Curative effects of extracts of Hericium erinaceum hypha cultivated with Artemisia capillaris (HEAC) and their primary active compounds on rat liver disease

Ethanol extract derived from Hericium erinaceum cultivated with Artemisia capillaries (HEAC) and its primary compound, scoparone, were utilized and incorporated in studying the protective effects on Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatic damage in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, CCl₄, CCl₄+ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), CCl₄+silymarin, CCl₄+scoparone, CCl₄+HEAC, CCl₄+80% ethanol extract of H. erinaceum (HE), and CCl₄+80% ethanol extract of Artemisia capillaries (AC). Each group contained eight rats supplemented with UDCA, silymarin, scoparone, HEAC, HE, and AC with continuous normal diet after CCl₄ treatment. Physiological results shows control group gained weight 4.0 g day^-1 and that of CCl₄ group decreased 6.4 g day^-1. Supplementation of UDCA, silymarin, scoparone, HEAC, HE, and AC decreased weight loss at 5.5, 4.1, 2.2, 5.5, and 4.2 g day^-1, respectively. Supplementation of UDCA, silymarin, scoparone, HEAC, HE, and AC significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity as well as hepatic cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and triglycerides. Hepatic highdensity lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in CCl₄ group was reduced after CCl₄ treatment, and supplementation of UDCA, scoparone, HEAC, HE, and AC increased HDL-cholesterol level to that of control level. Atherogenic index and cardiac risks factor in CCl₄ group increased after CCl₄ treatment, and supplementation of tested compounds reduced both parameters. Taken together, HEAC and scoparone exerted protective effect against CCl₄-induced liver injury by attenuating hepatic lipid depots and reducing oxidative stress.