Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.3, 110-118 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 112 damage (Ding et al., 2024). These pharmacological effects support the application of G. lucidum in the prevention and management of chronic diseases related to immune dysfunction, inflammation and oxidative stress, and provide a mechanism basis for its traditional health care, and disease prevention and treatment uses (Sanodiya et al., 2009; Cadar et al., 2023; Ahmad et al., 2024) (Figure 1). Figure 1 Various pharmacological effects of Ganoderma lucidum as a health promoter (Adopted from Ahmad et al., 2024) 3 Types of Synergistic Interactions between G. lucidum and Other Chinese Medicinal Herbs 3.1 Synergistic enhancement The synergistic enhancement effect refers to the situation, where the total therapeutic effect produced when G. lucidum is used in combination with other traditional Chinese medicines exceeds the sum of the individual effects of each component or shows a multiplier effect. For instance, the combination of G. lucidum and Panax notoginseng has been proven to have a synergistic effect in lowering blood lipids. The mechanism includes the coordinated action through targets, such as PepT1 and PPARα, to enhance drug absorption and lipid regulatory activity (Qiao et al., 2017; Dong, 2024). In co-culture studies, G. lucidum co-cultured with ginseng demonstrated superior mycelial growth and more effective degradation of plant cell wall components, suggesting that certain combinations of medicinal materials, can improve the bioavailability and utilization efficiency of active components. These research results support the rationality of multi-drug combinations in traditional Chinese medicine, that is, the therapeutic effect can be amplified through drug combinations. 3.2 Antagonistic effects and potential risks Not all combinations are beneficial. In some cases, antagonistic effects may occur, that is, certain medicinal materials inhibit the growth or activity of G. lucidum, or reduce the combined therapeutic effect. For example, when co-cultured with kirilow rhodiola root, the mycelial growth of G. lucidum was weaker than when co-cultured with ginseng or reed root, suggesting that some combinations may inhibit the development or function of G. lucidum, thereby potentially reducing the therapeutic effect (Peng et al., 2023; Lian et al., 2024). These antagonistic effects emphasize the importance of selecting medicinal materials, and evaluating their compatibility in the design of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions, to avoid reduced efficacy or unexpected adverse reactions.
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