Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), Prevents Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer drug used extensively to treat a variety of human malignancies. DOX chemotherapy often leads to serious cardiotoxicity. We examined the ability of a Ganoderma lucidum extract (GLE) to prevent DOX-associated cardiotoxicity. DOX treatment of cardiac tissue drastically increased levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), and protein carbonyls (PCOs), and significantly decreased reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase activities. Administration of GLE restored CK, LDH, AOPPs, and PCOs to almost normal levels and significantly enhanced the activity of SOD, GPx, catalase, and GSH; it also downregulated lipid peroxidation. Histopathological observations, hematology profiles, and electrocardiography parameters supported the protective effect of GLE against cardiotoxicity associated with DOX treatment.