Therapeutic potential of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst. against the declined antioxidant status in the mitochondria of post-mitotic tissues of aged mice

SummaryBackground & aimsPost-mitotic cells such as brain and heart cells are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damages during ageing. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on the antioxidant status in the mitochondria of heart and brain of aged mice.MethodsThe effect was evaluated by estimating the activities of manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) as well as levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the heart and brain mitochondria of aged mice after oral administration of ethanolic extract of G. lucidum (50 and 250 mg/kg), once daily for 15 days. The effect was compared with that of aged and young control animals. dl-α-lipoic acid (100 mg/kg) was taken as the positive control.ResultsAdministration of G. lucidum extract significantly (p < 0.05) elevated the levels of GSH as well as activities of Mn SOD, GPx, and GST and decreased significantly (p < 0.05) the levels of lipid peroxidation, AOPP and ROS.ConclusionG. lucidum administration could improve the age-related decline of antioxidant status which was partly ascribed to free radical scavenging activity.