This report is so long and too much scientific that please refer to the last portion, discussion.

Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn Univ., Thailand.

Dr. Pruphan Phanuphak

Dr. Sunee Sirivichayakul

   Our preliminary in vitro studies indicated that certain extracts of G. lucidum may function as immunorestorer in mild to moderately immunosuppressed individuals. The effect may be mediated through changes of T cell phenotypes or through enhancement of T cell function. Therefore, proper selection of the patients to be tested is essential to guarantee the favorable outcome of the clinical study.

   Ganoderma lucidum, commonly known as lacquered mushroom, is a medicinal mushroom which has been widely used in China (named Ling Zhi) and Japan (named Reishi, Mannentake) for hundreds of year's for the treatment of various diseases including cancers. One of its active ingredient, lentinan, is known to have immunopotentiating effects on various immune cell types such as T cells, B cells, macrophages and NK cells. This study is to investigate the in vitro immunomodulating effects of three types of G. lucidum extracts, namely, the hot-water extract of locally cultivated G. lucidum, a commercially lyophilized extract (Bioherb) and lentinan.