Study on antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of ganoderma lucidum (LEYSS.EX FR.) KARST
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of
Ganoderma lucidum mushroom growing on the dead ironwood tree in the Central
Highlands of Vietnam. Two steroids, ergosterol and ergosterol peroxide were
isolated. These compounds and various fractions were tested for their antioxidant
and lipid peroxidation activities. The 1,1-diphenyl, 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method
was employed for determining the antioxidant, and thiobarbituric acid reactive
substances (TBARS) assay was used for lipid peroxidation action. The results
showed that methanol (MeOH) extract and its sub-fractions possessed moderate
antioxidant activity and strong inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The MeOH extract
was orally administrated to experimental mice with hepatotoxicity induced by
cyclophosphamide at the dose of 150 mg/kg (intraperitoneal injection). The liver
malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the level of endogenous antioxidant
glutathione (GSH) were measured. The results revealed that methanol extract at
the oral doses of 330, 230 and 120 mg/kg body weight alleviated the increase of
hepatic MDA content and restored the decrease of GSH level significantly which
almost have the same potent as reference drug (silymarin). Biochemical
observations were also supported with histopathological examination of liver. This
finding demonstrated that Ganoderma lucidum growing on the dead ironwood tree
in the Central of highlands of Vietnam could represent a promising approach for
effective liver protective agents.
Key words: Ganoderma lucidum, antioxidant activity, hepatoprotection,
cyclophosphamine, lipid peroxidation