C-reactive Protein and Immunological Indices of Lectin Extract from Edible Fungus (Pleurotus tuber-regium) on Wounded Rats

Lectins are proteins/glycoproteins of non-immune origin with wide distribution in nature with the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes and recognize glycoconjugates. The study aimed at determining the healing effect of lectin extract from Pleurotus tuber- regium on acute wounds induced in male albino rats. Ten grams of the powdered edible mushroom of Pleurotus tuber-regium were used to extract lectin via the dialysis method. A total of 45 albino rats randomized into 9 groups of 5 rats each into Category A and B groups, and the blood sample was collected by ocular puncture for the category A after 10 days, while cardiac puncture for the Category B group after 28 days. The collected blood sample was analyzed for the various immunological parameters, using the quantitative ELISA technique for C-reactive protein, and Mindray BC-200 machine for full blood count. At negative control, the WBC levels and the neutrophils were increased for the Category B group to 19.79±1.22/L and 3.26±0.25%. A 2mg/kg lectin oral administration had 4.72±0.14% neutrophils for Category A group, while Category B group topical application, the highest value at 8mg/kg lectin had 4.98±0.52%. Both 36 mg/kg amoxicillin application and oral administration of lectin generated factors as C3b, and Histamine (H1and H2) receptors on eosinophils by chemotaxis attraction. With Category B group, 8 mg/kg lectin topical had the highest value of 21.30±2.17% eosinophils, and the difference in Category B group compared to the normal control at 17.64±1.1 81% was significant p≤ 0.05 and the rats would be showing signs of allergic responses.  Both the oral and topical lectin applications to the wounded rats had higher platelet levels than the negative control in both Categories A and B groups indicating that lectin mobilized more platelet factors than the negative control group. With negative control, the CRP levels as a marker of inflammation rose to 3 times its normal folds in Category A group with 7.58±0.85ng/L and 6.06±0.85ng/L for Category B group.  On 36 mg/kg amoxicillin administration to the rats from zero week to the 3rd week, there was a decrease in weight at 22.4% compared to the normal control of 31.3%. Both oral and topical administrations showed an increase in weight with 26.4% for 8 mg/kg oral administration and 27.3% for 4 mg/kg topical administration. Both 36 mg/kg amoxicillin and 8 mg/kg lectin oral administration had a two weeks period for the complete healing of the wounded rats.  Oral administration of lectin to the wounded rats was nutritional and added weight to the rats.