Abstract
BackgroundAmong many sources of natural bioactive substances, mushrooms constitute a huge and almost unexplored group. Fungal compounds have been repeatedly reported to exert biological effects which have prompted their use in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. Therefore, the aim of this study was analysis of chemical composition and biological activity of 31 wild growing mushroom species (including saprophytic and parasitic) from Poland.MethodsQualitative and quantitative LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of fourteen phenolic acids in the mushrooms analysed was performed. Moreover, total phenolic content was determined by the modified Folin-Ciocalteau method. Antioxidative activity of ethanolic extracts towards DPPH• free radical was examined. Antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (S. epidermidis, S. aureus, B. subtilis, M. luteus) and Gram-negative (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, P. mirabilis) microbial strains was analyzed.ResultsAs a result, the first such broad report on polyphenolic composition, antiradical and antimicrobial potential of wild growing Polish mushrooms was developed. Mushroom extracts were found to contain both benzoic (protocatechuic, 4-OH-benzoic, vanillic, syringic) and cinnamic acid derivatives (caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic). Total phenolic content in mushrooms ranged between 2.79 and 53.13 mg gallic acid equivalent /g of dried extract in Trichaptum fuscoviolaceum and Fomes fomentarius, respectively. Fungi showed much differentiated antiradical activity, from highly active F. fomentarius to poorly effective Russula fragilis (IC50 1.39 to 120.54 mg per mg DPPH•, respectively). A quite considerable relationship between phenolic content and antiradical activity has been demonstrated. Mushrooms varied widely in antimicrobial potential (MIC from 0.156 to 5 mg/ml). Generally, a slightly higher activity against Gram-positive than Gram-negative strains was observed. This is the first study concerning the chemical composition and biological activity of the majority of investigated species.
Highlights
Since ancient times, mushrooms have been valued as both food and medicines
total phenolic content (TPC) in the investigated mushrooms ranged between 2.79 and 53.13 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g in T. fuscoviolaceum and F. fomentarius, respectively and was much higher than the results obtained for edible mushroom species reported in our previous paper [4]
High amounts were demonstrated for A. citrina (38.44 mg GAE/g), H. aurantiaca (30.80 mg GAE/g) and H. paradoxa (27.88 mg GAE/g), whereas several species like D. confragosa, L. helvus, C. pyxidata, C. armillatus, R. maculate and T. terrestris contained less than 5 mg GAE/g
Summary
Medicinal mushrooms possess a long history of use, especially in Asian countries. They have played a crucial role in treatment of several diseases affecting rural populations of Eastern European countries. They have been used by preparing hot water extracts, concentrates or in powdered forms [1]. Searching for natural constituents with such properties is highly desirable nowadays when the burden of civilization diseases (including cancers) affects all of humankind. Fungal compounds have been repeatedly reported to exert biological effects which have prompted their use in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry. The aim of this study was analysis of chemical composition and biological activity of 31 wild growing mushroom species (including saprophytic and parasitic) from Poland.
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