Effects of Concurrently Administered Aqueous Extract of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), and Lead Acetate in Rats.

Ganoderma lucidum is a hard, bitter mushroom with many ethnomedicinal uses, including conditions similar to lead (Pb) toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of a G. lucidum aqueous extract (GL) when concurrently administered with Pb. Adult Wistar rats were administered oral doses of Pb (100 mg/kg) daily for 25 consecutive days. Of the Pb-treated rats, 3 groups received 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg/day GL, respectively; one group was given only 50 mg/kg/day 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA); and another group was given 400 mg/kg/day GL and 50 mg/kg/day DMSA. Body weight, Pb levels in organs, enzyme and lipid levels in serum, and antioxidant capability were evaluated. Body weights were not significantly altered by GL. All doses of GL significantly reduced the amount of Pb in the liver (P < 0.01) and kidneys (P < 0.05), but not in the spleen. Doses of GL significantly reduced (P < 0.05) amounts of low-density lipoprotein, but not high-density lipoprotein or triglycerides, in serum. Pb-induced increases in amounts of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly (P < 0.01) attenuated by GL. Also, a Pb-induced reduction in the amount of superoxide dismutase was significantly (P < 0.05) reversed, but the nitric oxide level was not significantly elevated. An increased malondialdehyde level, which had been induced by Pb, was significantly (P < 0.01) reversed. In conclusion, GL protects against some of the deleterious effects of Pb ingestion, possibly through antioxidant and other mechanisms. DMSA did not enhance the beneficial effects of GL.

Pharmacognosy and hypotensive evaluation of Ficus exasperata Vahl (Moraceae) leaf.

There is already a literature report on the anti-ulcer effect of water extract of Ficus exasperata. Some communities in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria use the decoction of the leaf as hypotensive crude drug. Verification of this claim and also the microscopy and other pharmacognostic parameters which can be used to establish the identity of the leaf were carried out. The microscopy of the leaf powder revealed the presence of straight walled epidermal cells, cone or nail shaped trichomes or epidermal hairs, clustered or prismatic calcium oxalate crystals of varying dimensions. The percentage weight loss on drying was 9.84 +/- 0.08 whereas water and alcohol extractive values were 5.29 +/- 0.07 and 2.21 +/- 0.11, respectively. The ash value was 30.68 +/- 0.44 whereas the acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash values were 17.87 +/- 0.37 and 16.73 +/- 0.13, respectively. Preliminary phytochemistry of leaf showed that it contains tannins, flavonoids and saponins with no traces of alkaloids or anthraquinones. The water extract showed a dose related reduction in mean arterial blood pressure. At 10 mg/kg, a reduction of 16.6 +/- 1.1 mmHg was observed, whereas at 30 mg/kg, a fall in mean arterial pressure of 38.3 +/- 0.6 mmHg was obtained. The hypotensive effect of the extract was significantly reduced with a prior administration of 2.5 mg of either atropine or chlorpheniramine. This suggests the probable stimulation of muscarinic receptors in the heart or release of histamine into the circulatory system thereby causing the initial fall in blood pressure.