Orally administered β-glucan of edible mushroom (Pleuratus florida) origin upregulates innate immune response in broiler.

The article presents a study which evaluates the short term dietary influence of edible mushrooms' purified β-glucan on the innate immunity and disease resistance of broiler chicken. The study uses the neutrophil, macrophage, and lymphocyte functional assay in vitro for the assessment of the treated and control birds at the end of the experiment. Results show that β-glucan has the potential as an immunostimulant in poultry.