Ganoderma terpenoid extract exhibited anti-plasmodial activity by a mechanism involving reduction in erythrocyte and hepatic lipids in Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Olarewaju M Oluba

doi:10.1186/s12944-018-0951-x

Abstract

Bioactive components of Ganoderma lucidum has recently gained intense research attention due to their acclaimed nutritional and medicinal properties. Thus, the terpenoid extract from the fruit bodies of G. lucidum (GT) was evaluated for activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice in two separate experiments. In addition, the effects of the extract on erythrocyte and hepatic lipids as well as liver HMG-CoA reductase activity before and after the treatments were also assessed. Mice with established infection were administered 100 and 250 mg/kg/day GT alone and in combination with chloroquine (CQ), in either case two separate controls designated: CQ (30 mg/kg chloroquine) and INF-CTR (1 mL DMSO) were also included. Treatment was administered orally for 12 days and parasitemia determined every three days. Percentage survival was significantly increased to 87% from 66% due to combination of GT100 with CQ compared to GT100 alone and to 75% from 62% when GT250 was administered with CQ compared to GT250 alone. Erythrocyte triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), LDL and phospholipids contents were significantly lower in GT + CQ-treated mice compared to CQ alone and INF-CTR. Similarly, hepatic TC and phospholipid levels were significantly lower in the GT + CQ-treated mice compared to CQ alone and INF-CTR and HMG-CoA reductase activity in the liver was significantly inhibited due to administration of GT + CQ. Data from this study suggest that the anti-plasmodial action of GT could involve mechanisms associated with its hypolipidemic activity. It was also demonstrated that chloroquine, when administered in combination with GT, potentiates its curative effect in P. berghei-infected mice.

Highlights

Malaria remains a major public health challenge affecting 3.3 billion people in 106 countries and territories
Body weight change was significantly higher in mice administered chloroquine alone and chloroquine in combination with 100 mg/kg Ganoderma terpenoid extract compared with infected untreated mice (Table 1)
Liver cholesterol (Fig. 3a) and Phospholipid (Fig. 3b) concentrations were significantly lower in mice administered ganoderma terpenoid extract (GT) + CQ compared to infected but untreated mice. 3-Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) activity expressed as a ratio of [3-hydroxy 3-methylglutarylCoA (HMG-CoA)]/[mevalonate] was significantly higher mice administered Ganoderma terpenoid extract (100 and 250 mg/kg) in combination with CQ compared to those administered CQ alone and the infected but untreated mice (Fig. 3c)

Summary

Introduction

Malaria remains a major public health challenge affecting 3.3 billion people in 106 countries and territories. About 216 million malaria cases are reported to occur annually 81% of which occur in the African sub-region [1]. Out of about 438,000 deaths resulting from malaria in 2015, an estimated 90% were traced to sub-Saharan Africa [1]. Nigeria with about 51 million cases and. 207,000 deaths contributes approximately 30% of African annual malaria burden. According to a WHO report about 97% of the total Nigerian population (approximately 175 million) is at risk of malaria infection [1]. The rising problem of resistance to available chemotherapies and problem of recrudescence of malaria after treatment with artemisinin stress the need for new antimalarial agents [2]. Plants and fungi products have formed a major component of foods and therapeutic agents of

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Discussion

Conclusion