effect of Lentinan administration on some immunological and biochemical parameters in intact rabbits

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the nutritional effect of shitake mushroom extract (Lentinan) on some hematological and biochemical parameters in healthy female rabbits. The study included fourteen rabbits at age of (7-8) weeks. After acclimatization, animals were divided into two equal groups and as follows: first group (G1) or (DW) included seven intact rabbits fed with food and distilled water ad libitum,. The second group (G2) or (L) included seven rabbits that were supplemented with Lentinan (10mg/kg/BW) daily and orally. The results of this study showed that the effect of supplementation the animals with mushroom extract (Lentinan) at a dose 10mg/kg/BW on G2 (L) cause a significant increase (P≤0.05) in total white blood cell. The results also showed that the administration of Lentinan caused a significant increase (P≤0.05) in lymphocytes and monocytes percentage in G2. Also, the effect of Lentinan showed a significant decrease (P≤0.05) in neutrophil/lymphocytes (N/L) ratio and the Arneth’s index (neutrophil nucleus segmentation test) for neutrophil maturation stages, showed a significant (P≤0.05) shift to right in both groups above that administered with Lentinan, while there were no significant (P≤0.05) change in Lymphocytes/monocytes (L/M) ratio.