Screening Extracts of Seven Edible Mushrooms for Reduction of Regeneration Time in the Planarian Dugesia hymanae

Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to determine the effect of seven edible mushrooms in the regeneration rate of planarian Dugesia hymanae (D. hymanae).

Methods. The ability of D. hymanae to regenerate was used to test extracts of seven mushrooms to reduce regeneration time, using eyespot and tail formations as endpoints. The planarians were amputated and were allowed to heal and regenerate in planarian water (control) and varying concentrations of Crude Ethanolic Extracts (CEE) of the seven edible mushrooms. The CEE with the most significant effect in reducing the regeneration time will be further sub-fractionated into hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol solvent extracts.

Results. In untreated planarian water, amputated planarians' eyespot and tail formations took 4.65 (SD 0.34) and 4.1 (SD 0.21) days, respectively. The CEE of four mushrooms (Shiitake var Benguet, Tea tree, Shiitake var flower, and Black & White) significantly reduced the regeneration time, with Shiitake var Benguet extract reducing the regeneration time the most at 2.56 (SD 0.30) days and 2.61 (SD 0.22) days for both eyespot and tail formations (P<.0001) respectively. The solvent extracts of the Shiitake (Benguet variety) did not reduce the planarian regeneration time relative to the control (P>.05).

Conclusion. Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) [Benguet variety CEE] had reduced the regeneration time most significantly for both the eyespot and tail formations compared to the other six tested fungi extracts. The L. edodes (Benguet variety) CEE may contain compounds that can hasten the regeneration of the planarian D. hymanae.