Lingzhi-8 (LZ-8)

Ganoderma lucidum active and pharmacological components

One of the greatest products of artificial cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum is the production of the fungi in large scale for research. Lin Zhi-Bin et al embarked on separate studies to prove the efficacy of this famous herb. Their work has resulted not only in the improvement of its cultivation and extraction method but more importantly it surfaced the science behind this wonder herb. They had identified the major bio-active components of the Ganoderma and its specific action to its revered use.

About one thousand compounds have been isolated from Ganoderma lucidum through extensive researches. These include polysaccharides, glycopeptides, triterpenoids, adenosine and other nucleosides, ergosterol, ergosta-palmitate, β-sitosterol and about 100 other kinds of steroid compounds such as palmitic acid, Ganoderma aldehyde, ganoderic triterpene ketone, 19-montanic lipoid, phosphatidyl choline, lycine, ganoderic alkali A, ganoderic alkali B, substitute furans, tuarine and manitol, etc. A lot of these compounds showed promise in curing diseases. Polysaccharides, triterpenoids, adenosine and Lingzhi-8 are the group of compounds extracted from Ganoderma which was proven clinically in treatment diseases as well as enhancing resistance to reduce chances of acquiring one.

Lingzhi-8 (LZ-8)

Discovered first by the Japanese scientist wherein they isolated it from the mycelia extract of the Ganoderma lucidum, this protein have since shown promising biological properties. LZ-8 demonstrated prevention of a systemic anaphylaxis reaction in one study using laboratory mice. The study also revealed how LZ-8 shows mitogenic capacity towards mouse spleen cells and human peripheral lymphocytes but is not inhibited by mono- or dimeric sugars. In addition, LZ-8 showed a good promise in preventing the onset of autoimmune type I diabetes.

In summary, LZ-8 was found to have imunomodulatory activity, these steroids showed promise in protective effect on vertebral hypoxia-re-oxygenation injury, free radical-oxidative, free-radical-scavenging activity.

To learn more about Ganoderma in the Philippines and its roots to Chinese Culture, please read Polysaccharides