Efficacy of Ganoderma tsugae fruit extract in treating Aluminum-Trichloride induced brain dysfunction in rats
Date Issued
2014
Date
2014
Author(s)
Chen, Szu-Min
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has received the most attention among all neurodegenerative disorders because it is considered one of the costliest diseases to society in developed countries. The causes and progression of the disease are not well understood; some studies maintain that it is caused by the pathological changes to the brain due to accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques (Aβ plaques). Recent research has indicated that prolonged, excessive consumption of food or water containing aluminum results in the accumulation of Aβ plaques in the limbic system of the brain, leading to AD. As a progressive degenerative disease of the brain cells, AD causes patients’ memory and other brain functions to deteriorate gradually, leading to functional loss and eventually dementia. In recent years, clinical physicians have come to realize the importance of the pathological signs of microcirculation disturbances in patients with AD. Previous research has indicated that the extract of Ganoderma lucidum (G. tsugae) can effectively stimulate autoimmune functions, improve metabolism, and enhance anti-oxidation. The objective of this study is to explore how the herb affects hemodynamics, learning and memory functions, the reduction of Aβ plaques, and oxidation inhibition by administering extracts of G. tsugae fruiting bodies to rats exposed to aluminum tri-chloride (AlCl3).
The study uses an experimental design utilizing multiple measurement and quantitation methods including the Morris water maze test, Magnetic Resonance Imaging test (MRI), Arterial Spin Label–regional Cerebral Blood Flow test (ASL-rCBF test), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) test, blood cell count analysis, hemorheological parameter analysis, serum chemistry parameter analysis, cerebrospinal fluid test and Aβ plaque concentration, as well as anti-oxidation capacity test on blood plasma viscosity and fibrinogen concentration, serum HsCRP concentration, Aβ / Il6 /TNF-α concentration and tests on acetyl cholinesterase (AChE-RBC) activity and malondialdehyde concentration. Through combinative implementation of these methods study hopes to examine the changes in the indicators of various AD symptoms before and after rats, afflicted with AD due to AlCl3, were given G. tsugae fruiting bodies.
In addition, the study also carries out comparative research to explore more specific phenomena using multiple modalities.
Results of this study indicate that AD rats, in the positive control group, induced by AlCl3 showed higher levels of whole blood viscosity, blood plasma viscosity, fibrinogen concentration, serum HsCRP concentration, Aβ / Il6 /TNF-α concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid, acetylcholinesterase (AChE-RBC) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) in red blood cells, and MDA and Aβ plaque in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal tissue than those in the control group. Conversely, the rats in the positive control group exhibited significantly lower erythrocyte deformability, cerebral blood flow, and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentrations than those in the control group. The rats in the YL1 (G. tsugae extracts by using hot water) and YL2 (G. tsugae extracts by using ethanol) groups, which were exposed to AlCl3 and then orally given the G. tsugae extract for 60 days, exhibited marked improvement in blood viscosity, oxidative stress, NAA concentrations, AChE-RBC concentrations, Aβ plaque accumulation levels, and cerebral blood flow. The results of the water maze tests also indicated improvement in learning and memory. Hemorheology and MRI arterial spin labeling technology were combined in this study to demonstrate changes in the hemodynamics of rats with AlCl3-induced brain dysfunction. It is, therefore, the conclusion of this study that treatment with G. tsugae can protect neural nerves and blood vessels as well as combat related pathological changes induced by AlCl3 in rats. The study hopes to provide a reference point for future researches on the preventive or reversal methods for Alzheimer’s disease.
Subjects
β型類澱粉蛋白
阿滋海默症
三氯化鋁
松杉靈芝
血液流變學參數
Type
thesis
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