cardioprotective effects of ganoderma lucidum on isoproterenol–induced heart failure

Introduction: ganoderma lucidum (g. lucidum), a medicinal mushroom, exerts protective effects on cardiovascular diseases but, it’s effect in isoproterenol-induced heart failure has not been studied. therefore, the aim of the present study was whether g. lucidum has protective effects in isoproterenol-induced heart failure.methods: thirty male wistar rats were assigned into five groups (n=6) of control, heart failure (hf) and g. lucidum (50, 100 and 200mg/kg). for induction of hf in rats, isoproterenol (5mg/ kg) was injected subcutaneously for two weeks. in g. lucidum treated groups, g. lucidum was orally gavaged for three weeks and on day 8 isoproterenol was injected for two weeks. then, electrocardiogram pattern and cardiodynamic parameters, as well as myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde level, cardiac remodeling and apoptosis were studied.results: g. lucidum improved hemodynamic factors such as mean arterial blood pressure as well as electrocardiogram pattern. pre-treatment with g. lucidum also decreased myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde level and apoptosis in cardiac tissue. histopathologic results showed a decrease in cardiac necrosis and fibrosis. however, it had no significant effect on cardiac hypertrophy.conclusion: our results show that pre-treatment with g. lucidum demonstrates protective effects against hf, and thereby suggest that g. lucidum can be considered as a possible clinical use for preventive and adjuvant treatment in heart failure.