It would seem that the fungus Ganoderma lucidum is a different sort of “magic mushroom.” The mushroom has featured in Chinese medicine for centuries. In recent years, the more established scientific community has been exploring parts of Chinese medicine to see how many of the herbs and recommended foodstuffs have therapeutic value. In a sense this is similar to the way that plants were examined in the early days of modern medicine (Aspirin — acetylsalicylic acid — is based on salicylin, a chemical found in the bark of the willow tree.)
Ganoderma is a class of polypore mushroom that grows on wood. As a family, these mushrooms are sometimes called shelf mushrooms or bracket fungi. Several types of Ganoderma contain bioactive compounds, and it is these that are being investigated by scientists.
Ganoderma lucidum is also called the lingzhi mushroom. The mushroom is soft, corky, and flat. It has a red, kidney-shaped cap, with white pores on the underside.
In a new study, researchers indicate that the mushroom could have a role in the battle against obesity. Studies have shown that regular consumption of the mushroom slows down weight gain. This is by altering the composition of the bacteria found in the gut. Several recent papers suggest that the microbiome of the intestines is one of the trigger factors for obesity.
To reach this conclusion, scientists studied mice that were fed a high-fat diet. One group were also given the mushroom as part of their daily feed. The group of mice that did not eat the mushroom had an average weight of 42 grams; whereas the mice whose diet included the mushroom had a lower average weight at 35 grams.
Further testing will be required to see if the results can be repeated and human test will need to be performed before any main health claims can be made. The results of the study have been recorded in the journal Nature, in a paper titled “Ganoderma lucidum reduces obesity in mice by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota.”
