Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of Ganoderma lucidum on liver injury induced by doxorubicin in rats

Natural products have recently been used as alternative treatments for many diseases. This study aimed to determine the hepatoprotective effect of Ganoderma lucidum (GLE) against liver injury induced by   Doxorubicin (DOX).

Thirty – two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. The control group was given only saline by intragastric gavage. DOX group received DOX at the dose of 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally on day 2. The GLE group was given an aqueous extract of GLE at the dose of 500 mg/kg daily by intragastric gavage for 15 days. DOX-GLE group received DOX and GLE with the same protocol as DOX and GLE groups.

In this study, a significant increase in Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression and Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the liver and a significant decrease in the levels of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum were observed in rats that received DOX when compared with the control group. A significant decrease in TNF-α expression and MDA level and a significant increase in the levels of SOD, GPX, and TAC in serum and liver tissue were observed in rats that received GLE with DOX when compared with DOX group (P<0.05).

It is remarkable to say that, the DOX could induce marked toxicity in the liver, and treatment with GLE produced potential improvement of the liver via repression of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.