Evaluation of Some the Cytotoxic Effects of Edible Mushroom Extracts Pleurotus ostreatus

Background: Pleurotus genus or oyster mushroom is the richest of all edible mushroom  because of Its medicinal  and therapeutic value for human health, their medicinal importance due to their active compounds  and enzymes that have been classified as biologically active, antitumor, anticancer, antihypersensitivity and antiaging, and in the treatment of HIV and high blood pressure. Objective: To testing the cytotoxic effects of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of an Iraqi strain of edible mushroom Pleurotus osteratus  in the presence of the positive control represented by the toxic drug methotrexate and measuring the percentage of free radical scavenging of these extracts.   Patients and Methods: The dried powder of fruiting bodies of Iraqi strain Pleurotus ostreatus  was prepared aqueous (hot and cold) and ethanol 96% extracts at three different concentrations (100, 200, 300) µg/ml, the cytotoxic effects of theses extracts was investigated using peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and (0.65) µg/ml of methotrexate (MTX) drug was counted as positive control. The slides were microscopically examined (10X), and at least 1000 cells were inspected to determine the Blastogenic Index BI), Mitotic Index MI and chromosomal aberration (TCA) and Antioxidant Test of  the theses extracts s were evaluated  byDPPH radical-scavenging activity assay (2,2- diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazylhydrate ). Results: the results of  toxic effects of hot , cold aqueous and ethanol extracts  on  peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs)  showed no significant differences in  ( TCA)  % with negative control  in comparison  with positive control .,While , There has been a noticeable change in (MI) %and (BI) %with negative control , likewise, Scavenging activity was the highest for aqueous and ethanol extracts with increasing the concentrations when compared with the control ascorpic acid . Conclusion: Aqueous  and ethanol extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus are free of any toxic effect on lymphocytes of the peripheral blood ,  which can be considered a mitogenic agent.