Preliminary study on Se-enriched Lentinula edodes mycelium as a proposal of new feed additive in selenium deficiency

PLoS One. 2020 May 21;15(5):e0233456. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233456. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The presence of selenium in European soil is low and this causes its deficiency in livestock and, in consequence, in humans. This study aimed to obtain Lentinula (L.) edodes mycelium with the maximum content of selenium. This species was used for experiment based on its documented medicinal properties. Calves were fed with selenium-enriched L. edodes mycelium, and serum selenium concentration, average daily weight gains and selected immune parameters were estimated. The selenium-enriched mushroom was found to be safe based on cytotoxicity tests (MTT and LDH tests) and for this reason it was used for further experiments. The mean quantity of selenium in the serum of calves fed with selenium-enriched L. edodes mycelium was significantly higher than that of control calves. Additionally, the calves fed with selenium-enriched L. edodes mycelium had higher body weight gains than those of control calves. White blood cell counts and subpopulations of lymphocytes in the experimental and control calves were within the reference range. The administration of L. edodes enriched with selenium had a beneficial effect on state of health of the calves.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Food, Fortified*
  • Selenium*
  • Shiitake Mushrooms*
  • Soil

Substances

  • Soil
  • Selenium

Grants and funding

Jagiellonian University Medical College Pharmaceutical Faculty grant program number K/ZDS/007860.The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.