Hepatoprotective Effects ofPanus giganteus(Berk.) Corner against Thioacetamide- (TAA-) Induced Liver Injury in Rats

Abstract

Panus giganteus, a culinary and medicinal mushroom consumed by selected indigenous communities in Malaysia, is currently being considered for large scale cultivation. This study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effects ofP. giganteusagainst thioacetamide- (TAA-) induced liver injury inSprague-Dawleyrats. The rats were injected intraperitoneally with TAA thrice weekly and were orally administered freeze-dried fruiting bodies ofP. giganteus(0.5 or 1 g/kg) daily for two months, while control rats were given vehicle orP. giganteusonly. After 60 days, rats administered withP. giganteusshowed lower liver body weight ratio, restored levels of serum liver biomarkers and oxidative stress parameters comparable to treatment with the standard drug silymarin. Gross necropsy and histopathological examination further confirmed the hepatoprotective effects ofP. giganteus. This is the first report on hepatoprotective effects ofP. giganteus. The present study showed thatP. giganteuswas able to prevent or reduce the severity of TAA-induced liver injury.