title: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the platelet and global hemostatic effects of Ganoderma lucidum (Ling-Zhi) in healthy volunteers.
abstract: Ganoderma lucidum is a Chinese herbal medicine popular with cancer patients. Previous in vitro studies suggested that Ganoderma lucidum might impair hemostasis. In this prospective, randomized double-blind study, healthy volunteers received orally Ganoderma lucidum capsules 1.5 g (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) daily for 4 wk. We monitored subjects before drug administration and at 4 and 8 wk thereafter by routine coagulation screen, fibrinogen concentration, von Willebrand ristocetin cofactor activity, platelet function analyzer PFA-100, and thrombelastography. There were no significant between-group differences and all measurements remained within the normal range. Ganoderma lucidum ingestion over 4 wk was not associated with impairment of hemostasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ingestion of Ganoderma lucidum does not cause impairment of hemostatic function in healthy volunteers, despite earlier in vitro reports that it may cause platelet inhibition and may have other antithrombotic and fibrinolytic activity. The use of Ganoderma lucidum preoperatively is unlikely to increase the risk of surgical bleeding in otherwise healthy patients.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Anaesthesiology, Queen Mary Hospital, †Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, ‡Division of Haematology, Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, and §Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Kwok F J
authors.initials: KFJ
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Carina C F
authors.initials: CCF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Clarence C K
authors.initials: CCK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Ricky Y K
authors.initials: RYK
authors.lastname: Man
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D032902:Ganoderma / Q000737:chemistry*; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007810:Lanosterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; C061905:ganodermic acid S; D007810:Lanosterol; D005340:Fibrinogen