Ganoderma tea is a beverage prepared from Ganoderma lucidum mushroom extract, commonly referred to as Lingzhi or Reishi in Oriental medicine for centuries. Studies have demonstrated its benefits in supporting health and strengthening immunity systems; among them are lower cholesterol and blood pressure, improved circulation, alleviation of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and boosting white blood cell counts – acting also as an anti-inflammatory.

Over the last decade, G. lucidum and its polysaccharides, triterpenoids, proteins, and peptides have become key active ingredients in herbal medicines and functional foods. Polysaccharides in particular are one of the most abundant bioactive constituents, providing an array of therapeutic activities such as antioxidants, anti-fatigue agents, decrepitude-fighters, cancer fighters, immunomodulators, hypoglycemics [1].

Ganoderma polysaccharides have been isolated from fruit bodies, mycelia or fermentation broth produced through liquid deep fermentation. They contain various sugars such as glucose, mannose, galactose, fucose and xylose with various glycosidic linkages that alter their structure, solution properties and biological activity.

Ganoderma polysaccharides may help stimulate changes to white blood cell genes that regulate immunity and can prevent diseases, while others such as Ganoderma lucidum polysachharide may reduce inflammation changes among colorectal cancer patients and even enhance survival of tumor cells by killing cancerous ones.

Ganoderma polysachharides have also been reported to possess neuroprotective properties, making it an increasingly popular alternative to pharmaceutical drugs with potential side effects. GLT-2, in particular, has been successfully used in Japan to treat neurosis such as polymyositis and dermatomyositis and is currently being evaluated in clinical trials in the US. However, further research must be conducted to understand the exact mechanisms and optimal dose of Ganoderma-derived polysachharides to achieve neuroprotective activity. Therefore, this article reviews current progress on polysachharides extracted from G. lucidum and their pharmacological activity – giving insight into future directions of this field of research.