Anuja Bhardwaj
Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, India
Title: Aqueous extracts of Ganoderma lucidum modulates high-altitude induced stress: An adaptogenic animal model
Biography
Biography: Anuja Bhardwaj
Abstract
Significant number of people travel to high altitude (HA) for occupation or recreation, exposing themselves to hypoxia and associated risk of acute mountain sickness and seldom, high altitude pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema. Exposure to HA often leads to cellular oxidative damage that disrupts normal physiology of the body. Acclimatization to such oxidative challenge requires a relatively longer period of time. Therefore, adaptogens as nutraceuticals or dietary supplements may be found beneficial in attenuating and/or preventing oxidative damage associated with HA. Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is one such medicinal mushroom revered for its profound health benefits like antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial and anti-tumorigenic properties being a hub of various bioactive compounds. Thus, a dose-dependent study was carried out to evaluate adaptogenic potential of aqueous extract of G. lucidum mycelium (GLM) against HA-induced hypoxic stress using cold, hypoxia and restraint (C-H-R) model. Experimental animals were exposed to cold (5°C) and hypoxia (428 mmHg) equivalent to an altitude of 4572m under restraint state. GLM was administered orally at doses of 50, 100 and 150mg/kg body weight to overnight fasted animal groups prior to exposure. The time taken to reach termination point i.e. rectal temperature at 23ï‚°C was used as a measure of endurance. After exposure, antioxidant and stress markers such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation (MDA), etc. levels were investigated in tissue homogenates along with hematological parameters. GLM at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight demonstrated maximum adaptogenic activity as indicated by decreased MDA and LDH levels.