[#2000-06] Suppression of D-galactosamine-induced liver injury by mushrooms in rats, E. W. Lee

Suppression of D-galactosamine-induced liver injury by mushrooms in rats

Lee EW, He P, Kawagishi H, Sugiyama K.

Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Japan.

Six species of edible mushroom were found to suppress D-galactosamine-induced enhancement of plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities when powdered mushrooms were added to the diet (5%) and fed to rats for 2 wk. Grifola frondosa ( maitake ) exhibited the most potent effect in a dose-dependent manner. A significant effect was observed only from the water-soluble low-molecular-weight fraction of G. frondosa. The results indicate that several mushrooms possess a protective effect against liver injury induced by D-galactosamine.