Effects of ganoderma lucidum extract on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in a rat model.
Chemotherapy is highly cytotoxic, causing a number of severe adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting. Herbal medicines, which can often be used on a daily basis for prolonged treatment, may be clinically beneficial. Ganoderma lucidum or Lingzhi mushroom has been recognized as a remedy in treating a number of medical conditions, including balancing immunity and decreasing drug-induced side effects. It has been shown that rats react to emetic stimuli, like the chemotherapy agent cisplatin, by increased consumption of kaolin, known as pica; and this rat model has been utilized to evaluate novel anti-emetic compounds. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a G. lucidum extract (SunRecome, the most commonly used Lingzhi mushroom extract in China) in attenuating cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting in the rat pica model. We observed that intraperitoneal cisplatin injection caused a significant increase in kaolin intake at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, reflecting cisplatin's nausea and vomiting action. This cisplatin-induced kaolin intake dose-dependently decreased after 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg G. lucidum extract injection (p < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant reduction of food intake after cisplatin. The cisplatin-induced food intake reduction improved significantly after G. lucidum extract administrations in a dose-related manner (p < 0.01), suggesting a supportive effect of the extract on general body condition. Future controlled clinical trials are needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this herbal medication.
Wang
Chong-Zhi
CZ
Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Basila
Daniel
D
Aung
Han H
HH
Mehendale
Sangeeta R
SR
Chang
Wei-Tien
WT
McEntee
Eryn
E
Guan
Xiongfei
X
Yuan
Chun-Su
CS
D000818:Animals; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020940:Reishi; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D002945:Cisplatin