Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the protective effect and its mechanisms of polysaccharides from Ganoderma atrum (PSG-1) on oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte injury in neonatal rats. Methods: Primary cultures of cardiomyocytes from neonatal rats with PSG-1 pretreatment were exposed to H2O2 and beating rates of cardiomyocytes were monitored under inverted microscope. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined by a colorimetric method. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined using flow cytomety. SOD expression was monitored by western blot analysis. Results: PSG-1 significantly decreased LDH activity, ROS generation and MDA content, and greatly increased beating rates of cardiomyocytes, cell viability, protein expression and SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: PSG-1 protects cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress-induced injury, which is probably related to the attenuation of MDA content and ROS generation and the increase of SOD expression and activity.

Key words: Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide, cardiomyocyte, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity