Polysaccharides of Grifola frondosa ameliorate oxidative stress and hypercholesterolaemia in hamsters fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-hypercholesterolaemia activities of Grifola frondosa in hamsters fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet. METHODS: G. frondosa, including fruiting bodies (FGF), fermented mycelia (MGF) and polysaccharides extracted from fruiting bodies (FPS), fermented mycelia (MIP) and fermented broth (BEP) were received intragastrically. Lipid profile and antioxidant status in the blood and liver of hamsters were assessed. KEY FINDINGS: FGF decreased weight gain, serum triglycerides and cholesterol and increased hepatic mRNA expression of cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase expression. FGF, MGF, FPS and MIP decreased the HFHC diet-increased area under the curve (AUC) of serum cholesterol. FGF and FPS further decreased AUC of serum triglycerides. When evaluating the redox status of erythrocytes, FPS and MIP increased non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) groups, reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase activity and FPS further increased GSH peroxidase activity. In the liver, MGF increased NP-SH groups and GSH and decreased triglycerides content. FPS, MIP and BEP decreased oxidized GSH and triglycerides content. Moreover, all treatments alleviated HFHC diet-increased LDL oxidation. CONCLUSIONS: Fruiting bodies of G. frondosa may improve hypercholesterolaemia via increased bile acid synthesis. Additionally, fermented biomass and polysaccharides of G. frondosa may have the potential to prevent hepatic lipid accumulation.