2005 Volume 58 Issue 4 Pages 217-223
We studied the effect of an extract of cultured Lentinus edodes mycelia (LEM) on lipid peroxidation in vivo. The antioxidative effect of LEM was measured by the thiocyanate method. LEM was found to have a suppressive effect on the oxidation of linoleic acid. We also studied the effect on lipid peroxidation in vivo. When fish oil containing a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acid was given in excess to rats, the amount of lipid peroxide increased markedly in the serum. On the other hand, when LEM was given beforehand, it suppressed this increase of serum lipid peroxide. Administration of peroxidized corn oil to rats induced mild hepatic damage. However, administration of LEM significantly suppressed the increases in serum transaminase activity and lipid peroxides, thus showing a preventive effect against mild hepatic damage. It is suggested that because of its antioxidative effect, LEM can suppress the formation of lipid peroxides in vivo, and prevent mild hepatic damage induced by lipid peroxidation.
