Level of Liver Lipid Profile as Influenced by Agaricus bisporus in Experimental Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

Coronary Artery Disease has been identified as the major cause of death in India. A primary risk factor is hypercholesterolemia. This experiment was carried out to determine the long-term hypolipemic effect of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) in wistar albino rats with high fat diet induced hypercholesterolemia. Male albino rats of wistar strain with an initial body weight of about 265-275 gm were used for the study. The animals were divided into four groups consisting of six rats per group. Group I, Control animals, Group II, Mushroom treated rats, Group III, High fat diet and Group IV, HFD and 5% dry mushroom powder fed rats. Results showed that, the dietary hypercholesterolemia caused by the high fat diet was improved by mushroom (MR) feeding, accompanied by a significant decrease in the liver lipid profile level. The liver lipid profiles were increased in high fat diet animals and were also corrected to near normal by mushroom treatment. Histological evaluation of the animals revealed centrolobular degeneration of hepatocytes, small and large drop fatty degeneration of the liver. Considering the results of the histological studies on liver it is evident that the treatment with mushroom (MR) fed rats expresses their individual remedial impact. Therefore, the objective of relevance of using mushrooms in diet proved to be very effective in bringing down the liver lipid levels in experimental animals.