Ameliorative effect of Ganoderma lucidum on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

AIM To investigate the effects of Reishi mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE), on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. METHODS Rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by CCl4. Forty Wistar rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: control, CCl4, and two GLE groups. Except for rats in control group, all rats were administered orally with CCl4 (20%, 0.2 mL/100 g body weight) twice a week for 8 weeks. Rats in GLE groups were treated daily with GLE (1,600 or 600 mg/kg) via gastrogavage throughout the whole experimental period. Liver function parameters, such as ALT, AST, albumin, and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, spleen weight and hepatic amounts of protein, malondiladehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline (HP) were determined. Histochemical staining of Sirius red was performed. Expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT1) 1A and MAT2A mRNA were detected by using RT-PCR. RESULTS CCl4 caused liver fibrosis, featuring increase in plasma transaminases, hepatic MDA and HP contents, and spleen weight; and decrease in plasma albumin, A/G ratio and hepatic protein level. Compared with CCl4 group, GLE (600, 1,600 mg/kg) treatment significantly increased plasma albumin level and A/G ratio (P < 0.05) and reduced the hepatic HP content (P < 0.01). GLE (1,600 mg/kg) treatment markedly decreased the activities of transaminases (P < 0.05), spleen weight (P < 0.05) and hepatic MDA content (P < 0.05); but increased hepatic protein level (P < 0.05). Liver histology in the GLE (1,600 mg/kg)-treated rats was also improved (P < 0.01). RT-PCR analysis showed that GLE treatment decreased the expression of TGF-beta1 (P < 0.05-0.001) and changed the expression of MAT1A (P < 0.05-0.01) and MAT2A (P < 0.05-0.001). CONCLUSION Oral administration of GLE significantly reduces CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats, probably by exerting a protective effect against hepatocellular necrosis by its free-radical scavenging ability.