Ganodone, a bioactive benzofuran from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma tsugae.

Extracts of Ganoderma tsugae, also known as the Hemlock varnish shelf mushroom, and related Reishi mushrooms are well documented in traditional Chinese medicine. Several Ganoderma sp. are currently cultivated for use in coffee, teas, and dietary supplements. We now report on the isolation and characterization of an unprecedented benzofuran, ganodone (1), from the fruiting bodies of mature growth G. tsugae. This discovery provides a key next step in evaluating the active components in their associated herbal supplements.