Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making pressure-induced ganoderma spores, for using the pressure-induced ganoderma spores to ameliorate and/or prevent influenza in a mammal; and to stimulating the host immune system in a mammal. The method for making the pressure-induced ganoderma spores includes (1) soaking ganoderma spores in a solution; (2) drying the soaked ganoderma spores using a freeze-drying or a vacuum-drying method; (3) breaking the sporoderms of the dried ganoderma spores with enzyme or a mechanical method; (4) pressurizing and depressurizing the sporoderm-broken ganoderma spores to obtain the pressure-induced sporoderm-broken ganoderma spores. The methods for ameliorating and/or preventing influenza, and for stimulating the host immune system include orally administering a composition comprising the pressure-induced ganoderma spores to a mammal susceptible to or suffering from influenza. The present invention also provides the pressure-induced ganoderma spores.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing and/or treating influenza in a mammal. The method includes orally administering a composition comprising sporoderm-broken germination activated Ganoderma lucidum spore (GLS) to a mammal susceptible to or suffering from influenza. The present invention also provides a method for stimulating the host immune system in a mammal susceptible to or suffering from influenza.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating photoreceptor cell degeneration in a mammal. The method includes orally administering a composition comprising germination activated sporoderm-broken Ganoderma lucidum spore oil (“GLS oil”) or a mixture of GLS oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), to a mammal suffering from photoreceptor cell degeneration.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly early stage of PD by orally administering to a mammal sporoderm-broken germination activated Ganoderma lucidum spore powders (GASP) to reduce and/or release the symptom of rotatory behavior in PD, to reduce the progression of neuron apoptosis and to improve the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity so as to increase the conversion of hydroxydopamine (DOPA) to dopamine in the dopaminergic neurons. This invention also provides a method for reducing neuron apoptosis and a method for improving TH activity in dopaminergic neurons by orally administering to a mammal GASP.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing or ameliorating neural damage in a mammalian fetus or a newborn infant, which is caused by maternal gestational hypertension (GH). The method includes orally administering germination activated sporoderm-broken Ganoderma lucidum spores (“GLSs”) to a pregnant mammal having GH. The neural damage includes a decrease in hippocampal cell proliferation and neuron number. The present invention further provides a method for preventing or ameliorating the increased expression of hippocampal hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a mammalian embryo caused by maternal GH.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating or preventing intestinal bacterial imbalance (IBI) in a mammal. The method includes orally administering a composition comprising germination activated sporoderm-broken Ganoderma lucidum spore powder (“GLSs”) or a mixture of GLSs and beneficial intestinal bacteria, such as Lactobacillus bifidus, to a mammal suffering from IBI or having a tendency to develop IBI.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing and reducing embryonic neural tube defects (NTDs) caused by cell cycle arrest in the neuroepithelial cells of the embryo. The method comprises administering germination activated sporoderm-broken Ganoderma lucidum spores (“GLSs”) to a female mammal capable of becoming pregnant an effect amount of GLSs. GLSs are preferred to be administered to the female mammal prior to or at an early stage of the pregnancy. The GLSs reduce embryonic NTDs caused by cell cycle arrest in the neuroepithelial cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating patients with spinal cord injury by administering germination activated Ganoderma lucidium spores (GASP) to the patients. The GASP are sporoderm-broken. The GASP promote axon regeneration and improve motor neuron survival in the injured spinal cord.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fetal protection by orally administering germination activated Ganoderma lucidum spore powder (“GASP”) to pregnant mammals. GASP demonstrates prophylactic effects on fetal damage in pregnant mammals, particularly humans.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external preparation for skin which contains, as a major ingredient, oleaginous substances extracted from sporoderm-broken spores from Ganoderma lucidum. The spores are preferably being treated with germination activation. The oleaginous substances are preferred to be extracted by a supercritical fluid-carbon dioxide (SCF-CO2) method. The oleaginous substances prepared by SCF-CO2 is transparent and odorless. They also demonstrates effects on skin smoothening, wrinkles reduction, aging defiance, inflammation lessening, pigmentation lightening, and irritation alleviation. The external preparation can be a cosmetic or a therapeutic composition.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for treating Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly early stage of PD by orally administering to a mammal sporoderm-broken germination activated Ganoderma lucidum spore powders (GASP) to reduce and/or release the symptom of rotatory behavior in PD, to reduce the progression of neuron apoptosis and to improve the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity so as to increase the conversion of hydroxydopamine (DOPA) to dopamine in the dopaminergic neurons. This invention also provides a method for reducing neuron apoptosis and a method for improving TH activity in dopaminergic neurons by orally administering to a mammal GASP.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external preparation for skin which contains, as a major ingredient, oleaginous substances extracted from sporoderm-broken spores from Ganoderma lucidum. The spores are preferably being treated with germination activation. The oleaginous substances are preferred to be extracted by a supercritical fluid-carbon dioxide (SCF-CO2) method. The oleaginous substances prepared by SCF-CO2 is transparent and odorless. They also demonstrates effects on skin smoothening, wrinkles reduction, aging defiance, inflammation lessening, pigmentation lightening, and irritation alleviation. The external preparation can be a cosmetic or a therapeutic composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing/slowing aging and/or reducing menopause symptoms in humans by orally administering an effective amount of germination-activated Ganoderma lucidum spores (GLSs) to humans. The treatment for menopause is especially effective in male patients. GLSs are effective as an antioxidant to reduce free radical damage, particularly by increasing the amount of the reduced form glutathione (GSH) and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. GLSs can also increase testosterone level in blood and improve depression, particularly geriatric depression, in elderly male patients.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating a mammal with immunological disorders, particularly autoimmune disease, and most preferably systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The method includes oral administration of germination activated Ganoderma lucidum spores (“GLSs”) to the mammal. Additionally, a corticosteroid, such as prednisolone, can be co-administered with the GLSs to the mammal to achieve synergistic effect of treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for promoting proliferation and/or differentiation of neural stem cells in a mammal, which comprises orally administering sporoderm-broken germination activated Ganoderma lucidum spores (GASP) to the mammal. The effects of GASP on proliferation and/or differentiation of neural stem cells are particularly prominent in mammals after a spinal cord injury.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating patients with spinal cord injury by administering germination activated Ganoderma lucidium spores (GASP) to the patients. The GASP are sporoderm-broken. The GASP promote axon regeneration and improve motor neuron survival in the injured spinal cord.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fetal protection by orally administering germination activated Ganoderma lucidum spore powder (“GASP”) to pregnant mammals. GASP demonstrates prophylactic effects on fetal damage in pregnant mammals, particularly humans.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating a mammal with immunological disorders, particularly autoimmune disease, and most preferably systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The method includes oral administration of germination activated Ganoderma lucidum spores (“GLSs”) to the mammal. Additionally, a corticosteroid, such as prednisolone, can be co-administered with the GLSs to the mammal to achieve synergistic effect of treatment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing/slowing aging and/or reducing menopause symptoms in humans by orally administering an effective amount of germination-activated Ganoderma lucidum spores (GLSs) to humans. The treatment for menopause is especially effective in male patients. GLSs are effective as an antioxidant to reduce free radical damage, particularly by increasing the amount of the reduced form glutathione (GSH) and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. GLSs can also increase testosterone level in blood and improve depression, particularly geriatric depression, in elderly male patients.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for germination activating spores of Ganoderma lucidum to produce bioactive substances which has medicinal effects on patients with immunological disorders, cancer, AIDS, hepatitis, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, and can prevent or inhibit free radical oxidation and hepatotoxic effects. The method can be subdivided into three stages. At the first stage, a germination activation method is introduced which includes soaking the spores in a solution to induce germination, and placing the germination treated spores in a culture box to induce the synthesis of bioactive substances and softening of the cell walls of the spores. At the second stage, sporoderm-broken ganoderma spores are collected by treating the epispores with cell wall breaking enzymes and/or mechanical force. At the last stage, the bioactive substances are extracted from the sporoderm-broken spores by drying at low temperature followed by extraction.