Toxicity of Ganoderma boninense methanol extract in mice

Abstract

Ganoderma boninense Pat. is widely used in China and other countries of the Orient in the traditional treatment of many ailments. However, there is little toxicological information available regarding safety following repeated exposure. The present study describes the toxicity of a methanol extract of G. boninense in mice. In an oral acute toxicity study, a methanol extract of G. boninense was orally administered to Wister albino mice (female and male) at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw) for a period of 14 days. The animals were killed, followed by examination of their organs and blood serum. Administration of the methanol extract G. boninense at 2000 mg/kg bw did not produce mortality or significant changes in general behavior, bodyweight, or organ gross appearance. There were no significant differences in general condition, growth, organ weights, hematological parameters, clinical chemistry values, or gross and microscopic appearance of the organs from the treatment groups compared to the control group. G. boninense was found to be relatively safe on short-term oral administration.