title: Immunomodulating and Antiprotozoal Effects of Different Extracts of the Oyster Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (Higher Basidiomycetes) Against Coccidiosis in Broiler.
abstract: The culinary-medicinal oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, procured from local sources, was processed for hot water and methanolic extraction. Extracts obtained were subjected to proximate analysis to determine the amount of crude protein, crude fiber, ash, ether, and nitrogen-free extracts. These extracts were evaluated for immunomodulating and antiprotozoal effects against coccidiosis in a broiler. Cellular immune investigation revealed significantly higher (P < 0.05) lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinin-P in groups administered P. ostreatus extracts compared with controls. Humoral immune investigation revealed higher immunoglobulin (total Ig, IgG, and IgM) titers against sheep red blood cells in treated groups compared with controls. However, nonsignificant (P > 0.05) findings were observed in investigations of lymphoid organs. Antiprotozoal studies revealed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) percentage of protection against coccidiosis in groups administered P. ostreatus extracts when compared with controls. Moreover, lesion scoring and oocysts per gram of droppings observed in the control group were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with those in groups administered hot water and methanolic extracts of P. ostreatus. Results concluded that hot water and methanolic extracts of P. ostreatus had strong immune-enhancing activities. Further, these extracts also had excellent antiprotozoal activities against coccidiosis in a broiler.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Irfan
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mian Muhammad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Awais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002645:Chickens; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020076:Pleurotus / Q000737:chemistry*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts