ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Several mushrooms species have been reported to be nematophagous and antiprotozoan. This study reported the antiplasmodial and cytotoxic properties of the n-hexane extract from the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus and the isolation of a sterol from the extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antiplasmodial and cytotoxicity assays were done in vitro using the plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase assay and human HeLa cervical cell lines, respectively. The structure of the isolated compound from the n-hexane extract was elucidated using spectroscopic techniques. RESULTS: The n-hexane extract (yield: 0.93% w/w) showed dose dependent antiplasmodial activity with the trend in parasite inhibition of: chloroquine (IC50=0.016 µg/mL) > n-hexane extract (IC50=25.18 µg/mL). It also showed mild cytotoxicity (IC50>100 µg/mL; selectivity index >4) compared to the reference drug emetine (IC50=0.013 µg/mL). The known sterol, ergostan-5,7,22-trien-3-ol, was isolated and characterized from the extract. CONCLUSION: This study reporting for the first time the antiplasmodial activity of P. ostreatus revealed its nutraceutical potential in the management of malaria.
