• C.Kannan
• V. Jaiganesh

Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) is an edible mushroom from East Asia which is cultivated and eaten in many Asian countries as well as in Europe. It is a species with medicinal properties, which is used primarily in traditional medicine and also in conventional on¬cology treatments. Cardiovascular diseases are among the main causes of death in our society and there is a strong correlation between enhanced blood cholesterol levels and the development of such diseases. The hypocholesterolemic action of this mushroom was extensively examined in rats. It was demonstrated that when rats were fed a diet supplemented with 10 % (dry weight) of L. edodes fruiting bodies for 90 days the plasma cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels were found significantly lower than control. The rats fed with 10 percent L. edodes (Group D) diet recorded significant changes in the level of HDL over their respective controls. The test animal in Group D recorded the maximum level of HDL (1.05 mg%) on the 90th day of observation when compared to control (0.91 mg %) In the present study, a significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol levels and increased levels of HDL in L. edodes treated group of animals were observed as compared to high- fat diet exclusive group thus making L. edodes as an ideal food supplement for the human society considering the increase in the coronary diseases.

Lentinus edodes, serum profile and Male albino wistar rats

"Hypocholesterolemic activity of Lentinus edodes on the serum profile in the male albino rats", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 2, page no.342-352, February-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1902153.pdf

"Hypocholesterolemic activity of Lentinus edodes on the serum profile in the male albino rats", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 2, page no. pp342-352, February-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1902153.pdf