Abstract

PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS PRODUCES ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIARTHRITIC ACTIVITY IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Vinita Singh*, Dr. Deepak Vyas, Prof. Rajshree Pandey and Imtiyaz Ahmad Sheikh

ABSTRACT

Pleurotus ostreatus is a distinguished cultivable oyster mushroom with remarkable mycoremediation and mycotherapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic claims of aqueous extract of P. ostreatus (AEPO) in relieving arthritic conditions. In this study the aqueous extract of P. ostreatus was also screen to display potent antioxidant activity in vitro, total phenolic and flavonoid contents in order to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical formulations. A detailed study was performed on the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of P. ostreatus by DPPH scavenging method and formalin induced arthritic injuries, lipid peroxidation in wistar-albino rats. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the extract were also determined. Paw thickness, White Blood Cell Count (WBC), Hemoglobin Concentration (HB), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), lipid peroxidation, catalase activity were studied post induction of arthritis. The extracts of P. ostreatus were also subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening test for various constituents. The total phenolic contents (119.9±3.1 mg GAE/g extract) and total flavonoid contents (60.9 ±2.2 mg QE/g extract) of aqueous extract of P. ostreatus (AEPO) were found to be significantly high. The IC50 value of AEPO on the DPPH radical was 42.0±1 μg/ml. Results of in-vivo experiment revealed that administration of formalin induced arthritis injury caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation compare to normal saline group. In contrast, AEPO (300 mg/kg bw) and standard drug (Dexamethasone) (50 mg/kg bw) treatments effectively prevented these alterations and maintained the antioxidant status. Mean paw thickness in animals given 300 mg kg1 AEPO was significantly (p<0.05) lower on days 7 and 14 compared to that of normal saline group. Data from present results revealed that P. ostreatus act as an antioxidant agent due to its free radical scavenging and exhibited potent anti-arthritic activity.

Keywords: Pleurotus ostreatus, formalin, arthritis, oxidative stress.