Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF MUSHROOMS IN EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED DIABETES IN MICE

CORNELIA MIRCEA1, VERONICA BILD2, DANIELA ZAVASTIN3, OANA CIOANCĂ4*

1University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Grigore T. Popa” Iaşi, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of General and Applied Biochemistry, 16 Universitatii Street, Romania, Iasi, 700115
2 University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Grigore T. Popa” Iaşi, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacodynamics and Clinical Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, Romania, Iasi, 700115
3 University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Grigore T. Popa” Iaşi, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Physical Chemistry, 16 Universitatii Street, Romania, Iasi, 700115
4 University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Grigore T. Popa” Iaşi, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, 16 Universitatii Street, Romania, Iasi, 700115

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Mushrooms represent an important food source and are recommended for diabetics because of their low glycemic index due to content nutrients. The beneficial effect of products from mushrooms was evaluated under experimental diabetes in mice. The study was performed on extracts and powder respectively from three species of fungi, two of which are edible and cultivated (Pleurotus ostreatus - powder and extract, Agaricus bisporus brown - powder and extract) and one is parasite (Fomes fomentarius - extract). Among the extracts a positive effect on blood glucose was recorded in the group treated with Fomes fomentarius extract (31.35% reduction) and from the group treated with Pleurotus ostreatus powder (20.24% reduction). Cholesterol reduction level was between 5.23% (Fomes fomentarius) and 15.46% (Agaricus bisporus brown extract). For A. bisporus brown the extract registered better results, while for P. ostreatus the powder was more active. Extracts administration did not result in a return to the control group registered values for liver function tests (ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase), but determined evident beneficial effects compared with diabetic group and could counteract hepatocellular damage in diabetes.