Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst. (Ganodermataceae) is a mushroom which is used as a traditional remedy in the treatment of human diseases such as hepatitis, liver disorders, hypercholesterolemia, arthritis, bronchitis and tumorigenic diseases. This study targets the evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of ganodermanontriol, a sterol isolated from Ganoderma lucidum, and the investigation of its mechanism of action in Hepa1c1c7 and murine liver cells upon tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced inflammation. t-BHP was utilized to stimulate an anti-inflammatory reaction in the hepatic cell lines and murine hepatic tissue examined. Western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to estimate the expression of ganodermanontriol (GDT)-induced proteins, including heme oxidase-1 (HO-1) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as well as the corresponding mRNA. Luciferase assays were conducted to evaluate the interaction between NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf-2), the antioxidant response element (ARE), and the promoter region of the HO-1 gene and subsequent gene expression. Biochemical markers for hepatotoxicity were monitored to assess whether GDT protected the cells from the t-BHP-mediated oxidative stimuli.
RESULTS: GDT induced HO-1 expression via the activation of Nrf-2 nuclear translocation and the subsequent transcription of the HO-1 gene in vitro and in vivo, which seemed to be regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and p38 signaling pathways. GDT exhibited in vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective activity as determined by the lowered levels of hepatic enzymes and malondialdehydes and the elevated glutathione levels.
CONCLUSIONS: This study validates the ethnopharmacological application of Ganoderma lucidum as a treatment for hepatic disorders. GDT induced in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in t-BHP-damaged hepatic cells through the expression of HO-1, and in which PI3K/Akt and p38 kinases are involved. Our study motivates further research in the exploration of potent hepatoprotective agents from Ganoderma lucidum.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Ethnopharmacology |
Volume | 150 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 875-85 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISSN | 0378-8741 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12 Dec 2013 |
Keywords
- Alanine Transaminase
- Animals
- Aspartate Aminotransferases
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Drug-Induced Liver Injury
- Fruit
- Ganoderma
- Glutathione
- Heme Oxygenase-1
- Lanosterol
- Male
- Membrane Proteins
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred ICR
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
- NF-E2-Related Factor 2
- Oxidative Stress
- Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
- Plant Extracts
- Protective Agents
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
- tert-Butylhydroperoxide
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't