Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 1-11 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 8 The study suggests that GLPs, as a prebiotic, has potential anti-inflammatory and metabolic health benefits by regulating gut microbiota and their metabolites, providing scientific support for its further application in gut health. 6 Potential Applications in Functional Foods and Medicine 6.1 Use in functional foods for gut health improvement Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) have shown significant potential as functional food ingredients aimed at improving gut health. Studies have demonstrated that GLPs can modulate gut microbiota composition, enhancing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Lactobacillus, while reducing harmful bacteria like Aerococcus and Ruminococcus (Chang et al., 2015; Chen et al., 2019; Zheng et al., 2022). This modulation leads to improved gut barrier function, increased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and reduced endotoxemia, which collectively contribute to better gut health (Guo et al., 2021; Sang et al., 2021; Li et al., 2023). Additionally, GLPs has been found to alleviate gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by high-fat diets and antibiotics, further supporting its role as a prebiotic agent in functional foods (Sang et al., 2021; Li et al., 2023). 6.2 Pharmaceutical applications for immune health The immunomodulatory properties of GLP make it a promising candidate for pharmaceutical applications aimed at enhancing immune health. Research has shown that GLP can enhance macrophage phagocytosis, natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, and overall immune cell function (Wu et al., 2020; Guo et al., 2021). These effects are mediated through the modulation of gut microbiota, which in turn influences the production of key metabolites involved in immune responses (Jin et al., 2019; Wu et al., 2020). Furthermore, GLP has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines and oncogenic signaling pathways, making it a potential therapeutic agent for conditions like colorectal cancer and chronic inflammation (Khan et al., 2019; Guo et al., 2021). The ability of GLP to restore gut microbiota balance and improve metabolic profiles in diabetic models also highlights its potential in managing metabolic disorders (Chen et al., 2019). 6.3 Challenges in commercialization Despite the promising applications of GLPs in functional foods and pharmaceuticals, several challenges need to be addressed for successful commercialization. One major challenge is the standardization of GLPs extraction and purification processes to ensure consistent quality and bioactivity (Zheng et al., 2022; Swallah et al., 2023). Variability in the structural characteristics of GLPs, such as molecular weight and monosaccharide composition, can affect its efficacy and safety, necessitating rigorous quality control measures (Zheng et al., 2022). Additionally, the scalability of GLPs production and the cost-effectiveness of manufacturing processes are critical factors that need optimization. Regulatory hurdles related to the approval of GLPs as a functional food ingredient or pharmaceutical agent also pose significant challenges. Comprehensive toxicological studies and clinical trials are required to establish the safety and efficacy of GLPs, which can be time-consuming and costly (Swallah et al., 2023). Addressing these challenges through collaborative research and development efforts will be essential for the successful commercialization of GLPs-based products. 7 Future Research Directions 7.1 Understanding specific gut microbial strains involved Future research should focus on identifying specific gut microbial strains that are positively influenced by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs). Studies have shown that GLPs can increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Turicibacter, and Romboutsia, while reducing harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus and Helicobacter (Wu et al., 2020). Additionally, GLPs has been found to enrich bacteria such as Adlercreutzia, Parabacteroides, and Prevotella, which are associated with immune regulation (Su et al., 2021). Identifying these key strains can help in understanding the precise mechanisms through which GLP exerts its beneficial effects. The role of microbial metabolites in mediating the immune response is another critical area for future research. GLP has been shown to modulate a range of metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and other bioactive compounds like dopamine and prolyl-glutamine, which are linked to immune
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