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Haematopoiesis Radioprotection in BALB/c Mice by an Aqueous Mycelium Extract from the Basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus Mushroom

Summary

Scientists discovered that an extract from oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) can protect bone marrow and immune system cells from radiation damage in mice. This finding has important implications for radiation protection and medical treatments. Impacts on everyday life: • Could help protect cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy • Potential natural supplement for radiation workers’ protection • Shows promise for developing new medicines from mushrooms • Demonstrates value of natural products in medical treatments • Could lead to better treatments for immune system disorders

Background

Radiation exposure can cause severe damage to bone marrow and immune system function. Natural compounds with radioprotective properties are of interest for preventing or mitigating such damage.

Objective

To examine the radioprotective activity of an aqueous extract from Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium on bone marrow and immune system function in irradiated mice.

Results

The extract showed significant radioprotective effects with increases in bone marrow cellularity (5.1 × 10^6/femur vs 1.1 × 10^6/femur in controls), leucocyte counts (10.5 × 10^9/L vs 4.5 × 10^9/L), and spleen cellularity (11.2 × 10^7/spleen vs 6.2 × 10^7/spleen). Macrophage phagocytic activity was enhanced as shown by faster carbon clearance rates.

Conclusion

The aqueous mycelium extract from P. ostreatus demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent with radioprotective activity for haematopoiesis damage, particularly for cells involved in immune function.
  • Published in:Natural Product Research,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 25423080
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