SKU: 134

Supports Healthy Immune, Cardiovascular, Liver, and Respiratory Functions; Promotes Healthy Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Levels; Maintains Health of the Central Nervous System.

Traditional Use – Tonifies Jing, Qi and Shen.

Used By – Anyone wanting to cultivate superior health.

Specifications - Concentrated Extract; 100 Capsules 500 mg each; Microbials and Heavy Metals Tested.

Ingredients – 100% Duanwood Grown Ganoderma Lucidum (Red Reishi), 12:1 Concentrated Extract. *120 Mesh for High Absorbability.

Other Ingredients - Vegetarian (Capsule); No Carriers or Preservatives.

Usage - Take 2 capsules 3 times per day, or as directed by your health care professional.

History & Additional Info - Known as the "Herb of Spiritual Potency and Immortality", this woody mushroom is considered a gift of the Earth by Taoist Masters and has been prized by the Emperors of Asia for centuries. Reishi is truly a remarkable herb that cultivates miraculous health benefits for both mind and body. It is the oldest mushroom used as medicine in Asia and is considered to be one of the most potent tonics in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing - the original handbook on herbalism that dates back to 400 B.C.

The active ingredients in Reishi are a set of water and alcohol soluble phyto-nutrients known as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, proteins, and amino acids. Studies have shown that the polysaccharides have powerful immune modulating properties that support healthy blood pressure and enhance the body’s white blood cells’ ability to recognize and destroy pathogenic invaders and unhealthy cells. This makes the components of Reishi a powerful antioxidant.

While supporting a strong immune system, the active ingredients of Reishi give it “double directional activity”, easing an overactive immune system back into balance. The triterpenes maintain the body’s healthy response to autoimmune problems such as inflammation and allergies. Studies have shown that Reishi blocks histamine release easing common allergies over time. These same triterpenes improve the body’s oxygen utilization, promote healthy circulation, and maintain healthy liver function. Reishi is commonly used in Asia to support those with hepatitis and cirrosis.

It is also recommended to help support those who suffer from anxiety, bronchitis, insomnia, asthma, HIV, cancer, and those going through chemotherapy to help restore body energy and promote healthy immune response. This is known as Fu Zhen therapy, where combinations of Western and Eastern remedies are used synergistically to help revitalize healthy body functions.

Reishi is best used as a lifestyle supplement to support the systems and functions of the body to cultivate superior health. As with the other tonic herbs, Reishi is very safe and has a broad range of health promoting actions. There is a reason why the Taoists coined it the “Herb of Immortality” 2,000 years ago. Perhaps its most beneficial action is the mushroom’s ability to cultivate the human spirit, heightening intuition, and raising levels of consciousness. For these reasons, Reishi holds the title as the "Herb of Spiritual Potency”.

TONIC's Reishi is a 12:1 concentrated extract with 120 mesh. It is very potent compared to most products on the market for higher efficacy and compliance. The 120 mesh means that the actual Reishi powder is extremely small, allowing for higher absorbability through the intestines.

It is important to note that TONIC's Reishi is grown on duanwood logs. Remember the phrase your mom said to you as a kid, "You are what you eat!". The same holds true for Reishi. Reishi grown on duanwood logs has shown to have much higher amounts of phyto-nutreints than Reishi grown on other materials, such as oak, saw dust, or wood chips. All of our Reishi is grown in a pristine environment, free of chemicals and pesticides, and regular lab tests are done to ensure safety.

Note: If consuming Reishi, it is wise to consume Vitamin C. Studies have shown that Vitamin C helps Reishi's absorbability and efficacy in the body.

Studies

Ganoderma lucidum extract protects DNA from strand breakage caused by hydroxyl radical and UV irradiation.
Kim KC, Kim IG.

Department of Radiation Biology, Environmental Radiation Research Group, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yusong, Taejon 305-600, Korea.

The fruit bodies of Ganoderma lucidum have been used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases in the Orient. Its antitumor and immune enhancing properties, along with no cytotoxicity, raise the possibility that it could be effective in preventing oxidative damage and resulting disease. Using agarose gel electrophoresis, we have evaluated the potential of Ganoderma lucidum extract as a radioprotector and antioxidant defense against oxygen radical-mediated damage. Although the evidence presented here is based on in vitro using isolated DNA, the results clearly demonstrate that the hot-water extract of Ganoderma lucidum shows good radioprotective ability, as well as protection against DNA damage induced by metal-catalyzed Fenton reactions and UV irradiation. We also found that the water-soluble polysaccharide isolated from the fruit body of Ganoderma lucidum was as effective as the hot-water extract in protecting against hydroxyl radical-induced DNA strand breaks, indicating that the polysaccharide compound is associated with the protective properties. Our data suggest that Ganoderma mushroom merits investigation as a potential preventive agent in humans.

Ganoderma lucidum extract inhibits proliferation of SW 480 human colorectal cancer cells.
Xie JT, Wang CZ, Wicks S, Yin JJ, Kong J, Li J, Li YC, Yuan CS.

Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, the Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, USA.

AIM: Ganoderma lucidum is a commonly used Chinese herb and an important ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine herbal formulations for immune dysfunction related illnesses. The effects of this medicinal mushroom on human colorectal cancer cells have not yet been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ganoderma lucidum extract using SW 480 human colorectal cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two different fractions of Ganoderma lucidum extract, i.e., a fraction containing mainly polysaccharides (GLE-1), and a triterpenoid fraction without polysaccharides (GLE-2) were analyzed. Their antiproliferative activity was evaluated by cell proliferation assay and 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. Scavenging effects of DPPH radical were assessed using ESR-spectroscopy.

RESULTS: Our data showed that both GLE-1 and GLE-2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of SW 480 cells. The inhibitory effect of GLE-2 was much stronger than that of GLE-1. GLE-1 inhibited DNA synthesis in the cells and reduced the formation of DPPH radicals. CONCLUSION: Ganoderma lucidum extract inhibits proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and possesses antioxidant properties.

Beta-glucuronidase-inhibitory activity and hepatoprotective effect of Ganoderma lucidum.
Kim DH, Shim SB, Kim NJ, Jang IS.

College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.

To prove the relationship between the fluctuation in serum beta-glucuronidase level and hepatotoxicity, an inhibitor of beta-glucuronidase from G. lucidum was isolated and its hepatoprotective activity was investigated. The ether fraction of G. lucidum, which had potent beta-glucuronidase-inhibitory activity, protected against CCl4-induced liver injury. From this ether fraction, ganoderenic acid A, was isolated as the potent inhibitor of beta-glucuronidase. It had a potent hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced liver injury. These results suggest that the beta-glucuronidase seems to be closely related to liver injury, which could be prevented by beta-glucuronidase inhibitors.

Structural features of immunologically active polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum
Xing-Feng Bao, Xue-Song Wang, Qun Dong, Ji-Nian FangCorresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author and Xiao-Yu Li
Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 294 Tai-yuan Road, Shanghai 200031, People's Republic of China
Received 6 September 2001. Available online 17 January 2002.

Abstract

Three polysaccharides, two heteroglycans (PL-1 and PL-4) and one glucan (PL-3), were solubilized from the fruit bodies of Ganoderma lucidum and isolated by anion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. Their structural features were elucidated by glycosyl residue and glycosyl linkage composition analyses, partial acid hydrolysis, acetolysis, periodate oxidation, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and ESI–MS experiments. The data obtained indicated that PL-1 had a backbone consisting of 1,4-linked glucopyranosyl residues and 1,6-linked galactopyranosyl residues with branches at O-6 of glucose residues and O-2 of galactose residues, composed of terminal glucose, 1,6-linked glucosyl residues and terminal rhamnose. PL-3 was a highly branched glucan composed of 1,3-linked glucopyranosyl residues substituted at O-6 with 1,6-linked glucosyl residues. PL-4 was comprised of 1,3-, 1,4-, 1,6-linked glucopyranosyl residues and 1,6-linked mannopyranosyl residues. These polysaccharides enhanced the proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes in vitro to varying contents and PL-1 exhibited an immune-stimulating activity in mice.

Triterpenes from the spores of Ganoderma lucidum and their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease.
Min BS, Nakamura N, Miyashiro H, Bae KW, Hattori M.

Research Institute for Traditional Sino-Japanese Medicines, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.

Two new lanostane-type triterpenes, lucidumol A and ganoderic acid beta, were isolated from the spores of Ganoderma (G.) lucidum, together with a new natural one and seven that were known. The structures of the new triterpenes were determined as (24S)-24,25-dihydroxylanost-8-ene-3,7-dione and 3 beta,7 beta-dihydroxy-11,15-dioxolanosta-8,24(E)-dien-26-oic acid, respectively, by chemical and spectroscopic means. The quantitative analyses of 5 fruiting bodies, antlered form and spores of G. lucidum were performed by high performance liquid chromatography and demonstrated that ganoderic alcohol and acid contents were quite high in the spore. Of the compound isolated, ganoderic acid beta, (24S)-lanosta-7,9(11)-diene-3 beta,24,25-triol (called lucidumol B), ganodermanondiol, ganodermanontriol and ganolucidic acid A showed significant anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV)-1 protease activity with IC50 values of 20-90 microM.

Ganoderma lucidum suppresses motility of highly invasive breast and prostate cancer cells

Daniel SlivaCorresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, a, b, Carlos Labarrerec, Veronika Slivovaa, Miroslav Sedlakd, Frank P. Lloyd, Jr. a and Nancy W. Y. Hod
a Cancer Research Laboratory, Methodist Research Institute, 1800 N Capitol Ave, E504, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
b Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
c Experimental Pathology, Methodist Research Institute, Clarian Health Partners Inc., 1800 N Capitol Ave, E504, Indianapolis, IN 46202-1218, USA
d Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
Received 27 September 2002. Available online 21 October 2002.

Abstract

A dried powder from basidiomycetous fungi, Ganoderma lucidum, has been used in East Asia in therapies for several different diseases, including cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the biological actions of Ganoderma are not well understood. We have recently demonstrated that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and nuclear factor-KB (NF-KB) regulate motility of highly invasive human breast cancer cells by the secretion of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (UPA). In this study, we investigated the effect of G. lucidum on highly invasive breast and prostate cancer cells. Here we show that spores or dried fruiting body of G. lucidum inhibit constitutively active transcription factors AP-1 and NF-KB in breast MDA-MB-231 and prostate PC-3 cancer cells. Furthermore, Ganoderma inhibition of expression of UPA and UPA receptor (UPAR), as well secretion of UPA, resulted in the suppression of the migration of MDA-MB-231 and PC-3 cells. Our data suggest that spores and unpurified fruiting body of G. lucidum inhibit invasion of breast and prostate cancer cells by a common mechanism and could have potential therapeutic use for cancer treatment.