Protective action of hepatic function by dietary antlered form of Ganoderma lucidum using sawdust of apple branch as medium

This study investigated the ameliorative effect of dietary apple antlered form of Ganoderma lucidum (AAFGL) in mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl ₄)-induced liver injury. Male ICR mice (6 weeks, n = 6-7 per group) were divided into control and 1% AAFGL groups. Mice were given test diets for 11 days before intraperitoneal injection with CCl₄ (40 μL/kg). Dietary AAFGL inhibited the abnormal increase of GOT, GPT, and LDH in serum. The serum TNF-α and the liver triglyceride levels tended to be lower in the AAFGL-fed group than in the control. The liver TBARS level was significantly lower in the AAFGL-fed group than in the control, however, the liver tocopherol level was significantly higher in AAFGL-fed group than in the control. Moreover, the erythrocytic catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities in AAFG-fed group were higher than those in the control. Thus, dietary AAFGL may exert protective function against liver damage and modulation of antioxidant system induced by CCl₄.