Haematological characterization in N-Nitroso-N ethylurea induced tumour bearing rats on oral administration of pleurotus pulmonarius and pleurotus ostreatus metabolites.

The effects of oral administration of the aqueous solution of metabolites of Pleurotus pulmonarius and P. ostreatus on the haematological parameters and haematimetric indices pre and post tumour induction by N-Nitroso-Nethylurea in Wister rats were studied. Solid tumour was induced on Wister rats by painting the shaved interscapular region of the experimental rats with 25µL of 0.04M N-Nitroso-N-ethylurea in acetone daily for 5 consecutive weeks. The solution of the metabolites in water was administered by gavage (0.2ml of 20mg/ml) pre, during and post tumor induction. The tumour burden was estimated and scored with the antitumour effects of the metabolites evaluated by assessing changes in tumour size, number and some haematological parameters. Automation method using Sysmex KX-21N Instrument and Leishman staining technique were employed in the analysis of complete blood count, leukocytes differential count and cells morphology of various treatment groups. Results revealed that the tumour control group (C) rats developed anaemia with significant differences “P 0.05”. No statistical differences were noted in the differential leukocyte counts when tumour control group and control/placebo group were compared. Results indicated the cancer chemo preventive potentials of the metabolites as there is no significant difference “P>0.05” in the haematological parameters of the group induced with tumour and were administered Pleurotus pulmonarius and P. ostreatus metabolites simultaneously compared with the group that fed on commercial diet and water only. There is however a significant difference “P 0.05” were observed in the baseline haematological parameters of the group that were induced with tumour and administered Pleurotus pulmonarius simultaneously when compared with their post-analytical parameters. Study reveals that both metabolites ameliorated anaemia in cancerous states of the rats and are non-toxic to healthy animals as they are well tolerated. However, metabolites of Pleurotus pulmonarius were observed to demonstrate a better cancer chemoprevention potential than Pleurotus ostreatus metabolites as evidenced by the results of the parameters studied although the difference is not statistically significant “P> 0.05”.