Narrative review discusses Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides for diabetes and related complications

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 1, 2026 Medically reviewed May 1, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Julia Lee, PhD · Oncology, Genomics & Drug Development

Key Takeaway

Consider GLPs as a theoretical option for diabetes management pending systematic evidence.

This narrative review explores the potential of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) for managing diabetes and related complications. The scope includes theoretical effects on hypoglycemic responses, hypolipidemic actions, immunomodulation, anti-tumor activity, oxidative stress modulation, and glucolipid metabolism regulation. The authors also discuss potential benefits for islet cell repair, anti-apoptosis, and gut microbiota remodeling in the context of diabetes, nephropathy, hepatopathy, cardiomyopathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and refractory wound healing.

The authors note that a systematic integration of findings is lacking. Consequently, specific clinical outcomes, sample sizes, or adverse event rates are not reported in this source. The review does not establish causal links between GLP administration and clinical improvements.

The practice relevance is described as providing a theoretical foundation for the advancement of effective and low toxicity natural therapies for diabetes based on GLPs. Clinicians should interpret these findings as preliminary theoretical support rather than established clinical evidence.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Characterized by a total or partial shortage of insulin, diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition. Its widespread occurrence and related complications present a significant global public health issue. Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst. 1881 (Polyporaceae), a valuable traditional Chinese medicine, contains polysaccharides as its primary active metabolites. Polysaccharides exhibit virous pharmacological properties including hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, immunomodulatory, and anti-tumor effects. Although recent research has increasingly investigated the potential of G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) to manage diabetes and its complications, a systematic integration of these findings is lacking. The review comprehensively summarizes relevant literature retrieved from databases including PubMed, Sci-Hub, Science Direct, Scopus, and Open Access Library. GLPs demonstrates defensive impacts against diabetes and its associated complications including nephropathy, hepatopathy, cardiomyopathy, refractory wound healing, neuropathy, retinopathy, and erectile dysfunction--through mechanisms involving oxidative stress modulation, glucolipid metabolism regulation, anti-apoptosis, islet cells repair, and the gut microbiota remodeling. Furthermore, drug combination strategies and novel formulation development represent promising directions for future applications This review provides a theoretical foundation for the advancement of effective and low toxicity natural therapies for diabetes based on GLPs.