Currently, lignicolous fungi, commonly referred to as polypores, belonging to the division of Basidiomycota (basidiomycetes), are of great interest. Ganoderma lucidum is one of the representatives. They grow and develop in the wood of trees and shrubs, both living and dead ones. These fungi belong to the world's most valued and sought-after medicinal plants, used as dietary supplements and applied in medicine. Fungal extracts can be used both for the purposes of prevention and treatment of the acute and chronic diseases. Clinical studies have confirmed the unique characteristics of parasitic medicinal fungi: wide possibilities of application, a high supportive and enhancing role taking into account the effects of treatment of various diseases, non-toxicity and a lack of the side effects of use. Triterpenes and immune-active polysaccharides, mainly β-D-glucans and polysaccharide peptides as well as proteins, are of the greatest health-promoting importance. Glucans that have been most widely used in medicine include: lentinan (from Lentinula edodes), krestin (Trametes versicolor), schizophyllan (SPG), isolated from Schizophyllum commune (splitgill). However, not all glucans have anti-cancer properties since this property depends on their water solubility, size and molecular weight, degree of branching and form of occurrence. High-molecular-weight β-glucans, containing mainly β-(1-3) bonds, display the highest anti-cancer activity. These polysaccharides do not induce allergic reactions or side effects in the human body; however, they show cytotoxic effects against neoplastic cells, as confirmed by in vitro and in vivo studies. A bibliometric analysis on Ganoderma lucidum in the period 1995-2021 was completed in the study. The literature review was conducted searching through the PubMed, SCOPUS and Google scholar databases. The criterion of thematic classification was implemented to carry out an analysis of bibliographic data.

28.1.2023