Electrophoretic Fractionation of Blood Proteins of Rats upon Dietary Supplementation of Cultivated Mushroom (Pleurotus florida)

In recent years, mushroonns are being projected as a potent protein food source, rich in essential amino acids and minerals. An assessment on their functional properties has also confirmed their acceptability as a food source. Following feeding on mushroom diet, plasma proteins tend to be increased. However, a very limited data is available on the quantitative or qualitative changes in the protein pattern after mushroom diet as resolved by gel electrophoresis. Changes in the protein pattern during the development of fruit body of Calocybe indica has also been reported. The present study was therefore, designed to investigate the changes in the components of blood proteins of growing rats electrophoretically after a low or high mushroom diet. This may help in establishing the nutritive status of these food proteins.