Antioxidant Activity, Total Flavonoid and Phenolic Contents of Three Different Extracts of Hyrcanian Reishi

Abstract

Background: It has been decades since natural biomaterials, including mushrooms, are examined for antioxidant capacity to put them in the place of the synthetic antioxidants causing cancer. Ganoderma lucidum Karst is an annual fungus reputed for possessing medicinal properties. The fungus has a high potential to be used as a dietary supplement or a source of nutrients and antioxidant agents. It has not been more than a decade since the scientists are working on the different medicinal properties of the endemic Ganoderma lucidum in Iran. This study was conducted, in order to complete a part of this goal and comparing the antioxidant potential of the endemic specimen from Iran with findings from other countries. The aim of this investigation was to test the antioxidant properties, total flavonoid and phenolic contents of various extracts of Ganoderma lucidum in the form of fruit bodies. Methods: Mushroom samples were extracted with chloroform, methanol and water by maceration method. Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'- azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]) were methods used for antioxidant studies in this work. Also, total flavonoid and phenolic contents of these extracts were evaluated. Results: The methanol extraction illustrated the highest radical scavenging capacity 21.51±0.90 µmoL Trolox/g Ferric reducing assay. The best activities in ABTS and DPPH tests were obtained by chloroform extracts with the 31.36±2.30 µmoL Trolox/g and 6.07±0.08 µg/mL, respectively. Also the chloroform extraction of this fungus displayed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content 167.75±1.27 GAE/g and 38.00±0.75 mg quercetin equivalents/g, respectively. Conclusion: The results displayed that Reishi might be proposed as a source of natural antioxidant compounds and can be used as excellent food supplement.