Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hepatic protective function and potential mechanism of Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharides (PPS) to hepatic injury. Previous study has revealed that PPS possesses antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, we further demonstrate the protective function of PPS using carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatic injury in mouse model. The effects of PPS were evaluated by biochemical values and histopathological examinations; mRNA expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found PPS dose-dependently alleviated hepatic injury manifested by the recovery of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Histopathological examination also confirmed the alleviation of hepatic injury. Meanwhile, the suppressed mRNA expression of GPx, CAT and SOD by CCl₄ were restored by PPS treatment. These data indicated that PPS are protective against CCl₄-induced hepatic injury, and the mechanism involves the upregulation of GPx, CAT and SOD expression.

Key words: Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharides, carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), liver.