Haematological Evaluation of Albino Rats Fed with Pleurotus ostreatus Cultivated on Diverse Organic Substrates
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63561/jabs.v2i4.1010Keywords:
Albino rats, Compost substrates, Functional feed, Haematology, Pleurotus ostreatusAbstract
This study evaluates the haematological impacts of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) cultivated on various substrates and integrated into the diets of albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). Using a controlled six-week feeding trial, sixty-three Sprague Dawley rats were grouped and administered diets incorporating P. ostreatus cultivated on compost and vermicompost substrates derived from different animal manures and lignocellulosic materials. Standard haematological indices—PCV, ESR, RBC, WBC, Hb, and differential WBC counts—were assessed post-trial to determine physiological responses. Results indicated substrate-specific variations in blood parameters. Notably, rats fed mushrooms cultivated on poultry droppings exhibited elevated RBC and Hb levels, suggesting improved erythropoiesis, while goats' dung substrates correlated with higher WBC counts, potentially reflecting immunomodulatory effects. The control group, which did not consume mushroom-infused diets, showed comparatively lower haematological values. These findings underscore the influence of cultivation substrate on the nutritional and therapeutic properties of P. ostreatus, with implications for its application in functional animal feed development. Further research is recommended to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms driving these effects.
References
Alam, N., Amin, R., Khan, A., Ara, I., Shim, M. J., Lee, M. W., & Lee, T. S. (2008). Nutritional analysis of cultivated mushrooms in Bangladesh—Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Pleurotus florida and Calocybe indica. Mycobiology, 36(4), 228–232. https://doi.org/10.4489/MYCO.2008.36.4.228
Badu, M., Mensah, J. K., & Gbeassor, M. (2011). The effect of Pleurotus ostreatus on hematological parameters in diabetic rats. Asian Journal of Biological Sciences, 4(5), 345–352. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajbs.2011.345.352
Bano, Z., & Rajarathnam, S. (1988). Pleurotus mushrooms. Part II: Chemical composition, nutritional value, post-harvest physiology, preservation, and role as human food. CRC Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 27(2), 87–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398809527473
Bisen, P. S., Baghel, R. K., Sanodiya, B. S., Thakur, G. S., & Prasad, G. B. K. S. (2010). Lentinus edodes: A macrofungus with pharmacological activities. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 17(22), 2419–2430. https://doi.org/10.2174/092986710791808316
Cheesbrough, M. (2006). District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Cheung, P. C. K., & Ng, T. B. (2006). Mushroom polysaccharides as therapeutic agents. In G. A. Tucker & L. J. Taylor (Eds.), Functional Foods: The Consumer, the Products and the Evidence (pp. 77–91). Woodhead Publishing.
Dacie, J. V., & Lewis, S. M. (2001). Practical Haematology (9th ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Del Toro, L. A., Galindo, A. C., & Frías, J. M. (2006). Assessment of the protein quality of edible mushrooms by animal bioassay. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 19(4), 329–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2006.01.002
Edet E.A., Ibok I.U. and Edward A.C. (2010). Evaluation of Protein Quality of Raw and Roasted Cashew Nuts (Anacardiumoccidentale) Using Weanling Albino Rats. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture , Food and Environment, 6(1&2): 90-93.
Edwards, C. A., Arancon, N. Q., & Sherman, R. (2004). Vermiculture Technology: Earthworms, Organic Wastes, and Environmental Management. CRC Press.
Ekundayo F.O., Ayodele B.B. and Akinyele B.J. (2014). Biosafety Assessment of Pleurotus ostreatus and P. pulmonarius Cultivated on Bonnylight Crude Oil Contaminated Soils. International Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 3(6): 18-23.
Gbolagade, J. S., Ajayi, A., Oku, I. Y., & Wankasi, D. (2006). Nutritive value of common edible mushrooms from southern Nigeria. Global Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, 1(1), 16–21.
Girmay, Z., Gorems, W., Birhanu, G., & Zewdie, S. (2016). Growth and yield performance of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. Fr.) Kumm (oyster mushroom) on different substrates. AMB Express, 6(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-016-0254-1
Gunde-Cimerman, N. (1999). Medicinal value of the genus Pleurotus (Fr.) P. Karst. (Agaricales s.l., Basidiomycetes). International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 1(1), 69–80. https://doi.org/10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v1.i1.70
National Research Council. (2011). Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th ed.). The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12910
Olayemi, F. O., Oyelade, J. O., & Ojo, A. A. (2007). Effects of dietary protein levels on haematological parameters and performance of broiler chicks. African Journal of Biotechnology, 6(15), 1839–1843. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB2007.000-2307
Olorunfemi, D. I., Oyeyemi, W. A., & Onigemo, M. A. (2012). Effects of protein-deficient diet on hematological parameters in rats. Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences, 27(2), 147–151.
Wasser, S. P. (2011). Current findings, future trends, and unsolved problems in studies of medicinal mushrooms. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 89(5), 1323–1332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-3067-4
Zhang, M., Cui, S. W., Cheung, P. C. K., & Wang, Q. (2007). Antitumor polysaccharides from mushrooms: A review on their isolation process, structural characteristics and antitumor activity. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 18(1), 4–19. https://doi.org/10.10
