Medicinal Plant Research 2025, Vol.15, No.3, 110-118 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 113 3.3 Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions Pharmacokinetic interactions, refer to the changes in the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of active ingredients, when G. lucidum is used in combination with other medicinal materials. For example, the synergistic mechanism of G. lucidum and Panax notoginseng, partly attributed to enhanced absorption through PepT1, and increased lipid-lowering activity through PPARα activation, shows how targeted interactions can improve pharmacokinetic properties (Qiao et al., 2017; Zhang, 2024). Pharmacodynamic interactions, refer to the synergistic effects, produced by the combination on biological targets or signaling pathways, including enhancing immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory or antioxidant activities, etc. This is reflected in many traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions, but the specific results depend on the compatibility of the medicinal materials and the mechanism of action (Ahmad et al., 2024). 4 Studies on Synergistic Effects of G. lucidum with Common Chinese Medicinal Herbs 4.1 G. lucidum with astragalus membranaceus: immunomodulation and antitumor effects Evidence is appearing that G. lucidum polysaccharides and Astragalus membranaceus astragalosides both have the capacity to enhance immune responses and induce proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. This has been reported to lay the foundation for synergistic immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects when used in combination but most of this evidence is on the basis of preclinical trials and conclusive clinical evidence of their combined antitumor or immunomodulatory activity is limited (Chen et al., 2024). 4.2 G. lucidum with panax ginseng: antifatigue and neuroprotective effects Co-cultivation experiments prove that G. lucidum and Panax ginseng used in combination promote mycelial growth and plant cell wall component degradation, which can further promote the bioavailability of active components. The ginsenosides and G. lucidum polysaccharides have been proven to upregulate the neurotrophic factors, relieve oxidative stress, and promote neural regeneration, allowing them to be applied in combination for antifatigue and neuroprotection effects (Chen et al., 2025). 4.3 G. lucidum with lycium barbarum: antioxidant and anti-aging effects Though there are no explicit studies on Ganoderma lucidum and Lycium barbarum in combination in recent literature, both are extremely antioxidant-dense herbs. Their polysaccharides are said to reduce oxidative stress, and it is possible that their combined use has a synergistic effect in promoting antioxidant and anti-aging effects, but more specific studies are needed to confirm such interactions (Chen et al., 2025). 4.4 G. lucidum with salvia miltiorrhiza/angelica sinensis: cardiovascular and circulatory improvement Synergic effects on lipid metabolism and cardiovascular disease have been observed in combined therapy, mediated by target interaction with PepT1 and PPARα. G. lucidum and Salvia officinalis, which are closely related plants, also exhibit strong synergism in antioxidant and antineurodegeneration, suggesting circulatory and neuroprotective benefit (Qiao et al., 2017; Ćilerdžić et al., 2019). 5 Molecular Mechanisms of Synergistic Actions 5.1 Regulation of signaling pathways Synergistic interactions of Ganoderma lucidum with other herbs of TCM can modulate significant cellular cascades of signaling. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) have been shown to regulate the NF-κB pathway, central to inflammation and immunity, and the MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways, critical in cell survival, growth, and death. These regulatory effects contribute to enhanced anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and neuroprotective properties when Ganoderma lucidum is used in conjunction with other herbs (Lu et al., 2020; Jiang et al., 2024). 5.2 Modulation of immune cell functions GLPs alone and in synergy with other TCM herbs can regulate the activity of various immune cells, including T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages. These extend from cytokine production induction to phagocytic function and cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Such immune cell function regulations are the
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