TITLE:
Reishi Mushroom Attenuates Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis Induced by Irradiation Enhanced Carbon Tetrachloride in Rat Model
AUTHORS:
Omama E. El Shawi, Sahar S. Abd El-Rahman, Marwa Abd El Hameed
KEYWORDS:
Carbon Tetrachloride, Gamma Irradiation, Hepatic Fibrosis, Reishi Mushroom, Rats
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.3 No.10,
October
9,
2015
ABSTRACT: This work was undertaken to establish a new experimental model of hepatic fibrosis by gamma irradiation and CCl4 and to study the hepatoprotective effect of Reishi Mushroom (RM) against hepatic fibrosis induced in that model. Our results revealed that oral co-administration of 110 mg/kg RM by gavage to fibrotic rats offered an obvious hepatic protection as assured by the significant decrement in ALT and AST, HP content, MDA and NO levels with elevation of the antioxidant enzymes activities. The levels of TGF-β, TNF-α, HO-1 and type-1 collagen and their m-RNA expression were markedly declined as compared with those of fibrotic rats. Microscopical examination revealed that the exposure of rats to radiation aggravated the effect of CCl4 causing extensive collagen deposition and marked pseudolobulation of the hepatic parenchyma indicative of bridging fibrosis. While, oral co-administration of RM obviously improved the state of steatosis and apparently suppressed hepatic fibrogenesis.