A Sino-French research team recently reported its advances in
revealing the immunity-enhancing efficacy of glossy ganoderma, a medical
herb in China
Glossy ganoderma (Ganoderma lucidum) or lingzi in Chinese, is one of
most precious herbal drugs catalogued in Chinese pharmacopoeia for its
function of building up human resistance to diseases. Although modern
medicine has proved its positive role in support of the human's immune
system, an overall understanding of its pharmaceutical mechanism is still
unavailable.
In order to make a better understanding of the herb, scientists from
the CAS Nanjing Branch, Nanjing Zhongke Group and Cible Moleculaires en
Cancerologie of the Universite Paris 7 have joined hands in conducting
research since 2003.
After nearly three years of work, the researchers have achieved
encouraging progress. They have discovered that the products derived
from the herb have a function of inhibiting angiogenesis and capable
of promoting the cell growth. A sample with 10mg/cc in concentration,
for instance, presents a remarkable effect in promoting the cellular
growth in endothelial vessels. Another significant result is the cell's
growth in favorable response to the cultivation without external stress.
In an ideal condition of concentration, the herb can impair the passive
role of the stress on the tissue culture. In addition, some pathological
effects of the herb's medications in the process of cell division are
discovered. The most exciting discovery is their inhibiting efficacy in
suppressing familial herpes and even the HIV. This is an unprecedented
discovery never reported at home and abroad.
In the past, the ganoderma research used to be concentrated in Asian
countries, such as China, Japan and the ROK. The cooperation in Nanjing
is the first attempt in this regard ever established between East and
West. The move is regarded as beneficial to the traditional Chinese
medicine when making its way into the international arena. It is also
conducive to the accelerated commercialization of the research results
as a hi-tech enterprise takes part in the teamwork.
