Effect of Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) on the Liver of Mice Bearing Ehrlich Solid Tumor (EST) and Exposed to γ-Radiation

The present study was performed to investigate the antitumor and radio sensitizing efficacy of Ganodarma lucidum (G. lucidum) and to evaluate its potential to improve hepatic dysfunction in Ehrlich solid tumor (EST) bearing mice. G. lucidum (100 mg/Kg body weight) was administered orally to EST bearing mice for 15 days before and 15 days after tumor inoculation. Irradiation was carried out the 8th day of tumor inoculation when the diameter of the tumor reached approximately 10 mm. Mice were exposed to fractionated doses of whole body γ-radiation (3x2Gy) at two days interval to attain a total dose of 6 Gy. Mice were divided into 6 groups (15 mice in each group) as follows: normal control, mice treated with G. lucidum for 30 days, EST bearing mice, EST bearing mice exposed to fractionated doses of γ-radiation (2Gy x 3), EST bearing mice treated with G. lucidum for 15 days before and 15 days after tumor inoculation and EST bearing mice received combined treatment radiation and G. lucidum. Five mice from each group were sacrificed, after 18 hr fasting after the last dose of G. lucidum treatment. Blood was collected, liver and tumor were removed for biochemical and histopathological studies. The remaining animals were observed for recording survival percentage and tumor size. In vitro study on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma cells showed that the percentage of nonviable cells (NVC%) increase with increasing G. lucidum concentration. The results revealed also that treatment of EST bearing mice with G. lucidum and/or γ- radiation increased the survivability and decrease the tumor size as compared to EST group. The biochemical analysis for EST bearing group recorded an elevation in the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), asparta amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) in the serum. Also, there was an elevation in the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, accompanied by a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content in liver tissues. A remarkable increase was observed in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentration in serum as compared to normal control. Liver of tumor bearing mice showed focal tubular necrosis associated with inflammatory cells infiltration, and vacuolation of the hepatic cells. Furthermore, an elevation of tail DNA % was recorded in the tumor tissue of mice treated with G.lucidum and /or γ-irradiation compared to EST control group. Treatment of EST bearing mice with G. lucidum and/or irradiation ameliorated the change in biochemical parameters and improved the histopathological changes in EST bearing mice. It could be concluded that G. lucidum might have anti-tumor properties and a radio protective role in normal tissues as well as a radio sensitizing effect in tumor tissues