Protection of the Mushroom (shiitake "Lentinus-edodes) against Carbon-Tetrachloride-Induced Renal Injury in Rats

Background and objectives: Exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induces acute and chronic renal injuries as well as oxidative stress in rats. Mushroom characteristically contains much different biological activities as various degrees of immunity, lowering antitumor and other beneficial or therapeutic health effect without toxicity. The present study was carried out to investigate the protection effect of mushroom against carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats. Dried mushroom (shiitake "Lentinus-edodes) grind mushroom at concentrations (5 and 10 %) showed significant protection activity against carbon tetrachloride induced kidney in rats by normalizing the levels of serum urea and creatinine. Dried mushroom improved the Serum minerals, calcium, iron and phosphorus content levels in a dose dependent manner. Gross necropsy and histopathological examination further confirmed the protection effects of mushroom (shiitake "Lentinus-edodes). This is the first report on protection effects of mushroom (shiitake "Lentinus-edodes). The present study showed that mushroom (shiitake "Lentinus-edodes) was able to prevent or reduce the severity of carbon tetrachloride-induced renal dysfunction.