Reishi contains compounds which exhibit anti-aging activity in yeast. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Two novel ergosterol derivatives, ganodermasides A and B, hydroxylated at C-15 were isolated from the methanol extract of spores of a medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, showed to extend the replicative life span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a yeast of K6001 strain. The stereostructures of ganodermasides A and B were determined based on the spectroscopic analysis and comparison of spectroscopic data. These new sterols have a 4, 6, 8(14), 22-tetraene-3-one unit with a unique hydroxylation at C-15. The anti-aging activity of these compounds on yeast is comparable to a well-known substance, resveratrol. Based on results of the investigation of the mechanism of biological activity, ganodermasides A and B regulated UTH1 expression in order to extend the replicative life span of yeast.