Evaluation of the hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum on STZ-induced diabetic wistar rats

Annals of Biological Research

This study was undertaken to investigate the potential hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Ganoderma lucidum in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic rats. The study comprises three groups of normal rats administered 0, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight and another three groups of diabetic rats administered 0, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight of extract. The extract was given by gavage once daily for four weeks. Body weight and feed intake were monitored weekly while serum glucose, insulin, hemoglobin glycosylation level, and lipid profile were measured at baseline (week 0), two weeks and four weeks after treatment. G. lucidum dose dependently decreased food intake, body weight, serum glucose in both normal and STZ-diabetic rats. On the other hand, the extract increased serum insulin level in both normal and STZ- diabetic rats in a dose-dependent fashion. In addition, it also improved serum lipid profile in both normal and diabetic animals. These results suggest that aqueous extract of G. lucidum protect against STZ-induced diabetic in rats.