Antrodia camphorata is used in
folk medicine for the treatment of
inflammation syndromes and liver-related diseases in Taiwan. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the mycelial extract of A. camphorata (ACE) for the treatment of
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in SLE-prone NZB/W F1 mice. After
antibodies against
double-stranded DNA appeared in NZB/W mice, the mice were orally administered varying dosages of ACE (100, 200 and 400 mg kg(-1)) for 5 consecutive days per week for 12 weeks via gavage. To assess the efficacy of ACE, we measured SLE-associated biochemical and histopathological
biomarkers levels of blood urine
nitrogen (BUN), blood
creatinine, urine
protein and urine
creatinine and thickness of the kidney glomerular basement membrane by staining with
periodic acid-Schiff.
Antroquinonol, an active component of ACE, was investigated for anti-
inflammation activity in
lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 267.4 cells. ACE at 400 mg kg(-1) significantly suppressed urine
protein and serum BUN levels and decreased the thickness of the kidney glomerular basement membrane.
Antroquinonol significantly inhibited the production of
tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β by 75 and 78%, respectively. In conclusion, ACE reduced urine
protein and
creatinine levels and suppressed the thickening of the kidney glomerular basement membrane, suggesting that ACE protects the kidney from immunological damage resulting from
autoimmune disease.