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This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Ganoderma tsugae is a medicinal mushroom endemic to Northeast China and cultivated in Taiwan, used in traditional medicine for various health benefits [PMID:34603250, PMID:16399629]. It exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities across various preclinical models [PMID:12358482, PMID:33044769, PMID:16399629].
Background
Ganoderma tsugae, also known as Songshan lingzhi, is a polypore fungus that can utilize coniferous wood as a substrate [PMID:34603250, PMID:40110128]. It is commercially cultivated as a dietary supplement and used as a traditional Chinese medicine [PMID:23610080, PMID:41176168].
Traditional uses
It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for nourishing, countering cold, activating blood circulation, and treating rheumatoid arthritis [PMID:41176168].
Active compounds
The major components are triterpenoids, including lanostanes (such as tsugaric acids C, D, E, and F, and ganodermanontriol) [PMID:41176168, PMID:26598137, PMID:23769935, PMID:10785428, PMID:37796245]. Other identified compounds include acidic polysaccharides (e.g., GTP-2), sterols, amino acids, alkaloids, and a novel palmitamide [PMID:40022418, PMID:41176168, PMID:26598137, PMID:38562486].
Mechanism of action
G. tsugae ethanol extract (GTEE) suppresses the Akt signaling pathway and blocks PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathways to inhibit cancer cell growth [PMID:33044769, PMID:31500366]. It induces G1/S or G2/M cell cycle arrest and triggers apoptosis via mitochondrial and death receptor pathways [PMID:33044769, PMID:30465897, PMID:18951965]. In cardiac and brain models, it alleviates oxidative stress by increasing expression of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), catalase, and BDNF [PMID:23610080, PMID:35390035]. It also modulates Th1/Th2 and macrophage responses in allergic models [PMID:16905232].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DEndometrial Carcinoma
Ethanol extract suppressed proliferation of HEC-1-A, KLE, and AN3 CA cells via Akt signaling pathway suppression [PMID:33044769]
Evidence DMetastatic Prostate Cancer
Ethanol extract suppressed cell growth and metastatic capability in PC-3 and DU145 cells and inhibited subcutaneous PC-3 tumor growth in xenograft models [PMID:31500366]
Evidence DMyocardial Injury
Triterpenoid fraction protected mice from isoproterenol-induced injury by inhibiting Fas/Fas ligand expression and oxidative stress [PMID:23610080]
Evidence DCognitive Impairment (Aging)
DMSO extract improved locomotion, spatial memory, and learning in D-galactose-induced aging rats [PMID:35390035]
Evidence DAcute Liver Injury
Ethanol extract of rice solid-state fermented G. tsugae reduced AST, ALT, and inflammatory cytokines in CCl4-induced liver injury mice [PMID:36014587]
Evidence D
Safety & adverse effects
Nano/submicrometer and hot-water extracts exhibited no mutagenic potential to Salmonella Typhimurium tester strains and were confirmed safe in cell toxicity tests [PMID:25406501].
Drug interactions
Tsugaric acid D combined with cisplatin enhanced the cytotoxicity induced by cisplatin, suggesting potential for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing cisplatin resistance [PMID:23769935].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is based entirely on in vitro cell lines and in vivo animal models (mice and rats), representing a low overall clinical strength (Level D).
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 35024180 (2021) — Activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling: An important molecular mechanism of herbal medicine in the treatment of atherosclerosis via the protection of vascular endothelial cells from oxidative stress. · Journal of advanced research
2.PMID: 37796245 (2024) — Antibacterial lanostane triterpenoids from Ganoderma tsugae. · Journal of Asian natural products research
3.PMID: 25975187 (2015) — Secondary metabolites from Ganoderma. · Phytochemistry
4.PMID: 26598137 (2016) — Triterpenoids and an alkamide from Ganoderma tsugae. · Fitoterapia
5.PMID: 33044769 (2021) — Ganoderma tsugae suppresses the proliferation of endometrial carcinoma cells via Akt signaling pathway.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
Acidic polysaccharide GTP-2 ameliorated blood lipid levels and reduced atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-/- mice [PMID:40022418]
Evidence DBronchoalveolar Inflammation
Supplementation decreased total infiltrating leukocytes and lymphocyte percentage in OVA-challenged mouse models [PMID:16399629, PMID:16905232]
Evidence DObesity
Ethanol extract ameliorated white adipocyte hypertrophy and induced UCP1-positive browning adipocytes in diet-induced obese mice [PMID:29683472]
· Environmental toxicology
6.PMID: 41176168 (2025) — Analysis of chemical constituents in Ganoderma tsugae murr. By UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. · Natural product research
7.PMID: 23610080 (2013) — The triterpenoids of Ganoderma tsugae prevent stress-induced myocardial injury in mice. · Molecular nutrition & food research
8.PMID: 34603250 (2021) — Genome of Ganoderma Species Provides Insights Into the Evolution, Conifers Substrate Utilization, and Terpene Synthesis for Ganoderma tsugae. · Frontiers in microbiology
9.PMID: 29415422 (2018) — Importance of a Laccase Gene (Lcc1) in the Development of Ganoderma tsugae. · International journal of molecular sciences
10.PMID: 18951965 (2008) — Ganoderma tsugae extracts inhibit colorectal cancer cell growth via G(2)/M cell cycle arrest. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
12.PMID: 30465897 (2019) — Ganoderma tsugae induced ROS-independent apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy in human chronic myeloid leukemia cells. · Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
13.PMID: 40110128 (2025) — Evaluation of in vitro pharmacological activities of medicinal mushrooms in the context of dry eye disease. · Frontiers in pharmacology
14.PMID: 39859979 (2024) — Evaluation of Two Different Treatments for Larch Logs as Substrates to Cultivate Ganoderma tsugae in the Forest. · Life (Basel, Switzerland)
16.PMID: 10785428 (2000) — New lanostanoids of Ganoderma tsugae. · Journal of natural products
17.PMID: 36014587 (2022) — Hepatoprotective Activity of Ethanol Extract of Rice Solid-State Fermentation of Ganoderma tsugae against CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
18.PMID: 31683976 (2019) — Wasted Ganoderma tsugae Derived Chitosans for Smear Layer Removal in Endodontic Treatment. · Polymers
19.PMID: 40022418 (2025) — Acidic polysaccharide from Ganoderma tsugae: Structural characterization and antiatherosclerotic related to macrophage polarization. · Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
20.PMID: 12358482 (2002) — Antioxidant properties of several medicinal mushrooms. · Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
21.PMID: 26005143 (2015) — Chemical characteristics and anti-proliferation activities of Ganoderma tsugae polysaccharides. · Carbohydrate polymers
22.PMID: 35390035 (2022) — Ganoderma tsugae prevents cognitive impairment and attenuates oxidative damage in d-galactose-induced aging in the rat brain. · PloS one
23.PMID: 31500366 (2019) — Chinese Herbal Medicine Ganoderma tsugae Displays Potential Anti-Cancer Efficacy on Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells. · International journal of molecular sciences
24.PMID: 16905232 (2006) — Ganoderma tsugae in vivo modulates Th1/Th2 and macrophage responses in an allergic murine model. · Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
25.PMID: 32558501 (2020) — Antioxidant Activities of Selected Medicinal Mushroom Submerged Cultivated Mycelia. · International journal of medicinal mushrooms
26.PMID: 1279250 (1992) — Ganoderma tsugae mycelium enhances splenic natural killer cell activity and serum interferon production in mice. · Japanese journal of pharmacology
27.PMID: 26082984 (2015) — Antiproliferative Activities of Hot Water Extracts from Culinary-Medicinal Mushrooms, Ganoderma tsugae and Agrocybe cylindracea (Higher Basidiomycetes) on Cancer Cells. · International journal of medicinal mushrooms
28.PMID: 25406501 (2014) — Preparation of nano/submicrometer Ganoderma tsugae and its mutagenic potencies and cytotoxicity. · Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
29.PMID: 38562486 (2024) — UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolomics reveals differences in metabolite composition among four Ganoderma species. · Frontiers in nutrition
30.PMID: 16399629 (2006) — Ganoderma tsugae supplementation alleviates bronchoalveolar inflammation in an airway sensitization and challenge mouse model. · International immunopharmacology