Antrodia Camphorata Declines Oxidative Stress and Enhances Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in the Brain Cortex of Rats

Traditional Chinese Medicine of Antrodia camphorata has been commonly used as complementary and alternative medicines in Taiwan and Asia countries due to a variety of beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation. Biological effects of Antrodia camphorata on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity in the brain cortex, however, have not yet fully defined so far. Experimentally, twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control and experimental subject. Control and experimental rats were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline and Antrodia camphorata for consecutive 14 days, respectively. On day 15, the brain cortex was harvested and homogenates for further biochemical analysis of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity. Our present data showed that Antrodia camphorata can significantly (P < 0.05) reduce the magnitude of oxidative stress as presented by a declined malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the present work. In addition, a remarkable (P < 0.05) enhancement of the antioxidant enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was found in Antrodia camphorate-treated rats as compared to control subject. In conclusion, our experimental finding demonstrates the fact that neuroprotective effects of Antrodia camphorata are correlated with reducing oxidative stress and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity in the brain cortex of rats.