Evidence of the toxic and genotoxic effect of the Pleurotus eryngii mushroom in Drosophila melanogaster

The mushroom Pleurotus eryngii, commonly known as the king oyster or king trumpet mushroom, is valued for its high nutritional content and therapeutic properties. Although widely consumed, little is known regarding its potential genotoxic and mutagenic effects. The aim of this study was to examine the biological impact of P. eryngii using D. melanogaster as an in vivo model. The mushroom was chronically administered in three forms: raw (RM), heated at 60°C (M60), and boiled at 100°C (M100). Various concentrations of RM and M60 were tested, whereas M100 was examined only at full strength (100%). Data demonstrated that both RM and M60, at all tested concentrations, were highly toxic, as evidenced by significant genetic damage, developmental delays, and altered pupation patterns in Drosophila. M60 significantly increased the frequency of somatic mutations at concentrations between 25% and 100%. Further, exposure to M60 and RM triggered a marked increase in twin spots, indicative of enhanced recombination activity. In contrast, this mushroom boiled at 100°C produced survival rates and mutation frequencies comparable to control. It is conceivable that our findings stem from mushroom processing, in which temperature played a key role in eliminating toxic and genotoxic compounds. Nonetheless, further research is essential to achieve precise identification and characterization of these fungal-derived compounds.