Cordyceps militaris (CM) Mushroom Powder Ameliorates Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia in Albino Rats.

Saleem, Muhammad Awais; Ahmed, Aftab; Ahmad, Nazir; Rashid, Abid; Afzaal, Muhammad

In the current study, we explored the ability of Cordyceps militaris (CM) mushroom powder to prevent hyperlipidemia in albino rats fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD). Twenty-five male Albino Wister rats were divided into 5 groups, each consisting of five rats. PC (positive control group) was kept on a high-cholesterol diet, while rats in the negative control group (NC) were fed a standard basal diet and distilled water. The standard group (STD) (treatment group) received a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight of Simvastatin. The low dose (LD) and high dose (HD) groups were administered CM powder, at 12g/kg b.wt. and 24 g/kg b.wt./day, respectively, along with the basal diet, given orally daily for eight weeks. Our results clearly showed that CM significantly reduced the levels of TC, TG, and LDL levels by 55.65, 56.32, and 38.49%, in LD respectively, and by 63.40, 64.08 and 66.39% respectively in HD. CM consumption significantly increased the value of HDL by 52.81 and 57.45% in LD and HD respectively. There was a significant decrease in serum MDA (Malondialdehyde) and serum TOS (Total Oxidative Stress) levels in the treatment groups of LD and HD, however, the level of serum catalase (CAT) and serum TAC (Total Antioxidant Capacity) followed an increasing trend in these groups. Moreover, CM at high doses triggered a significant drop in the amounts of aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) enzymes as compared to the NC by 27.2 and 34.82 % respectively. Furthermore, the normal histological structure was restored in the HD as compared to the PC group. Our results revealed that a high dose of CM could prevent HCD-induced hyperlipidemia and have the potential to be used as a functional food ingredient.

HIGH cholesterol diet; OXIDANT status; ALANINE aminotransferase; ASPARTATE aminotransferase; OXIDATIVE stress

Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 2024, Vol 44, Issue 4, p1275

0253-8318

Academic Journal

10.29261/pakvetj/2024.271