Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Ganoderma atrum polysaccharides (PSG) on acrylamide (AA)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods: A total of 60 SD male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 10 each: normal control, model (20 mg/kg mb of AA), positive control (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, NAC; at 200 mg/kg mb) and low-, medium and high-dose PSG treatment groups (at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg mb). The rats in the normal control group were given normal saline at the same volume as the corresponding drugs for the other groups. Starting from half an hour after the administration, the AA aqueous solution was orally administered for 30 continuous days. Pathological observation of liver tissues was performed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and interleukin (IL-1β and IL-10) in serum were measured. Then, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of MDA in liver tissue homogenate were measured. Results: AA significantly increased AST, ALT and ALP activity as well as TG and IL-1β concentration, and decreased IL-10 levels in serum (P < 0.05); significantly reduced the activity of SOD and CAT and GSH-Px and increased MDA content in liver tissue (P < 0.05); and caused pathological liver injury. PSG obviously attenuated all these negative effects. Conclusion: Ganoderma atrum polysaccharides can have a significant protective effect on acrylamide-induced liver injury.

Key words: Ganoderma atrum polysaccharides, acrylamide, oxidative damage, liver injury