In a study on 14 patients with alcohol-induced liver steatosis, supplementation with Ophiocordyceps sinensis mycelial biomass at 3g/day resulted in a 70%reduction inAST, a 63% reduction in ALT and a 64% reduction in GGT over a 90 day period1. Animal studies also show that O. sinensis can inhibit alcohol-induced hepatic fibrogenesis, retard the development of cirrhosis and improve liver function2.
Taiwanofungus camphoratus, syn.: Antrodia camphorata has traditionally been used for the side effects from excess alcohol consumption (including hangovers) and animal studies confirm its ability to protect the liver against chronic alcohol consumption in rats at a dose of 0.1mg/kg3.
Aqueous extracts of both Lentinula edodes and Grifola frondosa showed significant protection from paracetamol-induced liver damage, as did Coprinus comatus polysaccharide extract from the effects of alcohol4,5. Ganoderma lucidum extracts also demonstrate significant protective action against a range of hepatotoxins, including CCl4, thioacetamide and BCG6-11.
CLINICAL NOTE
A. camphorata and G. lucidum are similar in effect and are especially useful where there is active inflammation. Either can also be combined with O. sinensis in more chronic situations.
REFERENCES
1. Cordyceps sinensis supplementation in alcohol-induced liver steatosis. Santos C. Mycology News. 2004;1(9):[2–6].
2. Inhibitive effect of Cordyceps sinensis on experimental hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanism. Liu YK, Shen W. World J Gastroenterol. 2003;9(3):529–533.
3. Fruiting body of Niuchangchih (Antrodia camphorata) protects livers against chronic alcohol consumption damage. Huang CH, Chang YY, Liu CW, Kang WY, Lin YL, Chang HC, Chen YC. J Agric Food Chem. 2010;58(6):3859–3866.
4. Hepatoprotective effects of mushrooms. Soares AA, de Sá-Nakanishi AB, Bracht A, da Costa SM, Koehnlein EA, de Souza CG, Peralta RM. Molecules. 2013;18(7):7609–7630.
5. Consumption of Coprinus comatus polysaccharide extract causes recovery of alcoholic liver damage in rats. Ozalp FO, Canbek M, Yamac M, Kanbak G, Van Griensven LJ, Uyanoglu M, Senturk H, Kartkaya K, Oglakci A. Pharm Biol. 2014;52(8):994–1002.
6. Immunopharmacologic agents in the amelioration of hepatic injuries. Farghali H, Masek K. Int J Immunopharmacol. 1998;20(4-5):125–139.
7. Beta-glucuronidase-inhibitory activity and hepatoprotective effect of Ganoderma lucidum. Kim DH, Shim SB, Kim NJ, Jang IS. Biol Pharm Bull. 1999;22(2):162–164.
8. Evaluation of the hepatic and renal-protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum in mice. Shieh YH, Liu CF, Huang YK, Yang JY, Wu IL, Lin CH, Li SC. Am J Chin Med. 2001;29(3-4):501–507.
9. Hepatoprotective role of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide against BCG-induced immune liver injury in mice. Zhang GL, Wang YH, Ni W, Teng HL, Lin ZB. World J Gastroenterol. 2002;8(4):728–733.
10. Protection against D-galactosamine-induced acute liver injury by oral administration of extracts from Lentinus edodes mycelia. Watanabe A, Kobayashi M, Hayashi S, Kodama D, Isoda K, Kondoh M, Kawase M, Tamesada M, Yagi K. Biol Pharm Bull. 2006;29(8):1651–1654.
11. Post-treatment of Ganoderma lucidum reduced liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide in mice. Wu YW, Fang HL, Lin WC. Phytother Res. 2010;24(4):494–499.