Protective Effect of Polycephalomyces nipponicus (Ascomycota) Against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury and Alcohol Intoxication in ICR Mice

Polycephalomyces nipponicus, a traditional East Asian medicinal fungus, is recognized for its anticancer and antimicrobial properties, but its protective effects against alcohol-induced liver injury are less understood. This study investigated the activity of P. nipponicus strain MK1201 on motor coordination, alcohol metabolism, and hepatoprotection in mice after 14 d of ethanol exposure. Mice were assigned to five groups with nine treatments: (I) normal control (treatment 1), (II) ethanol administration (2 or 6 g/kg; treatments 2 and 3), (III) P. nipponicus (PN) extract alone (200 or 600 mg/kg; treatments 4 and 5), and (IV, V) PN-pretreated groups (200 or 600 mg/kg) followed by ethanol (2 or 6 g/ kg; treatments 6-9). Prior to ethanol administration, mice received either water or PN extract (200 or 600 mg/kg) by oral gavage. One h later, mice were given either water or ethanol (2 or 6 g/kg). Liver enzyme activities-alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-and blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels were measured, with motor coordination assessed post-ethanol. Pretreatment with PN extract (600 mg/kg) significantly enhanced ADH and ALDH activities and maintained normal motor coordination following ethanol exposure. Fourteen days of PN pretreatment (200 or 600 mg/ kg) significantly reduced AST, ALP, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels, with 600 mg/kg also lowering ALT. These findings suggest PN extract as a promising therapeutic candidate to mitigate ethanol-induced motor, hepatic, and metabolic dysfunctions, presenting a potential natural intervention for alcohol-related health issues.