Cardioprotective activity of polysaccharopeptides extracted from <i>pleurotus ostreatus</i> mycelium in a doxorubicin-rat model

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible
abatement of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in the rat by
polysaccharopeptides extracted from the culture broth of Pleurotus
ostreatus mycelium. It was found that polysaccharopeptides given as
protection before doxorubicin intoxication normalized the levels of serum
total creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate
dehydrogenase activities, in addition to malondialdehyde, reduced
glutathione, as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the
heart tissue. Nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-á concentrations were
persistently reduced in the heart tissue, while interferon-ã concentration
was insignificantly changed, compared to controls. Light microscopic
examination of haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of the left
ventricles showed normal structure of the cardiac myocytes, except for a
slight but significant decrease in their thickness, compared to controls. In
conclusion, pretreatment with mycelial polysaccharopeptides provided a
potential protective effect against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress in
rats.

Keywords: Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium, Polysaccharopeptides,
Doxorubicin, Heart function tests, Antioxidant enzymes, Nitric oxide,
Interferon-ã, Tumor necrosis factor-á, Histological studies.