Ganoderma Lucidum Improved the Peripheral Nerve on Rat Subjected Sciatic Nerve Injury
Introduction:Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is one of the fungus species having been traditionally utilized because of its healing effects mostly in the Far East for over 2000 years. GL included triterpenes which have similar molecular structure as steroids and polysaccharides. They are the most bioactive ingredients of this fungus and these contents have significant anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory proven effects. The substances have the potential to diminish the secondary injury due to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, have not shown significant side effects even in high doses. Aim of the study was that neuroprotective effect of GL extract was investigated immunohistochemically in sciatic nerve trauma with clip compression model in rat.
Material and Method :In the present study, 27 Albino-Wistar rats male rats were used and randomly selected for three groups that were included 9 rats. Group A named as control that performed only sciatic nerve exposed. Group B (vehicle) and C (GL) included to compression damage for one minute using a clip closing with a pressure of 50 mm/cm2. Saline was given to vehicle group for 7 days. Group C was treated by GL (133mg/m2/day) in this period. Nerve samples were taken from each group 28 days after trauma, then proximal and distal nerve fiber diameter and the number of apoptotic cells were examined histopathologically and compared with control groups.
Results :GL given in dose of 133mg/m2/day both tissue level changes of the number of apoptotic cells and nerve fiber diameter were detected statistically significant (p<0.5). These histomorfological data revealed, GL treatment was given in enough doses; it has a healing effect in apoptosis and nerve fiber diameter after peripheral nerve injury.
Conclusions :This is a preliminary study investigating the neuroprotective effects of GL in rat sciatic nerve injury model. GL may be an alternative drug to treatment of neural injury in the future..
