Ganoderma Lucidum from Red Mushroom Attenuates Formaldehyde-Induced Liver Damage in Experimental Male Rat Model

Ganoderma lucidum: Novel Insight into Hepatoprotective Potential with Mechanisms of Action

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been widely used for its health benefits as an edible and traditional medicinal mushroom for thousands of years in Asian countries. It is currently used as a nutraceutical and functional food owing to its major bioactive compounds, polysaccharides and triterpenoids. G. lucidum exhibits a broad range of hepatoprotective impacts in various liver disorders, such as hepatic cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcohol-induced liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatic fibrosis, and liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and α-amanitin. G. lucidum protects the liver through a broad range of mechanisms that include the modulation of liver Phase I and II enzymes, the suppression of β-glucuronidase, antifibrotic and antiviral actions, the regulation of the production of nitric oxide (NO), the maintenance of hepatocellular calcium homeostasis, immunomodulatory activity, and scavenging free radicals. G. lucidum could signify an encouraging approach for the management of various chronic hepatopathies, and its potential mechanisms make it a distinctive agent when used alone or with other drugs and applied as a functional food, nutraceutical supplement, or adjuvant to modern medicine. This review summarizes the hepatoprotective properties of G. lucidum with its various mechanisms of action on different liver ailments. Biologically active substances derived from G. lucidum are still being studied for their potential benefits in treating different liver ailments.

Ganoderma lucidum: Current advancements of characteristic components and experimental progress in anti-liver fibrosis

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, Lingzhi) is a well-known herbal medicine with a variety of pharmacological effects. Studies have found that G. lucidum has pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, antitumor, anti-aging, anti-liver fibrosis, and immunomodulation. The main active components of G. lucidum include triterpenoids, polysaccharides, sterols, peptides and other bioactive components. Among them, the triterpenoids and polysaccharide components of G. lucidum have a wide range of anti-liver fibrotic effects. Currently, there have been more reviews and studies on the antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-aging properties of G. lucidum. Based on the current trend of increasing number of liver fibrosis patients in the world, we summarized the role of G.lucidum extract in anti-liver fibrosis and the effect of G. lucidum extract on liver fibrosis induced by different pathogenesis, which were discussed and analyzed. Research and development ideas and references are provided for the subsequent application of G. lucidum extracts in anti-liver fibrosis treatment.

Evaluation of the acute toxicity and 28-days subacute toxicity of the alcoholic extract from Ganoderma leucocontextum

Ganoderma leucocontextum is a well-known traditional medicine in Tibet Autonomous Region, which has benefits, such as anti-hypoxia, neurotrophic action on nerves, easing coughs and relieving asthma, strengthening the body and prolonging life. However, few research have focused on its negative effects, possibly jeopardizing its safety. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of an alcoholic extract from G. leucocontextum (GLA) in vivo. The phytochemical characterization analysis showed that alcoholic extract from G. leucocontextum were rich in polysaccharides, triterpenoids. Then, in acute oral toxicity, male and female mice from Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) were orally administered with 16 g/kg GLA and were observed for 14 days. In the subacute toxicity, male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were orally administered with 2, 4, and 8 g/kg doses of GLA for 28 days. There was no death or clinical changes in male and female mice in the acute toxicity test. During the subacute toxicity test, the difference in body weights, food consumption, biochemical and hematological parameters, and organ coefficients between treated and control groups were unrelated to GLA treatment. The obtained data show that the GLA had no significant toxic effects when administered orally to male and female rats in acute and subacute toxicity.

In Vitro Experimental Assessment of Ethanolic Extract of Moringa oleifera Leaves as an α-Amylase and α-Lipase Inhibitor

Methods

Phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity, α-amylase, and α-lipase inhibitory assessment were carried out on Moringa oleifera extract.

Results

The result of the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of total phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, and alkaloid contents of values 0.070 ± 0.005 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, 0.180 ± 0.020 mg rutin equivalent/g, 0.042 ± 0.001 mg tannic equivalent/g, and 12.17 ± 0.001%, respectively, while the total protein analysis was 0.475 ± 0.001 mg bovine serum albumin equivalent/g. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values were 0.534 ± 0.001 mg gallic acid equivalent/g and 0.022 ± 0.00008 mg rutin equivalent/g, respectively. Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and nitric oxide (NO) assays showed the extract to have a strong free radical scavenging activity. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of the lipase and amylase activities of the extract are 1.0877 mg/mL and 0.1802 mg/mL, respectively.

Conclusion

However, α-lipase and α-amylase inhibiting activity of M. oleifera could be related to the phytochemicals in the extract. This research validates the ethnobotanical use of M. oleifera leaves as an effective plant-based therapeutic agent for diabetes and obesity.