Oral Pleurotus ostreatus supplementation modulates systemic inflammation and enhances collagen density in a full-thickness burn rat model.

Abstract

Severe burn injuries cause hypermetabolic and inflammatory responses characterized by hypoalbuminemia and elevated cytokines that delay wound healing. Pleurotus ostreatus, known for its bioactive compounds and high-quality protein, may support recovery by improving systemic nutritional and inflammatory balance. Collagen thickness and density are essential histological indicators of burn wound healing, reflecting fibroblast activity and extracellular matrix organization. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral Pleurotus ostreatus supplementation on serum albumin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-&#x3b1; (TNF-&#x3b1;), and collagen density during third-degree burn wound healing in rats. Twenty-seven male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: negative control (distilled water), positive control (bovine serum albumin), and treatment group (1.5&#x202f;g/day Pleurotus ostreatus powder suspension) for 21 days. The Pleurotus ostreatus group maintained significantly higher serum albumin levels (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05), exhibited lower IL-6 concentration on day 21 (p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.036), and showed greater collagen deposition than controls. Pathological analysis demonstrated that albumin directly influenced collagen formation with minimal cytokine mediation during the remodeling phase. These findings indicate that oral Pleurotus ostreatus supplementation modulates systemic inflammation, preserves protein homeostasis, and enhances extracellular matrix maturation, suggesting its potential as a supportive nutraceutical in burn wound recovery.