Antioxidant Properties of Edible Basidiomycete Phellinus igniarius in Submerged Cultures

ABSTRACT:  Dried mycelia and mycelia-free broths produced by submerged cultures of  Phellinus igniarius  under optimal culture conditions were extracted using methanol and hot water and investigated for antioxidant properties. Methanolic extracts from dried mycelia (MEM) and mycelia-free broth (MEB) showed significant antioxidant properties for all EC₅₀ values less than 10 mg/mL except for MEB in scavenging effects on DPPH radicals. Hot water extracts from dried mycelia (HWEM) were evidenced by their low EC₅₀ values (<10 mg/mL) to be effective in reducing power, chelating effect on ferrous ions, and scavenging effect on superoxide anions. α-tocopherol was mainly found in MEM and γ-tocopherol in MEB. Ascorbic acid and total flavonoids were abundant in methanolic extracts (MEM + MEB), whereas total phenols were rich in HWEM. An excellent correlation between contents of total phenols and EC₅₀ values was accomplished for antioxidant activity ( R ²= 0.996) and chelating ferrous ions ability ( R ²= 0.922).
Practical Application: In our paper, the products by submerged culture of  Phellinus igniarius  exhibited powerful antioxidant properties. Results told that extracts from fermenting products by  P. igniarius  might be good sources for antioxidant-related functional foods and pharmaceutical industries.