Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 1-11 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 9 enhancement (Wu et al., 2020; Guo et al., 2021). Understanding how these metabolites interact with the host immune system can provide deeper insights into the immunomodulatory effects of GLPs. 7.2 Long-term effects of Ganoderma lucidumpolysaccharides consumption Long-term studies are needed to evaluate the sustained immunomodulatory benefits of GLPs. While short-term studies have demonstrated enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell cytotoxicity (Wu et al., 2020), it is essential to investigate whether these benefits persist over extended periods. This will help in determining the long-term efficacy of GLPs as an immune-boosting supplement. The safety and tolerability of long-term GLPs consumption should also be a focus of future research. Although current studies have not reported significant adverse effects, comprehensive long-term studies are necessary to ensure that GLPs is safe for prolonged use (Jin et al., 2019). This will involve monitoring for any potential side effects and assessing the overall health impact of extended GLP consumption. 7.3 Integration with other prebiotics and probiotics Investigating the synergistic effects of GLPs when combined with other prebiotics is another promising research direction. GLPs has shown potential as a prebiotic by modulating gut microbiota and improving gut barrier function (Krumbeck et al., 2018; Chen et al., 2019). Combining GLPs with other prebiotics could enhance these effects, leading to improved gut health and immune function. The development of combined probiotic supplements that include GLPs is another area worth exploring. Studies have shown that GLP can increase the abundance of probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium (Lv et al., 2019; Li et al., 2023). Formulating supplements that combine GLP with these probiotics could offer a more comprehensive approach to gut health and immune support. 8 Conclusion The interaction between G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) and gut microbiota has shown significant implications for immune health. Studies have demonstrated that GLPs can modulate gut microbiota composition, enhance immune cell function, and improve gut barrier integrity. For instance, GLPs has been found to decrease inflammation and tumorigenesis in colitis models by modulating gut microbiota and increasing short-chain fatty acid production. And GLPs has been shown to enhance macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell cytotoxicity, correlating with changes in gut microbiota and metabolite profiles. Furthermore, GLPs administration has been linked to improved adaptive immune function and increased proportions of beneficial gut bacteria. These findings collectively suggest that GLPs act as a promising prebiotic with potential therapeutic benefits for immune health. Despite the promising results, several limitations exist in the current body of research. Most studies have been conducted in animal models, which may not fully replicate human physiological responses. The specific mechanisms by which GLP modulates gut microbiota and immune responses are not yet fully understood, necessitating further molecular and mechanistic studies. Additionally, variations in the extraction methods and dosages of GLP used across different studies may lead to inconsistent results, highlighting the need for standardized protocols. Long-term safety and efficacy studies in humans are required to validate the therapeutic potential of GLP for immune health. The findings from these studies suggest several potential implications for future health interventions. GLP could be developed as a dietary supplement or functional food ingredient aimed at enhancing immune health and preventing inflammatory diseases. Synergistic effects of GLP with other treatments, such as antibiotics, could be explored to mitigate the adverse effects of conventional therapies and improve patient outcomes. Future research should focus on clinical trials to establish the efficacy and safety of GLP in humans, as well as on elucidating the precise molecular pathways involved in its immunomodulatory effects. At the same time, personalized nutrition plans can be developed based on individual gut microbiota profiles to maximize the health benefits of GLP. Acknowledgments We sincerely thank Mr. Wang from the Ganoderma Research Group for assisting in collecting relevant literature and participating in the review and revision of the manuscript. We would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the two anonymous peer reviewers for their comprehensive evaluation of the manuscript.
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