Reishi Mushroom (<i>Ganoderma lucidum</i>): pharmacology of a potent healer in traditional Chinese medicine

Reishi mushroom, also known as Lingzhi or <i>Ganoderma lucidum</i>, is a widely studied macrofungus in Traditional Chinese Medicine, revered for over two millennia in Asia. This white rot fungus contains over 400 bioactive compounds, including triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and proteins, primarily from the basidiocarp, mycelia, and spores. These components offer a broad range of pharmacological effects, such as immunomodulation, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective properties. Recent research has also highlighted its anti-obesity and alopecia-treating abilities. Due to its rarity, <i>Ganoderma lucidum</i> is cultivated through solid substrates or submerged mediums. Its increasing demand in global therapeutic applications, coupled with rising patent numbers, underscores its importance. This review explores its cultivation, bioactive metabolites, and therapeutic potential, aiding future research.