Abstract: To determine optimal extraction process for polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies, effects of solid-liquid ratio, extraction time, extraction temperature, and solvent extraction frequency on extraction rate of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies were studied through single factor experiments．On the basis of single factor experiments, response surface methodology was used to optimize extraction process of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies．Experimental results showed that the optimal extraction conditions for polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies were material liquid ratio（water: Ganoderma lucidum）50 mL/g, extraction time 60 minutes, and extraction temperature 100 °C．Under these conditions, extraction rate of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies was 2.96%．Results of in vitro antioxidant assays showed that the IC₅₀ of polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies to DPPH and OH free radicals were 0.67 and 0.46 mg/mL, respectively．The data showed that polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum fruiting bodies have extremely strong antioxidant capacity．