This study was conducted to evaluate the hangover relieving effect of Sanghwang mushroom mycelium extract (SME). The extract showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging effect in a concentration-dependent manner and high antioxidant capacity (56.67 ± 1.77%) when administered at 120 µg/mL. In addition, SME significantly increased (p < 0.005) the aldehyde dehydronase (ALDH) activity (126.03 ± 9.11%) when applied at 8 or 16 µL/mL. A locomotor activity test showed that the alcohol-water treated group showed significantly decreased motor activity at 90 min post-administration. However, the alcohol-SME treated group showed a 20-fold higher motor activity than that observed in the alcohol-water treated group at 90 min post-administration. Blood was harvested from each mouse at 90 min post-administration, and both alcohol and aldehyde concentrations were measured. The alcohol-SME treated group showed significantly lower (p < 0.5) alcohol (120.13 ± 12.83 µg/mL) and aldehyde (7.26 ± 1.22 µg/mL) concentrations than the values observed in the alcohol-water treated group. These results suggest that the hangover relieving effect of SME results from increased ALDH activity, which reduces the aldehyde concentration in the blood.

The present study was performed to evaluate the hangover relieving effect of germinated buckwheat (GB) and Sanghwang mushroom mycelium cultured in GB (SGB). Both GB and SGB showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activities and significantly increased (p < 0.001) aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities; up to 140% increase at concentrations of 16 µL/mL. Locomotor activity test results from alcohol-SGB and alcohol-GB groups showed improved motor activities over that of the alcohol-water group at 90 min post-administration. Both alcohol-GB and alcohol-SGB groups had significantly reduced (p < 0.001) alcohol (40.02 ± 33.38 µg/mL, 66.01 ± 22.04 µg/mL, respectively) and aldehyde (5.72 ± 0.47 µg/mL, 6.72 ± 1.70 µg/mL, respectively) concentrations in blood compared to those in the alcohol-water group (199.75 ± 33.83 µg/mL, 50.43 ± 13.88 µg/mL, respectively) at 90 min post-administration. Based on cDNA microarray analysis, expressions of ALDH genes ALDH1a7 and ALDH18a1 and cytochrome P450 (CY450) gene CYP4a30b were upregulated in the alcohol-GB and alcohol-SGB groups compared to levels in the control group. Overall, the results suggest that both GB and SGB have hangover relieving effects by reducing blood acetaldehyde levels. The molecular mechanisms may involve ALDH activation and upregulated expression of alcohol metabolism-related genes such as ALDH and CYP450.
Acetaldehyde ; Agaricales* ; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Fagopyrum* ; Motor Activity ; Mycelium* ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis