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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 6 No. 3 September-December 2008 ÛÚÒ

Abstract
Ganoderma lucidum Spore: The Reason Why Its Wall Should be Broken for Medicinal Use
Noppamas Soonthornchareonnon*
*Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University
Ganoderma lucidum, commonly known as reishi or lingzhi mushroom, is regarded as a precious high-
value medicinal herb. It can stimulate the immune system in cancer patients. It is used to relieve pain, protect
against nerve degeneration, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol, and it shows anti-oxidative and anti-inflam-
matory activites. The active substances are polysaccharides and triterpenes which are found in the spores.
Broken spores contain more active compounds and are more active than unbroken spores because of their
thick two-layer walls. The result of this study showed that alcohol and dichloromethane did not extract the
triterpenes from unbroken spores. Moreover, boiling unbroken spores in water can extract some polysaccha-
rides but their quantity is less than that of broken spores. Furthermore, the acid or alkaline condition which
simulates gastric or intestinal conditions, respectively, is not able to break the spore wall as proven by electron
microscopic examination, TLC chromatograms, or active substances analysis. Therefore, broken spores should
be used as a medicinal product for oral administration in order to achieve higher amounts of the active prin-
ciples, better gastrointestinal absorption and hence better therapeutic value.
Key words: Ganoderma lucidum, reishi spore, lingzhi spore, simulated gastric conditions, simulated intestinal
conditions, polysaccharides, triterpenes