Post-treatment of Ganoderma lucidum reduced liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide in mice

Phytother Res. 2010 Apr;24(4):494-9. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2949.

Abstract

The present study was aimed at assessing the effects of Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE) on an established liver fibrosis model with reference to the previously reported hepatoprotective effect of GLE against CCl(4)-induced fibrosis in rats. Repeated administration of thioacetamide (TAA) for 12 weeks to mice induced liver fibrosis. Treatment with GLE after the induction of liver fibrosis decreased the hepatic hydroxyproline content and improved liver histology. RT-qPCR analysis showed that GLE treatment reduced the mRNA expression of collagen (alpha1)(I), smooth muscle alpha-actin, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 and metalloproteinase-13. In addition, the TAA-induced decrease in total collagenase activity was reversed by GLE treatment. In conclusion, oral administration of GLE reversed TAA-induced liver fibrosis, the mechanism of which might be related to the enhancement of collagenase activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Collagenases / metabolism
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Hydroxyproline / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / chemically induced
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Male
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Organ Size
  • Reishi / chemistry*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Thioacetamide

Substances

  • Thioacetamide
  • Collagenases
  • Hydroxyproline