TRITERPENOIDS

   Another set of active constituents found in ganoderma, but not in most of the other tree fungi, are the ganoderma acids, classified as triterpenoids, compounds that have a structure somewhat like the steroid hormones. Ganoderic acids have been shown responsible for the anti-allergy effects. It is also likely that these components affect oxygen consumption. Similar chemical compounds have been isolated from various species of ginseng, which have been repeatedly shown to improve oxygen utilization.

   Ganoderma has already aided thousands of people in adapting to high altitude stress. People who travel to high altitudes often suffer from headaches, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, heart palpitations, severe fatigue and other symptoms of oxygen deprivation. In a study of Chinese workers who traveled to the high plateau of Tibet (climbing to over 15,000 feet over a three day period) ganoderma greatly reduced the occurrence of such symptoms.

   Further evidence for ganoderma's action on oxygen utilization is found in a study of patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. When arteries are blocked by atheromas, by spasms, or blood clots, oxygen availability is greatly reduced. Ganoderma is effective in reducing the symptoms of cardiovascular blockage, including angina, heart irregularities, and loss of memory. A syrup made from the mushroom given to 92 persons with coronary heart disease reduced chest pain in 72 percent of the patients and reduced symptoms of tachycardia and shortness of breath, in 65 percent. Further, half of the patients claimed improvements in appetite and sleep.

   In another study, ganoderma tablets were given to patients with coronary heart disease for a period of one to two weeks. Improvements in various symptoms were found in 74 to 90 percent of the patients for angina, palpitation, fullness in the chest, dizziness and headache, shortness of breath, insomnia and weariness. These findings imply that ganoderma will be of benefit to athletes. Better oxygen utilization improves performance and speeds recovery time of normal heart rate and breathing, as experienced with use of the ginseng plants.

   A related health concern addressed by ganoderma is hyperlipidemia. This is a condition of too much fat and cholesterol in the blood. Often the problem has its source in the failure of the liver to capture and eliminate these components. Ganoderma, which is believed to be very valuable for the treatment of a variety of liver disorders, is being used in China for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases related to fats in the blood. In one study, when ganoderma was given to patients with hyperlipidemias; 52 percent experienced lowering of triglycerides. In another study, 68 percent of the patients showed lowering of cholesterol, triglycerides and beta-lipoproteins.

   Ganoderic acids are relatively easy to isolate and quantify. They can be used as a measure of the quality of different ganoderma samples. It has been found that the largest amounts of ganoderic acids are found in the cap (fruiting body) with very little in the stems and spores. The content of ganoderic acids is much higher when the mushroom is grown on prune trees, which is the traditional source preferred for thousands of years, than when grown on other trees.