Preventive and Therapeutic Effect of Ganoderma (Lingzhi) on Diabetes

As extracts from Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, Lingzhi) have been reported to be an alternative adjuvant treatment for diabetes, numerous of work have been carried out on it. Among the many biologically active constituents of Ganoderma, polysaccharides, proteoglycans, proteins, and triterpenoids have been shown to have hypoglycemic effects. Based on our research and other references, this article discusses the antidiabetic effect of Ganoderma mediated by protecting pancreas islet; inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, a promising therapeutic target of diabetes; decreasing lymphocyte infiltration; and increasing the antibody detection of insulin in diabetic mice. This review summarizes researches about the hypoglycemic action effects of polysaccharides, proteoglycans, proteins, and triterpenoids from Ganoderma as a guide for future research on diabetes and its complications. In addition, clinical studies with diabetic indexes are reviewed.