The Effect of β-D-Glucans of Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Mushroom) on the Development of Myelosuppression and Colitis Induced by 5-Fluorouracil in Mice.

We studied the effect of the water-soluble fraction of the extract containing β-glucans from Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) on myelosuppression and colitis induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in male BALB/c mice. A decrease in the toxic effect of 5-FU was observed after single oral administration of the extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg. Treatment with 5-FU led to body weight loss by 7% relative to the initial value on day 21, while after addition of the extract with β-glucans, we observed an increase in body weight by 1% by that time in parallel with normalization of blood erythrocyte count. In mice treated with the extract containing β-glucans, the severity of the toxic effect of 5-FU on the colonic mucosa was significantly reduced on day 21: 99.7 ± 1.2 vs 91.8 ± 1.7 viable crypts in animals receiving 5-FU alone (p < 0.01). The results of the study prove the possibility of using β-D-glucans of P. ostreatus extract for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal side effects of antitumor drugs.