ABSTRACT
This study investigated the mycoremediation effects of Pleurotus ostreatus and selected surfactants (Triton x-100 and meshed Costus aferstem)on the growth performance of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) in crude oil impacted soil and their effects on the electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels of Wistar rats fed with aqueous leaf extract of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) cultivated on the amended soil. Crude oil highly impacted soil excavated from an oil spill site at Obeche community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria was used. Remediation was induced using white rot fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus), phyto-emulsified surfactant (Costus aferstem) and chemical surfactant (Triton x-100). Seven experimental cells (20cm diameter x 20cm high polypropylene bags) labelled A-G, each containing 2kg of polluted soil were used. The application of amendments to the crude oil impacted soil affected the growth of fluted pumpkin. Cell D (PSS + Triton x-100) was observed to have the highest number of leaves (15.00 ± 0.70), highest vine length (45.00 ± 0.00), highest fresh weight of leaves (16.50 ± 0.70) when compared with other cells. The control cell, cell A (CISS) and cell F (CISS + Pleurotus ostreatus+ Triton x-100) also were observed to have a positive effect on the growth performance of fluted pumpkin. When the aqueous leaf extract of fluted pumpkin was administered to the Wistar rats, potassium level was observed to be decreased in groups C to G with cell D having the lowest value (3.99 ± 0.00) when compared with group A (29.39±34.44). The results also indicated that groups C, D, F, and G were decreased when compared with group A for sodium, only group E was decreased when compared with group A for Chlorine, all the groups for Calcium where significantly (p?0.05) decreased when compared with group A. There was a significant (p?0.05) difference when group A is compared with group G for Bicarbonate. Histopathological evaluation of the kidney of Wistar rats revealed the presence of congested renal vessels and haemorhage.