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Identifying the “Mushroom of Immortality”: Assessing the Ganoderma Species Composition in Commercial Reishi Products

Summary

Researchers tested 37 reishi mushroom products and kits sold in the United States and found that most were mislabeled. While products claimed to contain Ganoderma lucidum, over 93% of manufactured products actually contained Ganoderma lingzhi, a different Asian species. The study discovered that 86% of products tested contained something other than what the label claimed, which matters because different Ganoderma species have different chemical compositions and potentially different health benefits.

Background

Ganoderma species, commonly called reishi or lingzhi, have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. The taxonomy of laccate Ganoderma species is chaotic, with G. lucidum sensu stricto having limited native distribution to Europe and parts of China, while other species are more widely cultivated.

Objective

To determine what Ganoderma species are actually present in commercially available reishi products and grow-your-own kits labeled as containing G. lucidum using DNA sequencing methods.

Results

None of the manufactured products contained G. lucidum sensu stricto, and only one GYO kit contained it. The majority (93%) of manufactured products and almost half of GYO kits were identified as G. lingzhi. Other species detected included G. applanatum, G. australe, G. gibbosum, G. sessile, and G. sinense.

Conclusion

Most reishi products sold commercially are mislabeled and contain different Ganoderma species than indicated, primarily G. lingzhi instead of G. lucidum. Better labeling and product verification are needed to inform consumers about actual contents, and the potential ecological impacts of cultivating exotic Ganoderma species require investigation.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Molecular Survey Study,
  • Source: PMID: 30061872
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