ABSTRACT
Ling Zhi encompasses several Ganoderma species, which are widely used for medicinal purposes, e.g., G. lucidum, G. luteum Steyaert, G. atrum Zhao, Xu and Zhang, G. tsugae Murrill, G. applanatum (Pers.: Wallr.) Pat., G. australe (Fr.) Pat., G. capense (Lloyd) Teng, G. tropicum (Jungh.) Bres., G. tenue Zhao, Xu and Zhang, and G. sinense Zhao, Xu and Zhang. According to two famous Chinese plant medical books, Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (25-220 A.D., Eastern Han Dynasty) and Ben Cao Gang Mil by Li Shi-Zhen (1590 A.D., Ming Dynasty), six Ling Zhi species= varieties were known in China at that time. Worldwide, more than 250 Ganoderma species have been described.[2,3] However, in therapeutic practices and literature citations, Ganoderma usually refers to the species of G. lucidum.
