This book presents a state-of-the-art report on recent advances in Ganoderma and its future. Although some older work is also cited, the main focus is on advances made over the past twenty years in the pharmacology and clinical applications of Ganoderma.
Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) has been a traditional medicine in Asian countries to maintain health and treat diseases for over two thousand years. Recently, its value has been demonstrated in preventing and treating certain diseases, such as tumors, liver disorders, renal injury, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, bronchitis, etc. In addition, laboratory and clinical studies have confirmed that the chemical components of Ganoderma, such as Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptides and triterpenes isolated from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum, produce diverse pharmacological effects. Ganoderma and its components play an essential part in antioxidant stress, radical-scavenging, immunomodulation, and intracellular signaling regulation, and accordingly warrant further study. This book systematically reviews the latest advances in our understanding of pharmacology and clinical applications of Ganoderma. It offers researchers and graduate students valuable new insights into the pharmacology and clinical applications of Ganoderma and related products.
