In vivo antimutagenic and antiatherogenic effects of the (1 → 3)(1 → 6)-β-d- glucan botryosphaeran

•Botryosphaeran exerted antimutagenic activity in young and elderly Swiss mice.•Botryosphaeran was neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic in the micronucleus test.•Botryosphaeran protected LDLr−/− mice against DNA damage.•Botryosphaeran exhibited atheroprotective effect.•Botryosphaeran has promising health applications. The antimutagenic effect of botryosphaeran, an exocellular (1 → 3)(1 → 6)-β-d-glucan, from the ascomyceteous and plant-borne endophytic fungus, Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05, was evaluated in young (6–8 weeks) and elderly (18 months) Swiss albino mice of both genders. The hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and antiatherogenic potential was also evaluated in 18-month old male LDL receptor knockout (LDLr−/−) mice. Administration of botryosphaeran by gavage (doses: 7.5, 15, 30 mg/kg b.w./day) in a 30-day pretreatment protocol (young mice), or 15-day protocol (older mice), did not cause genotoxicity as assessed by the micronucleus test in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow cells (BMCs). Furthermore, there was no cytotoxic effect of this β-d-glucan in the treatments. A lower frequency of micronuclei was observed in BMCs from young and old mice that received botryosphaeran, indicating its antimutagenic effect. Botryosphaeran (30 mg/kg b.w./day) promoted 102.22% (young) and 103.45% (elderly) reductions in cyclophosphamide-induced damage in male mice. Botryosphaeran also exerted chemoprotective effects in LDLr−/− and wild-type (C57BL/6) mice. Botryosphaeran treatment for 15 days at a dose of 30 mg/kg b.w./day improved the lipidic profile (reductions of 53.8–84.3%), and decreased aortic lipid deposition (32.8%) in the LDLr−/− atherosclerotic mice. The results indicate botryosphaeran has relevant biologic effects, making it a promising candidate for the development of new therapeutic agents.