el GL y la CS en ninguna de las medidas analizadas, aunque hubo tendencia de la

INTRODUCTION: fibromyalgia is a chronic disease characterized by generalized pain, stiffness, poor physical conditioning, non-restorative sleep and poor health-related quality of life. Ganoderma lucidum a type of mushroom that has demonstrated several benefits in different populations. Ceratonia siliqua is a natural therapy rich in antioxidants with potential benefits on health. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the effects of 6-week treatment of Ganoderma lucidum and Ceratonia siliqua on physical fitness in patients suffering from fibromyalgia. METHODS: sixty-four women with fibromyalgia participated in the study. They took 6 g of Ganoderma lucidum or Ceratonia siliqua per day for 6 weeks. Different fitness tests were selected in order to evaluate functional capacity. RESULTS: after the 6-week treatment period, Ganoderma lucidum significantly improved aerobic endurance, lower body flexibility, and velocity (p < .05). No significant improvement in any physical test was observed in the Ceratonia siliqua group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Ganoderma lucidum may improve physical fitness in women with fibromyalgia, whereas, Ceratonia siliqua seemed to be ineffective at increasing physical fitness. These results may indicate that Ganoderma lucidum might be a useful dietary supplement to enhance physical performance of the patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Publisher: Introducción: la fibromialgia es una enfermedad crónica caracterizada por dolor crónico general, rigidez, condición física pobre, sueño no reparador y mala calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Ganoderma lucidum es un tipo de hongo que ha demostrado tener diferentes beneficios en diversas poblaciones. La harina de algarrobo (Ceratonia siliqua) es una fuente natural de antioxidantes con potenciales beneficios para la salud. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos sobre la condición física en mujeres con fibromialgia de un tratamiento de seis semanas con Ganoderma lucidum y compararlos con los de un tratamiento con Ceratonia siliqua. Métodos: sesenta y cuatro mujeres con fibromialgia participaron en el estudio. Se hicieron dos grupos, el primer grupo tomó 6 g diarios de Ganoderma lucidum, mientras que el segundo tomó 6 g

For millennia, naturopaths and physicians have used Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) for its diverse therapeutic properties, as recorded in the oldest Chinese herbal encyclopedia. Indeed, a radioprotective effect has been reported in the isolated components of its extracts. A systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISMA) was conducted in March 2020, searching databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, along with Clinical Trials. The inclusion criteria were ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo studies, with full texts in English, conducted to determine the radioprotective benefits of G. lucidum, or reports in which ionizing radiation was used. From a total number of 1109 records identified, 15 full text articles were eligible, none of them were clinical trials. In vivo studies reveal the efficiency of G. lucidum aqueous extracts of polysaccharides and triterpenes in mice exposed to γ-rays. In plasmid, they can reduce radiation damage as an increment of the open circular form, as well as increase the DNA extension, as shown in vitro studies. Ex vivo studies conducted in human blood cells show the radioprotective effect of β-glucan of aqueous extract of G. lucidum, nevertheless, its implementation as radioprotector to humans is in need of further clinical research studies.

BACKGROUND: Ganoderma lucidum (also known as lingzhi or reishi) is a mushroom that has been consumed for its broad medicinal properties in Asia for over 2000 years. G lucidum is becoming increasingly popular in western countries as a complementary medicine for cardiovascular health. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of G lucidum for the treatment of pharmacologically modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular disease in adults. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL Issue 6 of 12, 2014) on The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (OVID, 1946 to June week 3 2014), EMBASE (OVID, 1980 to 2014 week 26), Science Direct (1823 to 2013), Current Controlled Trials (1990 to 2013), Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (2005 to 2013), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (2007 to 2013), Chinese Medical Current Contents (2007 to 2013) and other databases. We checked reference lists of included studies, contacted content experts and handsearched The International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. We applied no language or publication restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials of G lucidum for the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. Primary outcomes were blood glucose level, blood pressure and lipid profile. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently selected trials, assessed risk of bias and cross checked data extraction and analysis. A third author arbitrated in the event of disagreement. MAIN RESULTS: Five trials with a total of 398 participants were eligible for inclusion. Of these, one study was published in Chinese and translated to English; one study was published but study authors provided the additional data used in this review; one study was unpublished and the study authors provided data; and two studies did not provide comparison group data suitable for statistical analyses. The three studies from which data were used for statistical analyses compared G lucidum (1.4 g to 3 g per day) to placebo over 12 to 16 weeks of intervention. Although inclusion criteria varied, all participants of these three studies had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Of the

Background: Ganoderma lucidum spore oil (GLSO) is widely recognized for its notable medicinal and nutritional properties. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of GLSO extract in individuals with dyslipidemia. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 110 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the placebo group. A chi-square test of baseline characteristics confirmed no significant differences in age or sex distribution between the two groups. Results: After 12 weeks of intervention, the intervention group exhibited significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), alongside significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), compared to the placebo group, with all differences reaching statistical significance. Furthermore, the relative percentage changes in lipid parameters also demonstrated significant intergroup differences. Safety analyses revealed that the intervention had no notable effects on renal function parameters, whereas hepatic function parameters showed statistically significant improvement in the intervention group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that GLSO extract effectively improved lipid profiles and liver function, with a favorable safety and tolerability profile. These findings strongly support the potential clinical application of GLSO extract in the management of dyslipidemia.

BACKGROUND: Osimertinib is regarded as a promising third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who developed T790M. However the adverse effects, primarily fatigue, remain an overwhelming deficiency of Osimertinib, hindering it from achieving adequate clinical efficacy for such NSCLC. Ganoderma lucidum has been used for thousands of years in China to combat fatigue, while Ganoderma Lucidum spores powder (GLSP) is the main active ingredient. The aim of this study is to investigate whether GLSP is sufficiently effective and safe in improving fatigue and synergizing with Osimertinib in non-squamous NSCLC patients with EGFR mutant. METHOD/DESIGN: A total of 140 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either de-walled GSLP or placebo for a duration of 56 days. The primary outcome measure is the fatigue score associated with EGFR-TKI adverse reactions at week 8, evaluated by the Chinese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire for Cancer Patients (QLQ-C30). Secondary outcomes include evaluation of treatment effectiveness, assessment of quality of life (QoL), and exploration of immune indicators and gut microbiota relationships. Following enrollment, visits are scheduled biweekly until week 12. TRIAL REGISTRATION: China Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300072786. Registrated on June 25, 2023. © 2024. The Author(s).

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of JUNCAO Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide (JCGLPP) on slaughter performance and intestinal health of Minxinan black rabbits, which aimed to provide the basis for the application of JCGLPP in meat rabbits. One hundred male weaned Minxinan black rabbits of (33 ± 2) d [(initial body mass (655.65 ± 25.90) g] were randomly divided into four groups with five replicates per group and five rabbits per replicate. The diets were supplemented with 0 (control group), 50 (group I), 100 (group II) and 150 mg·kg-1 (group III) of JCGLPP, respectively. This experiment lasted for 56 days. The results are shown below: (1) The live weight before slaughter of groups I and III was significantly higher than that of control group (p < 0.05); The full net bore weight of group III was significantly higher than that of control group (p < 0.05). (2) pH value of group I was significantly higher than that of control group (p < 0.05); NH3-N content in experimental groups were significantly higher than that in control group(p < 0.05) while NH3-N content in group I was significantly higher than that in groups III and II (p < 0.05); The content of butyric acid in group II was significantly lower than that in control group (p < 0.05); There were no significant differences in acetic acid, isovaleric acid, isobutyric acid and propionic acid in experimental groups compared with control group (p > 0.05). (3) The Occludin content in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of groups I and II was significantly higher than that of control group (p < 0.05). (4) At the phylum level, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phylum in each group. At the genus level, norank_f__norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014 in group II were significantly higher than those in control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although dietary JCGLPP supplementation could not improve slaughter performance of Minxinan black rabbits, it could improve cecal fermentation parameters and intestinal flora structure and composition of Minxinan black rabbits to a certain extent. Our results revealed that 100 mg·kg-1 might be the optimal concentration obtained in dietary JCGLPP supplementat

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patients seek clinical guidance on mushroom supplements that can be given alongside conventional treatments, but most research on such fungi has been preclinical. The current systematic review focused on clinical studies of mushrooms in cancer care conducted in the past 10 years. We searched Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus (Wiley), and Cochrane Library to identify all mushroom studies conducted in humans published from January 2010 through December 2020. Two authors independently assessed papers for inclusion. RECENT FINDINGS: Of 136 clinical studies identified by screening 2349, 39 met inclusion criteria. The studies included 12 different mushroom preparations. A survival benefit was reported using Huaier granules (Trametes robiniophila Murr) in 2 hepatocellular carcinoma studies and 1 breast cancer study. A survival benefit was also found in 4 gastric cancer studies using polysaccharide-K (polysaccharide-Kureha; PSK) in the adjuvant setting. Eleven studies reported a positive immunological response. Quality-of-life (QoL) improvement and/or reduced symptom burden was reported in 14 studies using various mushroom supplements. Most studies reported adverse effects of grade 2 or lower, mainly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle pain. Limitations included small sample size and not using randomized controlled trial design. Many of the reviewed studies were small and observational. Most showed favorable effects of mushroom supplements in reducing the toxicity of chemotherapy, improving QoL, favorable cytokine response, and possibly better clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, the evidence is inconclusive to recommend the routine use of mushrooms for cancer patients. More trials are needed to explore mushroom use during and after cancer treatment. © 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Fungi-derived β-glucan, a type of glucopolysaccharide, has been shown to possess immune-modulatory properties in clinical settings. Studies have indicated that β-glucan derived from Ganoderma lucidum (commonly known as Reishi) holds particular promise in this regard, both in laboratory and in vivo settings. To further investigate the efficacy and safety of Reishi β-glucan in human subjects, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted among healthy adult volunteers aged 18 to 55. Participants were instructed to self-administer the interventions or placebos on a daily basis for 84 days, with bloodwork assessments conducted at the beginning and end of the study. The results of the trial showed that subjects in the intervention group, who received Reishi β-glucan, exhibited a significant enhancement in various immune cell populations, including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocytes, as well as an improvement in the CD4/CD8 ratio and natural killer cell counts when compared to the placebo group. Additionally, a statistically significant difference was observed in serum immunoglobulin A levels and natural killer cell cytotoxicity between the intervention and placebo groups. Notably, the intervention was found to be safe and well tolerated, with no statistically significant changes observed in markers of kidney or liver function in either group. Overall, the study provides evidence for the ability of Reishi β-glucan to modulate immune responses in healthy adults, thereby potentially bolstering their defense against opportunistic infections.

This report is third in a three-part clinical trial series screening potential treatments for Gulf War Illness (GWI). The goal of the project was to rapidly identify agents to prioritize for further efficacy research. We used a placebo-controlled, pseudo-randomized, crossover design to test the effects of reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), stinging nettle (Uritca dioica), and epimedium (Epimedium sagittatum) in 29 men with GWI. Participants completed 30 days of symptom reports for baseline, then a botanical line consisting of 30 days of placebo, followed by 30 days each of lower-dose and higher-dose botanical. After completing a botanical line, participants were randomized to complete the protocol with another botanical, until they completed three botanical trials. GWI symptom severity, pain, and fatigue were contrasted between the four conditions (baseline, placebo, lower-dose, higher dose) using linear mixed models. GWI symptom severity was unchanged from placebo in the reishi lower-dose condition (p = 0.603), and was higher in the higher-dose condition (p = 0.012). Symptom severity was not decreased from placebo with lower-dose stinging nettle (p = 0.604), but was significantly decreased with higher-dose stinging nettle (p = 0.048). Epimedium showed no significant decreases of GWI symptoms in the lower (p = 0.936) or higher (p = 0.183) dose conditions. Stinging nettle, especially at higher daily dosages, may help reduce the symptoms of GWI. Epimedium does not appear to beneficially affect GWI symptom severity, and reishi may exaggerate symptoms in some GWI sufferers. These results are in a small sample and are preliminary. Further research is required to determine if stinging nettle is indeed helpful for the treatment of GWI, and what dosage is optimal. This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02909686).

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients often experience decreased quality of life during chemotherapy. This study aimed to determine the preliminary efficacy and safety of Reishi & Privet Formula (RPF) for maintaining quality of life among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: We conducted a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in China. Adults with NSCLC scheduled to receive chemotherapy were randomly assigned (3:1 ratio) to receive oral RPF (3.36 g/day) or placebo daily for 6 weeks. The main outcome was the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L). We evaluated RPF's safety profile using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and assessed changes in outcome measures from baseline to weeks 3 and 6 using a linear mixed effects model. RESULTS: We enrolled 82 participants across 8 cancer centers in China. The median age was 59 years, 56 (68%) had advanced cancer. Compared with the placebo group, the RPF group had nonstatistically significant higher quality of life as measured by the FACT-L total score (P = .086) over 2 cycles of chemotherapy. The RPF group was associated with a nonsignificant better general health (P = .050) and emotional well-being (P = .090) than the placebo group. Adverse events rates did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated preliminary safety and suggests a promising trend in RPF's effect on maintaining quality of life and emotional well-being among NSCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy. Future adequately powered randomized-controlled trials are needed to verify the efficacy and safety of RPF in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: Antioxidants can reduce oxidative radicals that affect the early phase of atherogenesis, that is endothelial dysfunction. Polysaccharide Peptide (PsP) derived from Ganoderma lucidum has an active substance in the form of β-glucan. Previous studies have proven the PsP of Ganoderma lucidum as an effective antioxidant in atherosclerotic rats and shows no toxicity in animal model. This study aims to prove the effect of PsP as potent antioxidant in high risk and stable angina patients. METHOD: This is a clinical trial conducted to 37 high risk and 34 stable angina patients, which were determined based on ESC Stable CAD Guidelines and Framingham risk score, with pre and post test design without control group. The parameters are superoxide dimustase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, circulating endothelial cell (CEC) and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) counts. The patients were given PsP 750mg/day in 3 divided dose for 90days. Paired t-test was performed for normally distributed data, and Wilcoxon test for not normally distributed data, and significant level of p≤0,05. RESULTS: SOD level in high risk patients slightly increased but not statistically significant with p=0,22. Level of SOD in stable angina group significantly increased with p=0,001. MDA concentration significantly reduced in high risk and stable angina patients with p=0.000. CEC significantly reduced both in high risk and stable angina patients, with p=0.000 in both groups. EPC count significantly reduced in high risk and stable angina with p=0.000. CONCLUSION: PsP of Ganoderma lucidum is a potent antioxidant against pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in stable angina and high risk patients.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the feasible efficacy and safety of the Spore Powder of Ganoderma Lucidum (SPGL) for treating patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Forty-two eligible patients with AD were recruited. These patients were randomly allocated to an intervention group and a control group equally. The patients in the intervention group underwent SPGL, whereas the subjects in the control received placebo. All patients were treated for a total of 6 weeks. The primary outcome was measured by Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-cog). The secondary outcomes were measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and Neuropsychiatric Index (NPI). The adverse events were also recorded during the treatment period. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, GLSP did not show more encouraging outcomes in symptoms improvement, measured by the ADAS-cog (P = .31), and NPI (P = .79); and quality of life enhancement, measured by the WHOQOL-BREF (physical, P = .62; psychological, P = .69; social relationships, P = .75; environment, P = .82; overall quality of life, P = .74), compared with the control group. In addition, all adverse events were mild, and no significant differences were found between 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study did not find the promising efficacy of SPGL for the treatment of AD after 6-week treatment. It may be because of the relative short-term of intervention. Future clinical trials with larger sample size and longer treatment period are urgently needed.

CONTEXT: Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss: Fr) Karst. (Polyporaceae) is an oriental medicinal fungus, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating various condition or diseases such as hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hepatitis and cancer. OBJECTIVE: The current study examines whether triterpenoids and polysaccharide-enriched G. lucidum (GL) influence antioxidation and hepatoprotective efficacy by suppressing oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two healthy subjects (22 male and 20 female) were recruited and segregated into two groups as experimental or placebo and requested to intake GL (n = 21) or placebo (n = 21) capsule (225 mg; after lunch or dinner) for six consecutive months and vice versa with one month washout period in between. The anthropometric analysis and biochemical assays, as well as abdominal ultrasonic examination were performed. RESULTS: Consumption of GL substantially improved (p < 0.05) the total antioxidant capacity (TEAC; 79.33-84.04), total thiols and glutathione content (6-8.05) in plasma as well as significant (p < 0.05) enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Whereas, the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; 3.37-2.47), 8-hydroxy-deoxy-guanosine (8-OH-dG; 15.99-11.98) and hepatic marker enzymes (glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; GOT and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase; GPT) were concomitantly reduced (42 and 27%) on treatment with GL. Furthermore, the abdominal ultrasonic examination in GL subjects displayed a notable alteration on hepatic condition by reversing from mild fatty liver condition (initial) to normal condition. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The outcome of the present intervention demonstrated the antioxidation, anti-aging and hepatoprotective nature of GL by effectively curbing oxidative stress.

The objective of this randomized, open-label, single-dose, two-phase crossover study was to determine the effect of ascorbic acid on pharmacokinetics of ganoderic acid A, an important biologically active triterpenoid compound with anticancer activities, following oral administration of water extract of fruiting bodies of Ling Zhi in 12 healthy male subjects. Each subject was randomized to receive either one of the two regimens: (1) a single dose of 3,000 mg of the Ling Zhi preparation or (2) a single dose of 3,000 mg of the Ling Zhi preparation in combination with 2,500 mg of ascorbic acid. After a washout period of at least two weeks, subjects were switched to receive the alternate regimen. Blood samples were collected in each phase immediately before dosing and at specific time points for 8 hours after dosing. Plasma ganoderic acid A concentrations were quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The pharmacokinetic parameters analyzed were maximal plasma concentration (Cmax), time to reach peak concentration (Tmax), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), and half-life (t1/2). An oral coadministration of ascorbic acid with Ling Zhi preparation did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of ganoderic acid A in healthy male subjects.