ABSTRACT
AIM@#Considering the importance of diet in the prevention of cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species which has been implicated for several diseases, this present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of the ethanolic extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum on 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinogenesis in Sprague Dawley rats.@*METHODS@#Ganoderma lucidum extract was tested for in vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging assays, such as (ABTS(+)) radical cation decolorization assay, DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide radical scavenging assays. The in vivo antioxidant potentials were analyzed by SOD, CAT, and GPx in plasma, mammary, and liver tissues.@*RESULTS@#In all the in vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging assays the extract exhibited good scavenging activity. In vivo enzymatic antioxidant levels, such as SOD, CAT, and GPx were decreased in DMBA-induced animals. Moreover, pretreatment with G. lucidum (500 mg · kg(-1) bw) to DMBA-induced animals significantly (P < 0.05) increased the levels of SOD, CAT, and GPx in plasma, mammary, and liver tissues compared to DMBA induced animals.@*CONCLUSIONS@#From these findings, it is suggested that G. lucidum extract could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidants and can be used as an effective chemopreventive agent against mammary cancer.