Protective effect of Ganoderma (a mushroom with medicinal properties) against various liver injuries

The hepatoprotective activity of Ganoderma mushroom to protect the liver against injury, was analyzed. Ganoderma extracts which contain polysaccharides or triterpenoids, protected the liver against injury caused by toxic chemicals or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and lipopolysaccharides. The ethanolic extracts from G.lucidum and G.japonicum had protective effects on CCl 4-iduced liver injury, as indicated by the decreased serum GOT, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). It was also observed that G.lucidum polysaccharides have direct anti-HBV activity through inhibition of HBV DNA polymerase.