Published 12 issues per year
ISSN Print: 1521-9437
ISSN Online: 1940-4344
Indexed in
The Action of Higher Basidiomycetes Mushrooms Mycelia on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins of Hyperlipidemic Rats and Guinea Pigs
ABSTRACT
Experiments in rats and guinea pigs have shown that mycelia of two mushrooms, Flammulina velutipes (Curt.: Fr.) P.Karst., and Coprinus domesticus (Bolt.: Fr.) S.F. Gray, reduced contents of total cholesterol in the blood serum and liver under conditions of induced hyperlipidemia. High levels of triglycerides in guinea pigs were decreased by administering the studied mycelia. The cholesterol index of atherogenicity and liver index declined significantly. Moreover, it was documented that the mycelia of the two mushrooms improved lipoprotein metabolism by decreasing the content of low-density lipoproteins and increasing the content of high-density lipoproteins. The data support recommendations to use F. velutipes and C. domesticus mycelia for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.