Ganoderma lucidum : A midas touch to human health

Pages: 71-74
Zakirhusen Patel and Mihir Soni (Naran Lala College of Commerce and Management, Navsari, Gujarat)

Ganoderma Lucidum is a type of mushroom that has been used for thousands of years throughout Asia. The aim of this paper is to note the status of research regarding Ganoderma Lucidum and study the health benefiting properties of it. In ancient China, Ganoderma was reserved only for emperors for consumption. Gradually, with time, research has identified numerous health benefiting properties including anticancer effects, immunoregulatory, antioxidant, liver protecting, hypoglycemic, anti-microbial and blood cholesterol reducing properties. Research has also shown its anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, analgesic and anti-allergic properties. Research regarding its medicinal value has been conducted at various levels in different countries like USA, Malaysia, Japan, China and India.