1. Hepatoprotective Effect of Herbal Complex on Liver Damage Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats. Effects of the Ethanolic Extract of the Fermentation Product of Agaricus blazei on Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hep 3B Cells)-implanted in Nude Mice

1. Herbal complex (HC) was offered by Sun-Ten Phytotech. Company. It consists of Vitamin C, green tea, and turmeric which were reported previously with the antioxidant capability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of HC against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced chronic liver damage in rats. Experimental groups were: (1) normal control, (2) Silymarin-positive control, (3) CCl4 -treated group, and (4) HC (4.2-375 mg/kg bw/day) + CCl4 treated groups. After administrated with CCl4 alone on rats for 8 weeks, marked rises of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride, cholesterol, and lipid peroxidation were noted; while the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), GRd (glutathione rductase), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were decreased. HC (375 mg/kg bw/day) attenuated successfully all of the negative effects stated above of CCl4 in rats and also elevated the glutathione (GSH) content and inhibited the formation of steatosis as well as fibrosis in the liver as compared with the CCl4 group (p<0.05). These results suggest HC may usefully protect the liver against the oxidative stress induced by CCl4. . Over the last decade, the basidiomycete fungus Agaricus blazei Murill has been studied and developed as a novel functional food in some Asian countries after it was reported to be a source of anti-tumor and immuno-active compounds. According to tradition, it also helps against a variety of diseases, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis and chronic hepatitis. However, the fruiting body of A. blazei is relative expensive, due to its low yield, and a cheap and stable source of A. blazei fermentation products is desirable to promote in commercial products. In Taiwan, the incidence of liver diseases is high, such as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatoma which are the leading causes of death in 2006. Furthermore, the effect of the fermentation product of A. blazei cultured in the medium containing soybean and black soybean on liver tumor, we use nude mice with immunodeficiency as a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-induced model. In vitro assay, we found that the ethanolic extract of the fermentation product of A. blazei (ABE) can inhibit Hep 3B cells with IC50, 138 μg/ml. Prior to tumor-inducing, the nude mice received oral administration of ABE in two weeks with preventive goal of food. In vivo model, oral administration of ABE has potential to reduce the tumor volume as compared with negative control and the inhibition rate is 42% on day 51 after tumor-inducing. Moreover, ABE also prolongs the survival time of tumor-bearing mice and the survival rate is 56%. In conclusion, ABE may show the potency to prevent from HCC and is possible to be a candidate for increasing the life span of patients who suffer liver cancer.