Effects of Oral Administered Panax ginseng and Panax ginseng + Ganoderma lucidum Extracts on Oxidative Stress, Lipid Profile and Liver Protein Expressions Hamsters *

This study has been conducted with the purpose of determining the changes caused by Panax ginseng and Panax ginseng + Ganoderma lucidum extracts, commonly used for their antioxidant properties, in the plasma, erythrocyte, liver, kidney and heart total oxidant statuses (TOS), total antioxidant statuses (TAS), plasma lipid profiles and liver serum proteins of healthy hamsters. Experimental groups were determined as Control (normal drinking water), Panax ginseng (100 mg/kg/day) and Panax ginseng + Ganoderma lucidum (140 mg/kg/day Panax ginseng + 140 mg/kg/day Ganoderma lucidum). Applications of drinking water were carried out on animals serving as experimental and control groups for 60 days. As a result of the biochemical analyses, no significant change in the lipid profile was observed (P>0.05). While there were no changes in the TAS rates of plasma, erythrocyte, liver and kidney tissues as well as TOS rates of liver, kidney and heart tissues; it was determined that both Panax ginseng and Panax ginseng + Ganoderma lucidum extracts reduce TOS rates of plasma (P<0.001). Also Panax ginseng + Ganoderma lucidum extracts was observed to reduce TOS rates of erythrocyte (P<0.01) samples. Furthermore, it was confirmed with the liver protein electrophoresis that application of these matters led to the thickening in some protein bands in comparison to the control group. Conclusively, it was determined that Panax ginseng and Panax ginseng + Ganoderma lucidum applications are effective in the prevention of oxidative stress, particularly by reducing the TOS rates in plasma and erythrocyte, and also stimulate to increasing liver protein expressions.