Ros Signals Induced by Mushrooms Phenolic Compounds Produced from Lignocellulosic Biomass

Abstract

The unbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been associated with the exacerbation of possible diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative illnesses. Mushrooms are very rich in bioactive nutrients such as phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, vitamins and other compounds that have antioxidant potential. A substrate obtained during mushrooms development is of great interest in terms of biomass valorization, since it can be reused for energy production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 g/L of phenolic compounds, extracted from the Tricholoma equestre mushroom species, produced from biomass, in the formation of cellular reactive oxygen species. The studies were performed in brain slices, using the fluorescent ROS indicator H2DCFDA. The results indicate that, for all concentrations, the mushroom phenolics enhanced the neuronal ROS signals, which include autofluorescence, in a concentration dependent way. The data obtained in the presence of the synthetic phenolic, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, which is the most abundant phenolic in the Tricholoma mushrooms, are similar to those found for the same concentration (1 g/L) of the phenolic extracts. However, upon removal, while some of the signals evoked by the extracts were not reversible those induced by the synthetic compound fully recovered. The equivalent antioxidant capacity of the Tricholoma phenolics was determined using the TEAC and the DPPH techniques. The analyses revealed that these phenolics have a large antioxidant capacity.