Nutritional, Phytochemical & Antidiabetic Properties of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Abstract

Plants are often condemned as non-scientific and inactive. But various phytochemical and biological investigations have proved its therapeutic utility and functional properties. Now-a-days, the use of plant constituents as remedy for diseases is very promising. According to folk medicine the mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus (Family: Tricholomataceae) is used in protein deficiency diseases, diabetes, anemia, cardiac diseases, typhoid fever, and diseases of blood. Pleurotus ostreatus is locally known as Oyster mushroom and consumed by the local people as foods and vegetables. In many countries various types of foods are produced from mushrooms like burger, bread, sandwich, curry etc. In our country too, people started preparation of such types of foods. The present study included nutritional analysis, insecticidal and repellent activity against Tribolium castaneum adult, cytotoxicity against Brine shrimp nauplii, larvicidal activity against mosquito larvae, antimicrobial activity of some gram (+) and gram (-) pathogenic bacteria, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective activity in long evan rats of Pleurotus ostreatus. The physico-chemical and nutritional parameters changes in the three different (immature, mature and over mature) stages of Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) were studied to obtain a comparable data on their nutritional qualities. The physico-chemical parameters such as pH and moisture, contents are increased and ash and crude fiber contents are decreased with its maturity. The amount of total sugar, reducing sugar and sucrose was higher at over mature stage than immature and mature stage. Protein content was higher at mature stage than immature and over mature stage. The mentionable case is that the protein content was higher than the other nutrients. So, Oyster mushroom can be considered as good source of protein. In this study, phytochemical investigation of fruiting body of Pleurotus ostreatus was performed. The extracts of fruiting body of the Oyster mushroom were obtained from its powder using methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, pet-ether and hot water. In the insecticidal activity of the crude extracts dose mortality results against T. castaneum were found promising. Methanol extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus showed high mortality of the beetles and the results have been presented in table 4.5. The LD50 values for methanol extract were 0.480, 0.142, and 0.106, 8.49E-02 mg/cm2 for 12, 24, 36 and 48 hrs. of exposure respectively. The LD50 values for Chloroform extract were 0.992, 0.944, 0.719, 0.452 mg/cm2 for 12, 24, 36 and 48 hrs. Of exposure respectively. In the same way LD50 values for Ethyl acetate, pet-ether and hot water were 5.614, 3.322, 2.495, 2.199 mg/cm2; 3.681, 3.225, 3.322, 2.722 mg/cm2; and 3.77, 3.41, 2.981, 2.785 mg/cm2 respectively. All the extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus showed promising repellent activity against the adults beetles of T. castaneum. The P values of methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, pet-ether and hot water were 0.017, 0.01, 0.009, 9.38E-05 and 0.013 respectively. The extracts ethyl acetate and pet-ether showed repellent activity against T. castaneum adults at (p<0.01) level, while other extracts showed at (p<0.05) level. The larvicidal activity of the crude extracts dose mortality results against clues mosquito larvae were found promising. The chloroform extract showed highest larvicidal activity and the results have been shown in table 4.7. The LC50 of the extract were 1224.768, 902.232, 617.195, 434.093ppm for 12, 18, 24 and 30 hrs. Of exposure respectively………………………………………………….