What are the uses of Lingzhi?

In the mythological legend "The Legend of the White Snake", Lady White drank realgar wine and turned into a white snake which scared Xu Xian "to death". However, it was this powerful Lady White who overcame numerous difficulties and dangers, stole the magical herb "Ganoderma lucidum", and finally saved Xu Xian. In this beautiful love legend, Ganoderma lucidum is a magical medicine that can bring the dead back to life and grant immortality! Putting aside myths and legends, from the perspective of modern medicine, what are the uses of Ganoderma lucidum?

Ganoderma lucidum, also known as Ganoderma lucidum grass, Shenzhi, Zhicao, Xiancao, and Ruicao, is the whole plant of Ganoderma lucidum or Ganoderma sinensis of the Polyporaceae family. It has an umbrella-like appearance, and its cap is kidney-shaped, semicircular or nearly circular. It is the fruiting body of the Ganoderma lucidum, a Polyporaceae fungus. It has the effects of replenishing qi and calming the mind, relieving cough and relieving asthma, and is used for dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, shortness of breath, and cough and asthma due to deficiency. Ganoderma lucidum is native to eastern Asia. In ancient China, it was believed to have the effects of immortality and resurrection, and was regarded as a magical herb. Ganoderma lucidum has been artificially cultivated, and the one in the forest has the best quality and its medicinal value is higher than that of wild Ganoderma lucidum.

1. Effects on the central nervous system

Ganoderma lucidum tincture, Ganoderma lucidum fermentation concentrate, mycelium alcohol extract and alcohol extract of defatted spore powder can all reduce the spontaneous activity of mice when injected intraperitoneally. The alcohol extract can significantly enhance the central inhibitory effect of sodium pentobarbital (loss of righting reflex) and has an anti-electroconvulsant effect. Ganoderma lucidum fermentation concentrate or mycelium alcohol extract can enhance the central nervous system inhibitory effect of sodium thiopental.

2. Effects on the cardiovascular system

Ganoderma lucidum tincture has a cardiotonic effect on the isolated toad heart. Intraperitoneal injection of Ganoderma lucidum tincture in rabbits can strengthen the cardiac contractility with little change in heart rate. Intraperitoneal injection of Ganoderma lucidum alcohol extract has a significant antagonistic effect on the elevated T wave of the rabbit electrocardiogram caused by posterior pituitary hormone, indicating that it has a certain antagonistic effect on acute myocardial ischemia. The blood pressure of anesthetized cats was immediately reduced after intravenous injection of Ganoderma lucidum alcohol extract, but the decrease was short-lived.

3. Antiplatelet aggregation and antithrombotic effects

Ganoderma lucidum injection has a significant inhibitory effect on ADP- and collagen-induced human platelet aggregation in vitro. Healthy people took 0.2g of Ganoderma lucidum daily for one week, which also significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation, but had a poorer effect on collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Patients with myocardial infarction or cerebral infarction took Ganoderma lucidum for 2 weeks, and the results showed that it could inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation in both in vivo and in vitro experiments, and it also had a significant inhibitory effect on thrombosis in vitro. The water extract of Ganoderma lucidum has an inhibitory effect on thrombin-induced bovine platelet aggregation in vitro, and its active ingredient is adenosine.

4. Effects on the respiratory system

The mouse tracheal phenol red secretion experiment showed that intraperitoneal injection of red erythritol extract and Ganoderma sp. fermentation liquid both had expectorant effect.