The potential effect of ethanolic reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)‎ extract on immunity of hepatic rats

Abstract EN

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of ethanolic reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) extract on immunity in hepatic rats at three various doses (120, 240 and 360 mg/kg body weight), orally.

Twenty five (25) mature male albino rats weighting 190 + 10 g were used in this research.

The rats were divided into two main groups, the first group (5 rats) still fed on basal diet and the second main group (20 rats) had given CCl4twice a week for 15 days to induce liver impaired in rats, then classified into four sub groups (5 rats in each group) one of them left as control positive and other three groups fed on three doses of mushroom extract (120, 240 and 360 mg/kg body weight) orally for 28 days.

The obtained results of hepatic rats revealed that reishi mushroom extract showed a significant increase in WBC, lymphocytes, killing cells, IgG, IgM, SOD and CAT but with significant decreases in liver functions markers (ALT, AST and ALP), serum glucose level, TNF-α and MDA as compared with control positive group.

In conclusion, the study recommended using reishi mushroom in our daily diets to improve immunity and liver functions.