Effect of Cordycepin-increased Cordyceps militaris Powder on Tissues Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidative Activity in Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Damage in Rats

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of cordycepin-increased Cordyceps militaris strain on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6) based on six dietary categories: normal (N), CCl4 control (C), CCl4 plus Paecilomyces japonica (CPJ) (3%, w/w), CCl4 plus C. militaris (CCM) (3%, w/w), and CCl4 plus cordycepin-increased C. militaris (CCMα) (3%, w/w). The activities of the liver marker enzymes ALT, AST, and LDH and the levels of lipid peroxidation were increased in the CCl4-treated groups, but these parameters were significantly decreased in the CCMα group. The TBARS content in the liver homogenate, microsome, and mitochondrial fractions of the C group was significantly elevated compared with the N group. However, in the CCl4-treated groups, CCMα group was significantly lowered in the TBARS levels of hepatic homogenate and microsomal fractions. The C group showed a significant decrease in the levels of plasma and hepatic glutathione, whereas they were significantly increased in the CCMα group. Accordingly, cordycepin-increased C. militaris may be an ideal animal model for studying hepatoprotective effects.