The key active ingredients of Reishi Mushroom Extract are β-glucan (content ≥30%) and triterpenoids (e.g., ganoderic acid D, concentration ≥5%), which activate macrophages and natural killer cells (NK cell activity increased by 45%), Enhanced immune function (Journal of Ethnopharmacology research). A clinical trial illustrated that daily dosing with 1.5g standardized extract (20% polysaccharide content) improved the CD4+/CD8+ ratio from 1.2 to 1.8 (+50%) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and reduced fatigue scores by 40% (Chalder Fatigue Scale). Its effects include modulation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway (62% reduction of IL-6 expression, 58% reduction of TNF-α) and inhibition of inflammatory responses.
Antioxidant and anti-tumor properties were outstanding: Ganoderma lucidum extract ORAC value (oxygen radical absorption capacity) was 18,000 μmol TE/g (blueberry only 9,000), and oxidative damage was reduced by upregulating SOD activity (+35%) and glutathione (GSH) content (+28%) (IC50=12μM in cell-based assays). In the breast cancer mice, triterpenoids (dose 50mg/kg) inhibited the tumor volume growth by 78% (compared with 22% for control group) and induced apoptosis of cancer cells (three-fold induction of Caspase-3 activity). A clinical study (NCT04323267) found that chemotherapy combined with ganoderma lucidum extract (2g/ day) could increase the 5-year survival rate of patients with lung cancer from 28% to 41% (p<0.05).
Cardiovascular Health support: Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (molecular weight ≥ 500,000 daltons) reduces total cholesterol (TC) by 15% (from 5.8 to 4.9mmol/L) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) by 22% (from 3.5 to 2.7mmol/L), Increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) by 12% (from 1.2mmol/L to 1.35mmol/L). In hypertensive patients who were given 1g of the extract (10% triterpenes) daily, systolic blood pressure decreased on average by 10mmHg (from 145mmHg to 135mmHg), diastolic blood pressure by 8mmHg (from 92mmHg to 84mmHg), and flow mediated vasodilation function (FMD) by 35% (assessed using ultrasound).
Anti-fatigue and neuroprotection: Ganoderic acid A (concentration ≥0.5%) activates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release (+40%) and suppresses beta-amyloid deposition in Alzheimer’s disease models (62% inhibition). In healthy individuals, after 8 weeks of treatment with Ganoderma lucidum extract (500mg/day), the cognitive test response time was reduced by 18% (420ms vs 345ms) and the sleep quality score was improved by 30% (PSQI scale). Athlete trials showed that Ganoderma polysaccharides (1.2g/day) increase lactate clearance rate by 52% (0.08mmol/L/min to 0.12mmol/L/min) and endurance performance by 22% (VO₂max test) after exercise.
Process of production and standardization: Supercritical CO₂ extraction technology improves the extraction ratio of triterpenoids from 5% of traditional water extraction to 95% (purity ≥98%), while keeping heat-sensitive constituents intact (e.g., ganoderma polysaccharides, molecular weight retention ≥90%). The production cost of the standardized extract (β-glucan ≥30%) is 300/kg, and there is a premium of 3001,200/kg for the final product. The market size in 2023 will be $1.2B globally (Grand View Research data), and immune health products will account for 54% (re-purchase rate of 65%).
Safety and sustainability: EU EFSA set up a tolerance dose of 3g/day (no adverse reaction rate < 2%), and long-term toxicity tests showed no significant change of liver enzyme (ALT/AST) after 6 months of continuous administration (p>0.05). The percentage of organically grown Ganoderma lucidum (USDA certified) production increased from 15% in 2015 to 40% in 2023, with the reduction of carbon intensity by 35% (LCA analysis). Its mycelium fermentation technology has reduced the production cycle from 2 years to 30 days, increased utilization of resources by 80%, and redefined the effectiveness and environmental sustainability of natural supplements.