Hepato- and nephroprotective activities of a Nigerian local king tuber oyster mushroom, Pleurotus tuberregium (higher Basidiomycetes), in chemically induced organ toxicities in rats.

Chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal failure, and liver diseases are increasing worldwide and constitute a huge burden on health care costs, with attendant high morbidity and debility. Despite advances in modern medicine, there are still no licensed drugs that satisfactorily restore lost kidney or hepatic functions. In this study the chemoprotective effects of the hot aqueous extract of a local edible oyster mushroom, Pleurotus tuberregium (APTR), was evaluated in experimental liver and kidney toxicities.