[#2002-14] Effects of Total Triterpenoids Extract from Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. (Reishi Mushroom) on Experimental Liver Injury Models Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride or D-Galactosamine in Mice Ming-Yu Wang et al.

Ming-Yu Wang,’ Qiang Liu,’ Qing-Ming Che,² and Zhi-Bin Lin’

‘Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; and ²Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Drugs, College of Pharmacy, People’s Republic of China

 

ABSTRACT: The effect of total triterpenoids extract isolated from Reishi, Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst. (GT) on two different experimental liver injury models induced by carbon tetrachloride (CC1₄) and D-galactosamine (D-Gal) was studied in mice. The liver triglycerides (TG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. The histopathological changes in the liver were assayed in mice. The results were as follows: GT (80 mg/kg) and GT₂ (10, 20, 40 mg/ kg), as malotilate, were shown to significantly inhibit the increase of serum ALT and liver TG levels in the models. GT could antagonize the decrease of SOD activity and liver GSH content and inhibit the increase of the liver MDA content in the liver-injury mice induced by CCI₄ or D-Gal. Also, it could improve the histopathological changes of liver injury. The results demonstrate that total triterpenoids isolated from G. lucidum have powerful protective effects against liver damage induced by CC1₄ or D-Gal. Their hepato-protective effects were perhaps related to the ability to promote the activity of scavenging enzymes for hepatic free radicals in mice, and thus to raise the ability of antioxidation in mice.