LIGNICOLOUS FUNGI AS POTENTIAL NATURAL SOURCES OF ANTIOXIDANTS

MAJA A. KARAMAN¹, NEDA M. MIMICA-DUKIĆ² AND M. N. MATAVULJ¹

¹Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Science, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro; ²Department of Chemistry, University of Science, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro

Abstract - As a result of an interest in natural derived metabolites around the world, higher fungi (Basidiomycotina) have taken on great importance in biochemical investigations. A large number of structurally divergent compounds - both cellular components and secondary metabolites - have been extracted and found to possess significant biological activity, such as an immunomodulative effect on the human body. Effects of fungal biomolecules as potential natural antioxidants have not been examined so far. Biochemical analysis have included in vitro testing of the influence of different extracts (water, methanol, chloroform) of selected fungal sporocarps on Fe²⁺/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation (LP) in a lecithin liposome system by TBA assay, as well as various other procedures. Qualitative analysis by TLC revealed a distinction both between different extracts of the same fungal species and between similar extracts of different species. The results obtained on antioxidative activities (LP inhibition and "scavenging" activity) indicate that MeOH extracts manifested a degree of activity higher than that of CHCl3 extracts with respect to antioxidative activity, the extracts can be ranged in the following declining order: Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma applanatum, Meripilus giganteus, and Flammulina velutipes. The obtained results suggest that the analyzed fungi are of potential interest as sources of strong natural antioxidants in the food and cosmetics industries, whereas synthetic ones have proved to be carcinogenic.

Detected autoplagiarism. Link to the editorial decision: 10.2298/ABS1004251U