Safety Evaluation of β-mannanase Enzyme Extracted from the Mutant Pathogenic Fungal Strain Penicillium citrinum in Female Wistar Rats

Abstract

External digestive exo-enzymes are enzymes used in simplifying animal food components and are now considered one of the most important top issues in the veterinary world. Introducing these exo-enzymes is believed to enhance increase in animals' body weights and help in reaching the maximum levels of digestion and absorption. The current research aimed to evaluate the safe use of the exo-enzyme β-mannanase extracted from the mutant fungal pathogen Penicillium citrinum Egy5 LC368457 before applying its use in animal feed. This was achieved by injecting daily different doses of the enzyme intraperitoneally to female rats and observing the change in body weights in addition to the determination of some hematological and biochemical parameters and the performance of histopathological examinations in rats' organs. The results showed significant retardation in body weight gain and significant changes in platelets and some immune cells count for different enzyme injected doses. An observed increase in serum ALT enzyme level was found in the high dose injected group compared to the control group. Histopathological examinations displayed the harmful impact of the high and the low doses of the injected enzyme on most of the body organs especially the liver, the kidneys, and the brain. Consequently, it can be concluded that using safe and nonpathogenic microorganisms in the extraction of exo-enzyme such as β-mannanase is an important aspect. Extraction of β-mannanase from the mutant Penicillium citrinum Egy5 LC368457 cannot be used for animal consumption but can be used for industrial purposes.