Mycobiology.  2011 Dec;39(4):283-289.

Appraisal of Antihyperlipidemic Activities of Lentinus lepideus in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

• Yoon KN
• Lee JS
• Kim HY
• Lee KR
• Shin PG
• Cheong JC
• Yoo YB
• Alam N
• Ha TM
• Lee TS

Abstract

The wild edible mushroom, Lentinus lepideus has recently been cultivated for commercial use in Korea. While the mushroom has been widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes, the possible anti-hyperlipidemic action is unclear. The effects of dietary L. lepideus on plasma and feces biochemical and on the liver histological status were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats. Six-wk-old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Biochemical and histological examinations were performed. A diet containing 5% L. lepideus fruiting bodies reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, total lipid, phospholipids, and the ratio of low-density to high-density lipoprotein. Body weight was reduced. The diet did not adversely affect plasma biochemical and enzyme profiles. L. lepideus reduced significantly plasma beta- and pre-beta-lipoprotein, while alpha-lipoprotein content was increased. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. The present study suggests that a diet supplemented with L. lepideus can provide health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Keyword

Agarose gel electrophoresis; Antihyperlipidemic; Atherogenic lipid profile; Histopathology; Hypercholesterolemic rats; Lentinus lepideus

MeSH Terms

Agaricales
Animals
Azo Compounds
Body Weight
Cholesterol
Diet
Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
Feces
Female
Fruit
Hepatocytes
Humans
Insurance Benefits
Korea
Lentinula
Lipoproteins
Liver
Phospholipids
Plasma
Rats
Azo Compounds
Cholesterol
Lipoproteins
Phospholipids