Accelerating AI and Digital Innovation to Modernize and Globalize Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Li Zhenhao, Deputy Chairman of Shou Xian Gu

In the current era of rapid technological advancement, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal force driving transformation across various sectors. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a treasured heritage of the Chinese nation, embodies thousands of years of wisdom and practical experience. As ancient TCM converges with cutting-edge AI, an unprecedented wave of innovation is quietly brewing. How the deep integration of these two fields will reshape the future landscape of the pharmaceutical industry has undoubtedly become a focal point of widespread attention.

In late December 2024, the 2024 (6th) Health Conference, themed “AI and Human Health,” was held in Hangzhou. At the event, Dr. Li Zhenhao, Vice Chairman of Shouxiangu and Dean of the Shouxiangu Phytopharmaceutical Research Institute, unveiled a new product developed using AI and big data technologies: “Xianzhi No. 3” Wall-Removed Ganoderma Lucidum Spore Powder. According to the introduction, this new product is an upgraded version of “Xianzhi No. 2” Wall-Removed Ganoderma Lucidum Spore Powder. By leveraging AI and big data technologies, it features upgrades in strain selection, cultivation techniques, and intelligent wall-removal manufacturing processes, resulting in improved absorption, enhanced safety, more definitive efficacy, and broader applicability across diverse populations.

Following the conference, VCBeat held a brief discussion with Dr. Li Zhenhao on topics related to the new product Xianzhi No. 3 and AI-driven modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. Below is a summary of his keynote speech and exclusive interview.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) is believed to strengthen the body, promote longevity, and enhance beauty. Modern medical research has scientifically validated these effects to a certain extent and further expanded upon them.

Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, the seeds released by Ganoderma lucidum upon reaching maturity, has long been regarded in China as the “essence” of the “celestial herb” Ganoderma lucidum. Studies have shown that the Ganoderma polysaccharides contained in Ganoderma lucidum spores can promote microcirculation, lower blood pressure, help prevent cardiovascular diseases, enhance immune function, and kill or inhibit cancer cells. Another active component, Ganoderma triterpenes, is not only an effective inducer of cancer cell apoptosis but also exhibits analgesic, sedative, detoxifying, hepatoprotective, and gastroprotective effects.

However, each Ganoderma lucidum spore measures only 4–6 micrometers. As a living organism with a double-walled structure encased in a hard chitin-cellulose layer, its nutrients are locked within an acid- and alkali-resistant bilayer shell that is insoluble in water, making it difficult for the human body to achieve adequate absorption.

In the market, most companies sell Ganoderma lucidum spore powder that requires cell-wall breaking technology to release the nutrients within. However, although this process releases some active ingredients, the spore wall shells still account for more than 60% of the product, resulting in low purity of active components and relatively weak efficacy.

Based on this, eight years ago, Zhejiang Shouxiangu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. achieved its first breakthrough in product iteration by leveraging its proprietary third-generation wall-removal technology. This process removes the cell walls from broken-wall Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, increasing the content of active ingredients such as polysaccharides and triterpenes by more than tenfold. In other words, 1g of wall-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore powder is equivalent to 10g of broken-wall Ganoderma lucidum spore powder at the same concentration, and the wall-removed spore powder is more readily absorbed by the human body.

Today, Zhejiang Shouxiangu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has further upgraded its flagship product by optimizing the selection, cultivation, and production of Ganoderma lucidum spores, and has demonstrated its safety and efficacy through high-quality evidence-based data.

Specifically, in terms of breeding, Zhejiang Shouxiangu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has precisely located genes associated with active ingredients such as polysaccharides and triterpenes using spatial omics technology, and evaluated their immune activity through techniques like the “High-Content Model.” This has resulted in China’s first new variety of Ganoderma lucidum oriented towards immune activity.

In terms of cultivation technology, Zhejiang Shouxiangu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has developed an agricultural large model by leveraging agricultural big data accumulated from digital greenhouses and conducting correlation analyses between ecological environmental factors (such as temperature and light) and the yield and quality of Ganoderma lucidum. By employing feedback control, the company ensures that the entire growth cycle of Ganoderma lucidum occurs under optimal environmental conditions, thereby securing yield and enhancing quality. Continuous comparative studies over three years have demonstrated that the yield of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs in digital greenhouses can be increased by 50% to 80% compared with that in conventional greenhouses.

In terms of wall-removal intelligent manufacturing technology, by integrating the concepts of “Quality by Design” (QbD) and “Lean Production,” production efficiency is enhanced and costs are reduced, while further increasing the content of pharmacologically active components such as polysaccharides and triterpenes in Ganoderma lucidum spore powder. Comparative studies on the in vivo ADME processes of wall-removed Ganoderma lucidum spore powder (Xianzhi No. 3) and cell-wall-broken Ganoderma lucidum spore powder revealed that the in vivo absorption of the core component, Ganoderma triterpenes, was increased by 4–50 times, significantly improving product absorption.

Following the aforementioned technological upgrades, the product demonstrated an exceptional safety profile in systematic toxicology studies conducted by the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Safety Evaluation of New Drugs. The No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) corresponds to a daily human intake of over 40 grams.

Throughout the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it has consistently faced challenges such as unclear active constituents and poorly understood mechanisms of action. These issues have not only constrained the modernization of TCM but also constitute a major obstacle to its internationalization.

Against this backdrop, Zhejiang Shouxiangu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has conducted systematic research on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder, establishing a relatively complete chain of evidence for its immunomodulatory actions. This evidence spans humoral and cellular immunity, inhibition of immune checkpoints, and regulation of T-cell development, with research findings published in high-impact journals such as Nature Cancer.

In advancing evidence-based medicine, Zhejiang Shouxiangu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has collaborated with multiple domestic hospitals, including the First Affiliated Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, as well as Zhejiang Hospital, to systematically conduct evidence-based medical research. Studies have demonstrated that Ganoderma lucidum spore powder exerts significant effects on tumors, sleep disorders, suboptimal health status, and immune adjuvant therapy, thereby yielding high-quality evidence. These studies not only enhance the scientific value of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder but also provide strong support for the modernization and internationalization of this traditional Chinese medicine.

Driven by AI technology, the research efficiency of Ganoderma lucidum spore powder has been significantly improved. For instance, AI-powered mining of functional genes associated with bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides and triterpenes has substantially reduced the workload involved in breeding superior strains. Furthermore, by integrating network pharmacology with structure-activity relationship studies, researchers can more rapidly identify the active constituents of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This approach transforms TCM efficacy research from a “needle-in-a-haystack” endeavor into a more precise “needle-in-a-bowl” process, markedly enhancing research accuracy.

Certainly, Zhejiang Shouxiangu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is also actively promoting international research and is collaborating with the Mayo Clinic in the United States to conduct studies on the screening of bioactive constituents in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and clinical trials. This collaboration not only enhances the research standards for Ganoderma lucidum spore powder but also provides strong support for the internationalization and modernization of TCM.

Dr. Li Zhenhao believes that AI technology can facilitate research into the active ingredients and mechanisms of action of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), significantly improve quality control standards, and thereby promote the modernization, industrialization, and internationalization of TCM. Under the leadership of Zhejiang Shouxiangu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Province has released five ISO international standards for TCM, with the first two being the international standards for Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi mushroom) and Dendrobium officinale. This initiative has also driven the international development of authentic medicinal herbs produced in Zhejiang.

“While Chinese herbal medicine enterprises in Zhejiang and other regions, along with many domestic firms, have made certain progress in their overseas expansion, the internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) indeed faces numerous challenges. Overall, due to the differences between TCM and Western medicine in their medical systems, gaining international recognition for TCM requires a multifaceted approach. This includes establishing quality control systems that comply with international standards, improving product quality, and ensuring the stability of therapeutic efficacy. Meanwhile, scientific research should be conducted to thoroughly investigate the mechanisms of action and bioactive constituents of TCM, articulating TCM theories in the language of modern science to enhance acceptance by the international community. Furthermore, strengthening intellectual property protection and promoting the status of TCM within international healthcare systems are also important pathways to achieving its globalization,” said Dr. Li Zhenhao.