Four herbs,which were Licorice,Medical dogwood,Astragalus membranaceus and Radix scutellariae,were added in broth for Ganoderma lucidum fermentation and the effects of the broth on growth and fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum were studied.The results showed that the four herbs had different effects on growth and fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum.Licorice and Medical dogwood had significant positive effect,Astragalus membranaceus had both positive and inhibitive effects,and Radix scutellariae had strong inhibitive effect.Except for Radix scutellariae,addition of the other three herbs was in the range of 4-8 g.L-1 when biomass and metabolites of liquid fermentation reach the maximum.Licorice promoted synthesis of ganoderic acid,especially extracellular ganoderic acid,and Medical dogwood improved not only growth of Ganoderma lucidum,but also synthesis of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides,especially extracellular polysaccharide.