Phytochemical and Antioxidant Analysis of Phellinus adamantinus and P. hohnelli

Abstract

Traditional use of mushrooms as medicine is a common practice around the world. Many ethnic communities hold vast knowledge about the uses of mushrooms. Among them fruiting bodies of two Basidiomycetes, viz., Phellinus adamantinus and P. hohnelli, were collected from Karian Shola forest area, Topslip, Western Ghats. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis and in vitro antioxidant assays were carried out using standard biochemical protocols. Ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of P. adamantinus and P. hohnelli revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds, resins, steroids and sterols, thiols, carbohydrates, and proteins. All the three solvent extracts of P. adamantinus and P. hohnelli fruit bodies were evaluated for their antioxidant and free radical scavenging potential. Methanol extract of P. adamantinus contained relatively higher levels of total phenolics and flavonoids. However, the tannin content was higher in the water extract of P. hohnelli. The antioxidant potential of the macrofungi was assessed by employing different in vitro assays such as FRAP, DPPH•, and •O2−, H2O2 radical scavenging capacities and lipid peroxidation inhibiting activity through Fe2+-ascorbate system. Generally, all the extracts exhibited higher levels of reducing power, radical scavenging potential, and lipid peroxidation inhibiting property in a dose-dependent manner. Present studies indicated that these medicinal mushrooms would be valuable sources of antioxidant compounds.