Triterpenes in Reishi: What They Are and What Research Says
What triterpenes and ganoderic acids are in reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), what lab and human studies say, why a label percentage is not a measure of benefit, and the reishi cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. A cancer center lists liver injury as a side effect of reishi, says reishi can increase the risk of bleeding, and advises talking to a provider if you take blood thinners such as warfarin or immunosuppressants. [1] Tell your surgical team about any reishi product well before an operation. [2] For liver warning signs, see Liver Safety and Supplements and Reishi Side Effects and Liver Injury Reports.
The short answer: triterpenes are a family of compounds found in reishi (Ganoderma lucidum). The best-known are the ganoderic acids. Most findings come from the laboratory. A "triterpene" percentage on a label tells you what a lab measured, not what the product will do for you.
What they are
Reishi contains polysaccharides, triterpenoids (ganoderic acids, ganoderenic acids, ganoderol, ganoderiol and lucidenic acids), sterols and other compounds, according to a review. [3] Ganoderic acids are described as one of the most abundant triterpenoids in G. lucidum. [4] A review of lab strategies calls them the main active ingredient, and says yields from liquid-cultured mycelium and solid-cultured fruiting bodies are low, which limits commercial production. [5] Names matter: G. lucidum is the accepted name in GBIF, while G. lingzhi appears there as a synonym of the accepted species G. sichuanense. [6] See Reishi Species, Spores and Fruiting Body Products.
Traditional use is separate from research
G. lucidum is a traditional edible and medicinal mushroom in China. [4] That is traditional use. It is not proof that a particular compound, or a product sold today, has a benefit.
What research shows
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Activity of ganoderic acids | A 2024 review summarizes anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, liver-protection and other effects in studies. [4] A 2019 review says research on the mechanisms and application of triterpenoids remains preliminary. [7] | Mostly preclinical (cells or animals) |
| Are they absorbed in people? | In 12 healthy men given 3,000 mg of a water extract of reishi fruiting bodies, plasma ganoderic acid A was measured; vitamin C did not significantly change its pharmacokinetics. [8] | Small human pharmacokinetic study |
| Antioxidant and liver markers | In a crossover trial of 42 healthy volunteers taking a triterpenoid and polysaccharide peptide-enriched reishi capsule (225 mg) for six months, antioxidant measures rose and liver enzymes fell. [9] | Biomarker change, not a clinical outcome; promising but limited |
| Do triterpenoid amounts predict benefit? | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for ganoderic acid and triterpenoid randomized trials and found trials of whole preparations, not a test of label percentage against outcomes. | Insufficient evidence |
Reviews are cautious overall. One notes that most pharmacological studies of reishi are preclinical, and that clinical data on safety and chronic use are missing. [3] Results for the fruiting body extract above cannot be assumed for spores, mycelium, tea or a capsule with a different make-up.
What happens in the body
A Chinese-language review reports that ganoderic acids can be absorbed rapidly by the gastrointestinal tract, are metabolized by the liver and are mainly excreted by bile. [10] People with liver conditions should ask a clinician before using reishi products. [2]
Reading a label
- A figure such as "triterpenes 6%" is a lab measurement of a group of compounds; ask what was measured and by what method. See Extract Ratios and Standardization.
- Check the part used: fruiting body, mycelium or spores.
- Remember that testing shows what is in a product, not that it works. See Quality Testing and Certificates of Analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What are ganoderic acids?
Triterpenoids found in Ganoderma lucidum and described as one of its most abundant groups. [4]
Does a higher triterpene percentage mean a better reishi product?
Proper evidence not found. The sources we read measured composition or tested whole preparations. [3]
Are triterpenes the cause of reishi's liver reports?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read; the cancer center lists liver injury without naming a compound. [1]
Do triterpenes reach the blood in people?
Ganoderic acid A was measured in plasma in healthy men after a fruiting body water extract. [8]
Should I take reishi if I use blood thinners?
Ask the prescriber or pharmacist first; a cancer center advises talking to a provider. [1]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
More safety points
A trial of 20 healthy volunteers taking 1.5 g of reishi capsules daily for four weeks found no impairment of clotting tests, despite earlier lab reports. [11] The bleeding caution from a cancer center and this small study in healthy people do not match, so the question is unresolved; ask the prescriber or pharmacist about anticoagulants. [1] A cancer center also says reishi spore powder raised a tumor-marker blood test (CA72-4). [1] Many supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children. [2] Read Reishi and Medicines and How Interactions Work.
References
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Reishi Mushroom: Purported Benefits, Side Effects & More. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Read 2026-10-23.
- Ahmad R, Riaz M, Khan A, et al. Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) an edible mushroom: a comprehensive and critical review of its nutritional, cosmeceutical, mycochemical, pharmacological, clinical, and toxicological properties. Phytother Res. 2021. PubMed 34411377. Read 2026-10-23.
- Wang S, Wang L, Shangguan J, Jiang A, Ren A. Research progress on the biological activity of ganoderic acids in Ganoderma lucidum over the last five years. Life. 2024. PubMed 39459639. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sun X, Wang J, Cheng M, Qi Y, Han C. Strategies to increase the production of triterpene acids in lingzhi or reishi medicinal mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum): a review. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2024. PubMed 38780421. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Names checked through the species match API (api.gbif.org/v1/species/match). Read 2026-10-23.
- Liang C, Tian D, Liu Y, et al. Review of the molecular mechanisms of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids: ganoderic acids A, C2, D, F, DM, X and Y. Eur J Med Chem. 2019. PubMed 31035236. Read 2026-10-23.
- Tawasri P, Ampasavate C, Tharatha S, Chiranthanut N, Teekachunhatean S. Effect of oral coadministration of ascorbic acid with Ling Zhi preparation on pharmacokinetics of ganoderic acid A in healthy male subjects. Biomed Res Int. 2016. PubMed 27747224. Read 2026-10-23.
- Chiu HF, Fu HY, Lu YY, et al. Triterpenoids and polysaccharide peptides-enriched Ganoderma lucidum: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of its antioxidation and hepatoprotective efficacy in healthy volunteers. Pharm Biol. 2017. PubMed 28183232. Read 2026-10-23.
- Zhang FF, Liu RM. Pharmacokinetics of ganoderic acids (article in Chinese). Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2019. PubMed 30989848. Read 2026-10-23.
- Kwok Y, Ng KFJ, Li CCF, Lam CCK, Man RYK. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the platelet and global hemostatic effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Ling-Zhi) in healthy volunteers. Anesth Analg. 2005. PubMed 16037156. Read 2026-10-23.