Edible mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae) extract vs. glibenclamide on alloxan induced diabetes: sub-acute in vivo study of Nrf2 expression and renal toxicity

The study aims to compare the action of Pleurotus cornucopiae and glibenclamide on alloxan-induced diabetes andascertain how an aqueous extract of the edible mushroom regulates the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor2 (Nrf2), oxidative stress biomarkers and renal toxicity in a diabetic male Wistar rat model. Twenty-five adult male Wistarrats were randomly grouped into five groups with five rats per. Group 1 and those in the treatment groups received normalfeed and water ad libitum. Group 2 received intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight). Group 3 received alloxan monohydrate and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight bwt), group 4 received alloxan monohydrateplus the extract (250 mg/kg bwt) and group 5 received alloxan monohydrate plus the extract (500 mg/kg bwt). Theadministration of glibenclamide plus the extract was oral for 14 days. Glibenclamide and the extract lowered blood glucoselevel, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rats with alloxaninduced diabetes. The extract at 500 mg/kg bwt reduced the plasma urea and sodium concentration in the treated rats. Theextract and glibenclamide could detoxify alloxan and restore its induced renal degeneration and glomeruli atrophy, intra renalhemorrhage and inflammation and oxidative biomarkers through activation of Nrf2 expression. The drug glibenclamide andP. cornucopiae have appreciable hypoglycemic activity and potential to restore the normal renal architecture in the rats, hencethey offer similar curative effects. Additionally, the extract at 500 mg/kg bwt activated SOD and Nrf2 expression more thanglibenclamide in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes.