Bioactive total triterpenes extracted from fruiting bodies and mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst ameliorate doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury in rats

The objective of the present study was to study the effects of bioactive total triterpenes extracted from the fruiting bodies and mycelia of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum in ameliorating doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into ten groups (numbered I–X) with six animals in each group. Animals in all groups received DOX (5 mg/kg b.wt) once daily for three alternate days (cumulative dose 15 mg/kg b.wt). Various doses of total triterpenes were given once daily for five days prior to DOX administration to groups II to IX and then DOX injection continued for three more days. Cardiac injury markers, namely creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and troponin I, in serum were assayed. Activities of endogenous antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the cardiac tissue were determined. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis was carried out to determine the chemical profile of total triterpene. Total triterpenes downregulated DOX-induced elevated cardiac injury markers such as CK-MB, LDH and troponin I, upregulated declined SOD, CAT, GPx activities and levels of GSH and also downregulated lipid peroxidation in myocardium significantly. The results indicate that G. lucidum triterpenes prevented DOX-induced oxidative stress leading to myocardial damage in rats. The findings suggest the potential therapeutic use of G. lucidum triterpenes to ameliorate DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.