Abstract
ABSTRACTLing-zhi is a medicinal herb that generally refers to a fungus in the genus Ganoderma. It has been used as a medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years. Mycologists at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) first artificially cultivated the Ling-zhi fruiting body in the late 1960s (X.J. Liu’s team). In IMCAS, different research teams have extensively studied Ling-zhi in the aspects of national resource surveys, systematic taxonomy, chemical analysis, and processing for medicinal and health applications. The research results from IMCAS have provided essential support and prompted the development of the Ling-zhi industry in China to some extent. This review aims to summarize the history of research on Ling-zhi in IMCAS and its role in the development of the Ling-zhi economy.
Highlights
Ling-zhi is a medicinal herb that generally refers to a fungus in the genus Ganoderma
Myths worshipping Ling-zhi can be found in folk legends, and poems in praise of happiness and sanctity have been written with Ling-zhi as the symbol
The application of Ling-zhi can be traced back to 2000 years ago. It had been used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases as a famous traditional Chinese medicine, which was earliest documented in Shen Nong Materia Medica (Anonymous 1955)
Summary
In ancient China, Ling-zhi was regarded as a magic herb called xian-cao (仙草), rui-cao (瑞草), or rui-zhi (瑞芝) for its representation of good luck and happiness. Myths worshipping Ling-zhi can be found in folk legends, and poems in praise of happiness and sanctity have been written with Ling-zhi as the symbol. The application of Ling-zhi can be traced back to 2000 years ago. It had been used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases as a famous traditional Chinese medicine, which was earliest documented in Shen Nong Materia Medica (Anonymous 1955). The most famous one was Li Shi-Zhen (李时珍),who had illustrated Ling-zhi as a vegetable in his Compendium of Materia Medica, and believed that it had the medicinal value to enhance the spirit and energy of the body
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