Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities of aqueous ethanolic extract of the golden oyster mushroom pleurotus citrinopileatus (fr.) singer

Pleurotus citrinopileatus, an excellently edible mushroom, was examined for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. The aqueous ethanolic extract of the mushroom was used for the study. The mushroom possessed profound antioxidant activity as evidenced from its ability to scavenge DPPH., ABTS.+, hydroxyl and nitric oxide radicals. The extract also reduced ferric ions into ferrous ions and prevented ROS induced lipid peroxidation to a significant level. Anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties of this mushroom was tested on Swiss albino mice model. The extract, at a dose of 1000 mg/Kg body weight, reduced formalin induced chronic inflammation by 40 % which was near to the anti-inflammatory effect of diclofenac (10mg/Kg body weight). The extract also possessed antitumor property against DLA induced tumor, reducing tumor mass by 33 % on the administration of the extract at 1000 mg/Kg dose for ten days. Preliminary chemical examination revealed that major chemical constituents of the extract were steroids, alkaloids, coumarins, phenols, tannins, saponins and carbohydrates.