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

Hepatoprotective Effect of Albumin Peptide Fractions from Corn Germ Meal against Alcohol-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

Acute alcoholic liver disease can cause serious liver damage. This study reports on the hepatoprotective effect of albumin peptide fractions from corn germ meal (MW < 1 kDa) (APF4) on acute alcohol hepatic damage in mice. In the mice model, the results indicated that APF4 at a dose of 800 mg/kg/bw could markedly boost alcohol metabolism, which was shown in the reduced duration of the loss of the righting reflex; the reduced level of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.01); the enhanced activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH); and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels being increased by up to 84.02% and 193.22% (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. The antioxidant capability and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity of APF4 may be responsible for its protective effect against liver damage induced by alcohol. The findings suggested that APF4 had the hepatoprotective property against liver damage induced by alcohol.

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide inhibits HSC activation and liver fibrosis via targeting inflammation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and ECM-receptor interaction mediated by TGF-β/Smad signaling

BACKGROUND

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) has many biological properties, however, the anti-fibrosis effect of GLP is unknown at present.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the anti-fibrogenic effect of GLP and its underlying molecular mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.

STUDY DESIGN

Both CCl₄-induced mouse and TGF-β1-induced HSC-T6 cellular models of fibrosis were established to examine the anti-fibrogenic effect of a water-soluble GLP (25 kDa) extracted from the sporoderm-removed spores of G. lucidum..

METHOD

Serum markers of liver injury, histology and fibrosis of liver tissues, and collagen formation were examined using an automatic biochemical analyzer, H&E staining, Sirius red staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR. RNA-sequencing, enrichment pathway analysis, Western blotting, qRT-PCR, and flow cytometry were employed to identify the potential molecular targets and signaling pathways that are responsible for the anti-fibrotic effect of GLP.

RESULTS

We showed that GLP (150 and 300 mg/kg) significantly inhibited hepatic fibrogenesis and inflammation in CCl₄-treated mice as mediated by the TLR4/NF-κB/MyD88 signaling pathway. We further demonstrated that GLP significantly inhibited hepatic stellate cell (HSCs) activation in mice and in TGF-β1-induced HSC-T6 cells as manifested by reduced collagen I and a-SMA expressions. RNA-sequencing uncovered inflammation, apoptosis, cell cycle, ECM-receptor interaction, TLR4/NF-κB, and TGF-β/Smad signalings as major pathways suppressed by GLP administration. Further studies demonstrated that GLP elicits anti-fibrotic actions that are associated with a novel dual effect on apoptosis in vivo (inhibit) or in vitro (promote), suppression of cell cycle in vivo, induction of S phase arrest in vitro, and attenuation of ECM-receptor interaction-associated molecule expressions including integrins ITGA6 and ITGA8. Furthermore, GLP significantly inhibited the TGF-β/Smad signaling in mice, and reduced TGF-β1 or its agonist SRI-011381-induced Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylations, but increased Samd7 expression in HSC-T6 cells.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first evidence that GLP could be a promising dietary strategy for treating liver fibrosis, which protects against liver fibrosis and HSC activation through targeting inflammation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and ECM-receptor interactions that are mediated by TGF-β/Smad signaling.

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.

Vanillin augments liver regeneration effectively in Thioacetamide induced liver fibrosis rat model

AIMS

This study has been designed to investigate the role of vanillin either as prophylaxis or treatment in liver regeneration augmentation and liver fibrosis regression in thioacetamide (TAA) induced liver damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals were injected with TAA to induce liver injury (200mg/kg twice weekly) for 8 weeks. In vanillin prophylaxis group; rats were administered vanillin (100 mg/Kg; IP, daily) from day 1 of TAA injection for 8 weeks. In vanillin treatment group; rats were confronted with the same dose of TAA injection for 8 weeks then treated with vanillin (100 mg/Kg, IP, daily) for 4 weeks. ALT, AST activities, serum albumin, hepatic GSH, MDA, HGF, VEGF, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were measured and also, MMP-2, TIMP-1 and cyclin D gene expression were determined. Liver sections were stained with H&E and Sirius red and immunostained for Ki-67 and α-SMA for histological and immunohistological changes analysis.

KEY FINDINGS

Vanillin improved liver function and histology. Also, showed a remarkable increase in hepatic HGF and VEGF level, and up-regulation of cyclin D1 expression accompanied by a significant up-regulation of MMP-2 and down- regulation of TIMP-1. All these effects were accompanied by TNF-α, IL-6 and oxidative stress significant attenuation.

SIGNIFICANCE

In conclusion, vanillin enhanced liver regeneration in TAA induced liver damage model; targeting growth factors (HGF, VEGF) and cellular proliferation marker cyclin D1. As well as stimulating fibrosis regression by inhibition of ECM accumulation and enhancing its degradation.

Bioactive components of mushrooms: Processing effects and health benefits

Mushrooms have been recognized for their culinary attributes for long and were relished in the most influential civilizations in history. Currently, they are the focus of renewed research because of their therapeutic abilities. Nutritional benefits from mushrooms are in the form of a significant source of essential proteins, dietary non-digestible carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, minerals, as well as various vitamins, which have enhanced its consumption, and also resulted in the development of various processed mushroom products. Mushrooms are also a crucial ingredient in traditional medicine for their healing potential and curative properties. The literature on the nutritional, nutraceutical, and therapeutic potential of mushrooms, and their use as functional foods for the maintenance of health was reviewed, and the available literature indicates the enormous potential of the bioactive compounds present in mushrooms. Future research should be focused on the development of processes to retain the mushroom bioactive components, and valorization of waste generated during processing. Further, the mechanisms of action of mushroom bioactive components should be studied in detail to delineate their diverse roles and functions in the prevention and treatment of several diseases.

Suppression of Cisplatin-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats Through Alarmin High-Mobility Group Box-1 Pathway by Ganoderma lucidum: Theoretical and Experimental Study

PURPOSE

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common cause of acute liver failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Ganoderma lucidum mushroom (GLM) may ameliorate cisplatin (CP)-induced hepatotoxicity theoretically and experimentally.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into six groups, two of them are normal and Ganoderma lucidum control groups. Liver injury was induced by a single dose of CP (12 mg/kg i.p) in four groups, one of them is CP control group. Besides cisplatin injection in day 1, rats in groups (4-6) were subjected to GLM (500 mg/kg/day) either every other day or daily oral dose or via i.p injection for 10 consecutive days.

RESULTS

In this study, GLM supplementation caused significant reduction of elevated high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1) with a concurrent decline in TNF-α and upregulation of IL-10 compared to the CP group (P<0.05). The histopathological and fibrosis evaluation significantly confirmed the improvement upon simultaneous treatment with GLM. Moreover, immunohistochemical examination also confirmed the recovery following GLM treatment indicated by downregulation of NF-κB, p53 and caspase-3 along with upsurge of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression (P<0.05). GLM treatment significantly decreased serum levels of hepatic injury markers; ALT, AST, T. bilirubin as well as oxidative stress markers; MDA and H2O2 with a concomitant increase in hepatic GSH and SOD. Also, the performed docking simulation of ganoderic acid exhibited good fitting and binding with HMGB-1 through hydrogen bond formation with conservative amino acids which gives a strong evidence for its hepatoprotective effect and may interpret the effect of Ganoderma lucidum.

CONCLUSION

GLM attenuated hepatic injury through downregulation of HMGB-1/NF-kB and caspase-3 resulted in modulation of the induced oxidative stress and the subsequent cross-talk between the inflammatory and apoptotic cascade indicating its promising role in DILI.

Preventive and therapeutic effect of Ganoderma lucidum on kidney injuries and diseases

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, Lingzhi) is a well-known Chinese traditional medicine to improve health and to treat numerous diseases for over 2000 years in Asian countries. G. lucidum has the abundant chemical components such as triterpenes and polysaccharides, which have various biological activities including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-liver disorders, anti-tumor growth and metastasis, etc. Recently, many lines of studies have elucidated the therapeutic effects of G. lucidum and its extractions on various acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) pathogenesis, including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, diabetic nephropathy, renal proximal tubular cell oxidative damage and fibrotic process, renal ischemia reperfusion injury, cisplatin-induced renal injury, adriamycin-induced nephropathy, chronic proteinuric renal diseases, etc. Clinical researches also showed potent anti-renal disease bioactivities of G. lucidum. In this chapter, we review experimental and clinical researches and provide comprehensive insights into the renoprotective effects of G. lucidum. In recent years, renal diseases have gradually aroused attention on account of their booming prevalence worldwide and lack of effective therapies. Although the complicated pathogenesis of kidney diseases, such as acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney diseases (CKD) have been intensively studied. The morbidity and mortality of AKI and CKD still rise continuously. Thanks to the conventional experience and the multi-target characteristics, natural products have been increasingly recognized as an alternative source for treating renal diseases.

Hepatoprotective activity of Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids in alcohol-induced liver injury in mice, an iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis

The hepatoprotective activity of ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum (GLE) in alcohol-induced liver injury in mice was investigated. HPLC coupled with photo-diode array detector and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry was used to analyze the major triterpenoids in GLE. The effects of GLE on hepatoprotection were evaluated through histopathology and biochemical analysis of serum enzymes. We used isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to identify differentially expressed liver proteome in mice. There were more than 4000 differentially expressed proteins; 40 proteins with the most significant changed proteins were applied for further bioinformatics analysis. Expression levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 and alcohol dehydrogenase 1, proteins that are closely associated with these processes, were validated by western blotting. Triterpenoids, major components of GLE, protected alcohol-induced liver injury through inhibiting lipid peroxidation, elevating activity of antioxidant enzymes, and suppressing apoptotic cell death and immune inflammatory response.

Lanostane-type triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma applanatum

Twelve previously undescribed lanostane-type triterpenoids, including three triterpenoids with a γ-lactone ring, namely applanlactones A‒C, four highly oxygenated lanostane triterpenoids, namely methyl applaniate A and applanoic acids B‒D, as well as five C21 nortriterpenoids, applanones A‒E were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat.. Their structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR and MS spectra, as well as X-ray crystallographic analyses. Meanwhile, applanlactone A, methyl applaniate A and applanoic acid B showed inhibitory effects for the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in vitro.

Pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is the final pathological result of various chronic liver diseases, and fibrosis is the precursor of cirrhosis. Many types of cells, cytokines and miRNAs are involved in the initiation and progression of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a pivotal event in fibrosis. Defenestration and capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells are major contributing factors to hepatic dysfunction in liver cirrhosis. Activated Kupffer cells destroy hepatocytes and stimulate the activation of HSCs. Repeated cycles of apoptosis and regeneration of hepatocytes contribute to pathogenesis of cirrhosis. At the molecular level, many cytokines are involved in mediation of signaling pathways that regulate activation of HSCs and fibrogenesis. Recently, miRNAs as a post-transcriptional regulator have been found to play a key role in fibrosis and cirrhosis. Robust animal models of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, as well as the recently identified critical cellular and molecular factors involved in the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis will facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic approaches for these conditions.

Antifibrotic activity a fermentation filtrate of Ganoderma lucidum

The effects of a fermentation filtrate of Ganoderma lucidum (FGL) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatic fibrosis were investigated in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with FGL (20 or 100 mg/kg) for 33 days, and orally administered with CCl₄ (1.0 mL/kg; 2 mL/kg of 50% in corn oil) at 3-day intervals 1 h after FGL treatment. Body and liver weights, blood and histopathological findings in accordance with hydroxyproline concentrations were analyzed. Chronic exposure to CCl₄ reduced the body weight gain, but increased liver weights and fibrosis, resulting in 3.35-fold increase in hydroxyproline level. Although FGL did not significantly reduce the CCl₄-induced body and liver weight changes, it attenuated the increases in the hepatic fibrosis and hydroxyproline contents. Taken together, it is suggested that FGL might prevent hepatic fibrosis, and that FGL or its ingredient could be a potential candidate for the prevention of chronic hepatic disorders.

Effects of Ganoderma lucidum on obstructive jaundice-induced oxidative stress

OBJECTIVE

Obstructive jaundice develops after occlusion of the common bile duct. Direct hyperbilirubinaemia, which occurs secondary to the condition, causes various life-threatening pathologies. Cytoprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum (GL) have previously been shown. In this study, the effects of GL on oxidative stress and oxidant DNA damage in experimental obstructive jaundice were evaluated.

METHODS

Sixty Wistar albino adult female rats were randomly divided into six weight-matched equal groups: sham group, bile duct ligated group (BDL); after sham operation 250 mg/kg/d of GL administered group, after sham operation 500 mg/kg/d of GL administered group, after bile duct ligation 250 mg/kg/d of GL administered (GL1BDL) group, and after bile duct ligation 500 mg/kg/d of GL administered (GL2BDL) group. GL polysaccharide was orally administered to the rats via gavage tube once a day for 14 days after bile duct ligation.

RESULTS

The plasma malondialdehyde levels of the GL1BDL and GL2BDL groups were significantly lower than those of the BDL group (p < 0.01). The plasma 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels of the GL1BDL and GL2BDL groups were significantly lower than those of the BDL group (p < 0.001). The liver tissue Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase level of the GL2BDL group was significantly higher than that of the BDL group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

GL protected against DNA and liver tissue damage by reducing oxidative stress in obstructive jaundice.