Effect of Some Mushroom Extracts on Urethane Induced Somatic Mutation and Recombination in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The fresh, blanched and fermented mushroom [Agaricus bisporus (button), Lentinus edodes (Shiitake), Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster), and P. abalonus (Abalone)] extracts were evaluated for antimutagenicity against urethane in Drosophila melanogaster. Two studies including co- and pre-feeding were performed. In co-feeding study, three-day-old trans-heterozygous larvae were fed with each mushroom extract alone (sample medium) or in combination with urethane (experimental medium). In pre-feeding study, the flies were mated on a sample medium, and the three-day-old larvae were transferred to urethane containing medium (model I) or experimental medium (model II). Wings of adult flies were scored for the presence of mutant spots. No mutagenicity of all extracts was found in both studies. In co-feeding study, the number of mutant spots was reduced in the flies fed with experimental medium of fresh/fermented shiitake and oyster mushroom extracts, but was enhanced with experimental medium of fresh/blanched button mushroom extracts. Pre-feeding of the larvae with fresh button mushroom extracts in model II and fresh/blanched oyster mushroom extracts in both models increased the number of mutant spots. The antimutagenicity of all fermented mushroom extracts was found in pre-feeding study. Further studies are required to clarify the mechanism of protective effect of these fermented mushroom extracts.