The extracts of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Ganoderma lucidum, reported in PNAS (Jan et al., 2021), was proved to exhibit outstanding anti-SARS-CoV-2 efficacy in low dosage (2 μg/mL), with no cytotoxicity. The related study selected a library of more than 3000 compounds, 190 traditional herbal medicines included; only 15 out of them, approved for human or animal use, have been identified in the cell-based study to have the anti–SARS-CoV-2 activity.

Guangdong Academy of Sciences Guangdong Institute of Microbiology (GASGIM) was found by Prof. Deng Shuqun, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the honor mycologist in China. GASGIM now consists of the State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology,   also the largest Fungi Strains Storage. The pioneered artificial cultivation method of G. lucidum was recorded in GASGIM since 1950s. Edible Fungi----mushrooms researches, such as natural resources exploring, culture breeding, mushrooms farming and products processing, has been engaged for over 60 years. The original technique named ‘The Innovation of high quality and efficient Key Techniques for Edible Fungi Production in large scale’ won a National S＆T Awards, and ‘Edible & Medicinal Mushrooms Factory Cultivating and Processing Key Techniques’ won the First prize provincial S＆T awards. More than 10 large or medium scales mushroom producing or processing factories, demanded by the enterprises, include a GEM Listed company and a National high-tech company, was designed to set up by the GASGIM team.

The mushroom products developed by the GASGIM team includes, the famous and the first generation of functional mushroom oral solution ‘APOLLO’ in 1980s, the G. lucidum spores powder in 1990s and the G. lucidum spores oil in 2000s, are proved to aid the tumor therapies by customers. So far, they still rank first in the hot selling mushroom health products on the Chinese online shop such as T-mall and JD.com. Recently, Prof Yang Xiaobing’s team in GASGIM, developed a G. lucidum extract soft drink named ‘Zhi-Wei’, authorized by the National Intellectual Property Administration and Intellectual Property Department the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. This product was also approved by China FDA as the only legal Ganoderma soft drink, with Boost Immunity and Chemical Liver Injury Protection (alcohol intoxication). It is expected to be the potential daily functional food for COVID-19 resistance.

       We are working in massive G. lucidum cultivation programs domestically. We sincerely hope the enterprises, investors and/or marketing groups abroad, through the Guangdong Academy of Science introduction, will join us and benefit from the same career. We are able to apply the design plan for G. lucidum cultivation factory and processing factory construction in regions of both countries suitable for G. lucidum growth, techniques for G. lucidum growth and processing management, and Ganoderma products marketing advisory service. The goal of this cooperation is to set up an entire Ganoderma products international industrial chain. Details will be negotiated.