title: Modulatory effect of crude aqueous extract of Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Higher Basidiomycetes), on hematological and antioxidant indices in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.
abstract: Hematological and antioxidant effects of the aqueous extract of fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum were evaluated in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Extract was administered at doses of 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight by an intragastric tube once daily for 14 d starting from the fourth day after parasite inoculation. At the end of treatment period, mice in each group were sacrificed and blood was collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. A significant (P<0.05) decrease was observed in serum malondialdehyde content with a corresponding significant (P<0.05) increase in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities in the extract-treated groups compared to the infected but untreated group. The results obtained suggest that crude aqueous extract of G. lucidum fruiting bodies possesses potent antioxidant activity that protects hemoglobin against Plasmodium-induced oxidative damage. These findings seem to justify the use of the plant in traditional African and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olarewaju M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Oluba
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, College of Pure & Applied Sciences, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kayode E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Adebisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
authors.forename: George O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Eidangbe
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adewale A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Odutuga
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E Chukwu
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Onyeneke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D010088:Oxidoreductases