Inhibitory effect on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and protective effect on CCl4-induced hepatic damage of HEAI extract

The effects of methanol extract from Hericium erinaceus cultivated with Artemisia iwayomogi (HEAI) on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and CCl4-induced hepatic damage were evaluated. HEAI was shown to have a potent inhibitory effect on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Interestingly, a methanol extract of Hericium erinaceus showed no inhibitory effect on the proliferation of VSMCs, while a methanol extract of Artemisia iwayomogi possessed strong inhibitory effects on the proliferation of VSMCs. Therefore, the inhibitory effects of HEAI may be caused by the changes of chemical components in the culture broth after the addition of Artemisia iwayomogi in the HEAI growth media. HEAI also had a strong protective effect on CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats. The activity was evaluated using biochemical parameters such as glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). HEAI treatment caused a significant reduction in the activity of GOT but not of GPT and ALP in comparison with CCl4 treatment alone. Histopathological studies showed that liver samples treated with HEAI were significantly different when compared to non-treated animals after CCl4 exposure.