The hypocholesterolemic effect of Ganoderma lucidum in rats

ABSTRACT

Background: According to traditional medicine, Ganodermataceae has many good effects on such as anti-oxidant, liver protection, sedation, anti-tumor, treatment of dyslipidemia,... Hong chi DaLat \ufffd?[Ganoderma lucidum (HC)] is a species of Ganodermataceae. This species has two strains DL1 and DL2, was grown and used mainly in Da Lat but they had not been fully studied. Objectives: To evaluate the cholesterol lowering effect of HC in cholesterol induced hypercholesterolemic rats. Subjects and method: Rats were given orally the cholesterol 10% with 0.5g/kg body weight/day during 6 consecutive weeks in order to induce hypercholesterolemic rats. The hypocholesterolemic effect of extract of (HC) was investigated at the dose of 4g/kg administered orally in hyperlipidaemic rats after 6 weeks. Results: HC with the dose of 4g/kg significantly decreased plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL \ufffd?C levels by 24.82%, 27.41% and 54.32% respectively, but increased HDL \ufffd?C by 53.34%. The effect of HC on plasma cholesterol levels with the oral dose of 4g/kg, 12g/kg was equal to each other and to that of cholestyramin at the dose of 1.6g/kg. Conclusion: HC has hypocholesterolemic effect in rats.