International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9437

For Online Access

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2004, Volume6

Issue 2

104 pages

DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v6.i2

Issue price - $128.00

Bhaskaran Lakshmi
Amala Cancer Research Centre, Kerala, India

Nayana Jose
Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Nagar, Thrissur 680 553, Kerala, India

T. A. Ajith
Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Nagar, Thrissur 680 553, Kerala, India

Kainoor K. Jananrdhanan
Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Nagar, Thrissur 680 555, India

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) are excellent culinary-medicinal and commercially cultivated mushrooms. Investigations were carried out to evaluate the antimutagenic activity of the methanolic extract of Pleurotus ostreatus strain florida and its protective effect against Benzo [a] pyrene (B[a]P)-induced hepatic damages. The antimutagenic activity of the extract was assayed by Ames Salmonella mutagenicity test using histidine mutant standard Salmonella typhimurium tester strains, TA98, TA100, and TA102. The extract of the P. ostreatus strain florida significantly reduced (p < 0.001) the in vitro sodium azide (NaN₃), N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and 4-nitro-o-phenylene-diamine (NPD), 2-acetamidoflourene (2-AF), and B[a]P-induced his⁺ revertants in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo antimutagenic activity of extracts was also determined by assaying the mutagenicity of the urine of rat to which B[a]P had been administered as mutagen.The prior administration of P. ostreatus strain florida extract to rat markedly inhibited in vivo mutagenicity caused by B[a]P. The results thus indicated that P. ostreatus strain florida extract possessed significant antimutagenic activity. The status of hepatic transaminases such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases (SGOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase activities (ALP) were evaluated in the group of animals treated with B[a]P. Treatment with the extract prevented the increase in SGOT, SGPT, and ALP activities consequent on B[a]P administration. The extract enhanced the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-s-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase, and catalase (CAT).The extract also showed a profound inhibiting effect on lipid peroxidation induced by B[a]P. The results indicated that the P. ostreatus strain florida extract restored depleted antioxidant defense consequent to the challenge by the carcinogen.

DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v6.i2.50 Download article, 12 pages

Article price - $35.00

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