Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the aqueous extracts of Ganoderma leucocontextum on the skin of D-galactose-induced aging rats.Aging rat models were made by D-galactose,and then treated continuously with different doses (0,50,100,200 mg /kg) of GLAE.The changes of skin histological structure were observed by bio-microscopy.ELISA was used to determine the contents of typeⅠand type Ⅱ collagen.The cell DNA damage and gene MAP3K5,TGF-β1 and PLOD2 expressions were detected by comet assay and quantitative PCR,respectively.The results showed that compared to model group,administration of GLAE could obviously alleviate skin pathological changes.The levels of cell DNA damage were markedly reduced,the contents of typeⅠand type Ⅱ collagen were markedly increased.The expressions of gene MAP3K5 and TGF-β1 were up-regulated,while expressions of gene PLOD2 were statistically down-regulated.Based on these results,it was concluded that GLAE could delay skin aging process through enhancing collagen contents,inhibiting skin cell DNA damage,regulating expressions of gene MAP3K5,TGF-β1 and PLOD.

Key words: Ganoderma leucocontextum aqueous extracts, skin aging, D-galactose, anti-aging, rat