Nutritional Profile and Health Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum “Lingzhi, Reishi, or Mannentake” as Functional Foods: Current Scenario and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum has a long history of medicinal uses in the Far East countries of more than 2000 years due to its healing properties. Recently, G. lucidum has come under scientific scrutiny to evaluate its content of bioactive components that affect human physiology, and has been exploited for potent components in the pharmacology, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics industries. For instance, evidence is accumulating on the potential of this mushroom species as a promising antiviral medicine for treating many viral diseases, such as dengue virus, enterovirus 71, and recently coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Still, more research studies on the biotherapeutic components of G. lucidum are needed to ensure the safety and efficiency of G. lucidum and promote the development of commercial functional foods. This paper provides an extensive overview of the nutraceutical value of Ganoderma lucidum and the development of commercial functional food. Moreover, the geo-origin tracing strategies of this mushroom and its products are discussed, a highly important parameter to ensure product quality and safety. The discussed features will open new avenues and reveal more secrets to widely utilizing this mushroom in many industrial fields; i.e., pharmaceutical and nutritional ones, which will positively reflect the global economy.

Mushroom-Derived Novel Selenium Nanocomposites’ Effects on Potato Plant Growth and Tuber Germination

“…The biochemical action of the mushroom G. lucidum made a significant contribution to the anti-biofilm-forming efficiency of bio-composites. The interest in developing various nutraceuticals and functional products from Ganoderma genus permanently grows [ 63 ]. This has encouraged researchers to study the species Ganoderma from various geographical origins to facilitate the identification of natural compounds with pronounced antibacterial, antioxidant, medical and other useful properties.…”

Resources of Iranian agarics (Basidiomycota) with an outlook on their antioxidant potential

“…Diets rich in natural antioxidants enforce the native defense system and protect against oxidative damage ( Ferreira et al, 2009 ). Mushroom species that are edible and possess high level of biological activities with perspectives on promoting human health are considered noteworthy candidates for developing functional foods and nutra-pharmaceutical products ( Kozarski et al, 2015 ; Lu et al, 2020 ; Niego et al, 2021 ; Shaffique et al, 2021 ; El Sheikha, 2022 ). It is evident that thorough analyses are needed to fully characterize the mycochemical constitutes of such species and their various bioactivities.…”

Therapeutic potential and nutritional significance of Ganoderma lucidum – a comprehensive review from 2010 to 2022

“…The number of Ganodermarelated products commercially known is estimated to be over 100 brands. 17,18 The simplest product on the market consists of whole fruiting bodies that have been powdered and then processed into capsules. Other products are formulated from the following sources: (1) mycelia, substrates, and mushroom primordia are combined, dried and ground into powdered form, following inoculation and incubation of a semisolid medium with fungal mycelia; (2) mycelia collected from submerged liquid cultures grown in fermentation tanks are dried and ground into powdered form; (3) mushrooms with the spore walls removed, intact fungal spores or spores that have been broken by mechanical means; (4) extracted bioactive compounds such as triterpenes and polysaccharides, which are usually extracted using ethanol or hot water from mycelia or fruiting bodies and then evaporated to dryness and encapsulated either integrated in designated proportions or separately.…”