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Many lignicolous mushroom species are used as a food supplement and may represent an alternative treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to evaluate acetylcholinesterase inhibition (AChEI) of Stereum hirsutum together with antioxidant activity (AO) and cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells. Different extracts (water, ethanol, methanol, polysaccharide) were analyzed, with respect to their mineral composition and chemical content. Ethanol extract was the most potent in AChEI (98.44 %) and demonstrated cytotoxic activity (91.96 % at 900.00 μg/mL), while the highest AO was demonstrated for polar extracts (methanol and water) as well. These activities may be attributed to determined phenolics (hydroxybenzoic and quinic acid) and fatty acids (FA), while biflavonoid amentoflavone may be responsible for cytotoxic activity. The most prevalent FA was linoleic (40.00 %) and the domination of unsaturated FA (UFA) (71.91 %) over saturated (26.96 %) was observed. This is the first report of AChEI of S. hirsutum extracts and first detection of amentoflavone. Due to high amount of UFA and well-expressed AChEI, this species can be considered as a potent food supplement in the palliative therapy of AD.

© The Royal Society of Chemistry. In this work, new protic ionic liquids (PILs) with 1-ammonium-2-propanol cation and nine different anions: formate (For), acetate (Ac), lactate (Lac), trifluoroacetate (TFA), chloroacetate (ClA), trichloroacetate (TClA), 3-chloropropionate (3-ClP), 4-chlorobutyrate (4-ClB) and mandelate (Man) were prepared in order to study their antimicrobial activity and possible application for fungi and bacteria removal from deteriorated paper heritage. Ten filamentous fungal strains isolated from specific pigmented area of the damaged books: Trichoderma sp., Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp.(1-3), Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus sp.(1,2), Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium graminearum, eight Gram positive and Gram negative ATCC bacterial strains: B. subtilis(6633), S. aureus(6538), E. faecalis(19433), K. rhizophila(9341), E. coli(11229), S. enteritidis(13076), P. mirabilis(12453), P. aeruginosa(15692) and two yeast Candida strains: Candida albicans(ATCC 10231) and Candida albicans(L) were used in this study. The results indicated that antimicrobial activity of selected ionic liquids is significantly affected by the size and specific functional groups in the anion structure. These facts opened the possibility for molecular design of new ionic liquids with strong inhibition properties against the specific bacterial, mould and yeast strains. The significant antimicrobial properties observed in this research suggest that studied PILs may have potential applications in the paper art and artefact cleaning and conservation replacing thus, conventional solvents and organic substances that are toxic for humans and environment.

The aim of this work was to investigate nutritional profile in relation to proteins, amino acids, fatty acids and mineral composition, as well as phenolic profile of small edible fungal species Coprinellus disseminatus originated from Serbia. Total protein content in the analyzed fungal species was 9.72%. Fifteen protein fractions obtained by electrophoresis were identified in a range from 1.6 to 63.6 kDa. Chip-based separations showed the presence of protein fraction with molecular weight of 27.5 kDa that could possess antifungal activity. The total essential and non-essential amino acid contents were 29.57 and 96.69 mg/g DW, respectively. Among the essential amino acids, leucine was the most abundant. Fatty acid composition of C. disseminatus showed that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 59.1% of total FA) predominated over saturated fatty acids (SFA, 23.1% of total FA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA, 17.9% of total FA). The dominant fatty acids were linoleic acid (56.6%), palmitic acid (13.9%), and oleic acid (12.0%). The most abundant macroelement in C. disseminatus was potassium, followed by calcium and magnesium, while iron dominated in microelements. Eight phenolic compounds were quantified in methanolic extract of C. disseminatus by LC-MS/MS with the highest amount of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid reaching 9.46 ± 0.2 µg/g DW and 7.8 ± 0.1 µg/g DW, respectively.

© 2020 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland The aim of this research work was to study the bioactivity potentials (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and enzyme inhibitory) of ethanol (EtOH), water (H2O) and chloroform (CHCl3) extracts of G. applanatum, G. lucidum, G. pfeifferi and G. resinaceum as well as their mycochemical profile: the total content of phenolics (TP) and sugars (TS) and LC/MS/MS detection of phenolics. LC/MS/MS profile showed that p-hydroxybenzoic and protocatechuic acids were mostly found. The highest ABTS and DPPH activities were detected in polar G. applanatum extracts (159.84±0.59 mg TE/g d.w., IC50=0.85±0.30 μg/mL, respectively), while G. resinaceum CHCl3 extract was the most potent in NO assay (IC50=41.21±0.18−81.89±0.81 μg/mL). The highest TP and TS were generally determined in G. applanatum EtOH extracts. Enzyme inhibitory effects were determined in H2O extracts. Generally, CHCl3 extracts showed the most powerful anti-inflammatory potential. These results suggest that analyzed species are a promising source of bioactive compounds and may be considered as candidates for new food supplements or drug formulations.

peer-reviewed, The aim of this work was to study the bioactivity of crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Boletus edulis prepared from caps and stipes of wild-growing basidiocarps collected from the Prijepolje region (western Serbia). The bioactivity screening included antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH], nitric oxide, super-oxide anion*, and hydroxyl radicals and ferric-reducing antioxidant power) and antiproliferative MTT assays (human breast MCF-7 cancer cell line). In addition, all extracts were primarily characterized by ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometry to determine total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The highest anti-DPPH and anti-hydroxyl radical activity were observed in aqueous B. edulis extract from the caps (half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 50.97 μg/ mL and 2.05 μg/mL, respectively), whereas the highest anti-nitric oxide radical activity was observed in aqueous B. edulis extract from the stipes (IC50 = 10.74 μg/mL). The ethanolic extract obtained from the mushroom stipe showed higher anti-superoxide anion radical activity (IC50 = 9.84 μg/mL) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (22.14 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g dry weight) compared with aqueous extracts. Total phenolic content for all extracts was similar but total flavonoid content was significantly higher in the aqueous B. edulis extract from the caps (4.5 mg quercetin equivalents/g dry weight). All crude extracts showed activity against the MCF-7 cell line, with the ethanolic extract of B. edulis prepared from stipes (IC50 = 56 μg/mL) being the most potent. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of the antiproliferative effects of crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts prepared from caps and stipes of wild-growing basidiocarps of B. edulis on the human breast MCF-7 cancer cell line., This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (projects III 46001 and OI 172058)

peer-reviewed, The aim of this work was to analyse mineral composition and chemical profile of two nonedible fungal species: Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma applanatum (Fruška Gora, Serbia) vs. their antioxidant (ABTS and A.E.A.C. assay) and cytotoxic biopotentials (MTT assay on MCF-7). Both species were analysed for their content of macro- and microelements by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while phenolic profile of EtOH and H2O extracts was examined by LC-MS/MS technique. Both species mostly contained the following ions: K+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Mn2+ > Zn2+ > Cu2+ > Cr3+. Among nine phenolic compounds, the highest content of vanillic acid was detected in G. applanatum extracts while protocatechuic acid in EtOH extract and quinic acid in H2O extract were mostly contained in G. lucidum. Ganoderma applanatum EtOH extract showed the best antioxidant activities related to its phenolic and flavonoid content. Further, the best cytotoxic effect after 72 h was observed in this extract as well., This research work was supported by Project of Ministry of Education and Sciences Republic of Serbia (Grant No.172058) as well as to the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development, Vojvodina, Serbia in the frame of project APV 114-451-849/2015-03.

In recent years, fungi have been recognized as producers of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, agents important for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to examine the AChE inhibitory, the antioxidative and antibacterial activity of two different Schizophyllum commune strains that originated from Serbia (SRB) and Italy (IT). Submerged cultivation of grown mycelia (M) and fermentation broth (F) of ethanol (EtOH) and polysaccharide (PSH) extracts lasted for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. For AChE activity Ellman method was performed, while for antioxidative activity, sevendifferent assays were conducted: DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, SOA, OH, NO together with total phenolic content. Antimicrobial screen, LC–MS/MS technique and FTIR measurements were performed. Different isolates exhibited different AChE activity, with PSH being the strongest (SRB, M, 28 days IC90 79.73 ± 26.34 µg/mL), while in EtOH extracts, IT stood out (F, 14 days, IC50 0.8 ± 0.6 µg/mL). PSH extracts (7 days) exhibit significant antioxidative activity (AO), opposite to EtOH extracts where 14 and 21days periods stood out. Only tw extracts showed antibacterial activity. Following LC–MS/MS analysis p-hydroxybenzoic and gallic acids were the most abundant phenolics. PSH extracts demonstrated remarkable results, making this study debut and introducing S. commune as a valuable resource of AChE inhibitors.

Bioactivity potential of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) juice and pomace was explored by performing four different antioxidant in vitro assays and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition assay on their lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts. The content of major phytochemicals responsible for bioactivity was determined using HPLC-DAD and HPLC/UV-PAD/ESI-MSn. Rutin was found in higher quantity in pomace, while juice was richer in caffeoyl-hexosides. Ferric ion reducing ability (FRAP) of both pomace extracts was significantly higher than those of juice, while juice hydrophilic extract showed higher nitric oxide radical scavenging capacity. Tomato carotenoids were shown to be more efficient superoxide anion scavengers than phenolic compounds which, in turn, showed higher activity in FRAP assay. ACE inhibitory activity of pomace hydrophilic extract was significantly higher than that of juice at extract concentration of 10 mg/mL. This gives the tomato pomace a new possible utilization for economic and eco-friendly tomato juice and paste production. Practical Applications During industrial processing of tomato into juice, a by-product – tomato pomace is formed, consisting mainly of skin and seeds. Tomato pomace could be extracted consecutively with hexane and ethanol as environmentally preferable solvents, giving extracts which contain carotenoids and phenolic compounds. These extracts possess bioactivity potential and could be used as ingredients for value added food products.

Coprinellus disseminatus (Pers.) J.E. Lange 1938 is an edible saprotrophic fungal species with bioactive potential which is not extensively investigated, mostly due to its small size. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine chemical and biological properties of crude ethanol (CdEtOH) and water extracts (CdAq). The bioactivity screens included antioxidant and antiproliferative (human breast MCF-7 cancer cell-line; MTT and SRB assays) activity. In addition, CdAq and CdEtOH were primarily characterized by UV-VIS spectrophotometry, with an aim of determining its chemical composition (total phenol and flavonoid contents). The best antioxidant activities were obtained for hydroxyl radicals (OH∙) and superoxide anion radical (SOA) assays for both crude extracts (IC50 =4.02 μg/ml for CdAq and IC50 =1.40 μg/ml for CdEtOH) while total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) content was higher in CdEtoH than in CdAq. Both crude extracts have shown activity against MCF-7 cell line although CdEtOH showed better effect than CdAq extract after 72h in MTT and SRB assay, reaching IC50 at 217.90 and 205.90 μg/ml, respectively. Based on obtained results, the saprotrophic fungal species Coprinellus disseminatus (Pers.) J.E. Lange 1938 could be considered as a good potential alternative source of nutraceuticals and biologically active compounds.

peer-reviewed, The aim of this work was to study chemical profile and antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of ethanol and water extracts of Lactarius controversus (Pers.) 1800 mushroom species growing in eastern Serbia. The chemical characterization of phenolic compounds performed by HPLC-MS/MS demonstrated the presence of quinic acid among others. Determination of antioxidant activity, including radical scavenging effects on DPPH•, NO•, OH• and SOA radicals and ferric reducing ability was investigated. The highest DPPH radical scavenging effect was obtained for water extract (LcAq) while ethanol extract (LcEtOH) demonstrated the highest FRAP activity. Hexane extract applied in antibacterial assay against three pathogenic strains demonstrated antibacterial effect only against S. aureus ATCC25922. Anti-proliferative properties against estrogen dependent MCF 7 breast cancer cell lines using MTT showed higher activity for ethanolic extract., This paper is the result of research within the projects III 46001 and 172058, financed by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia. The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Goran Anačkov for his valuable help in statistical analysis performance.

Aims The aims of study were to examine the antibacterial potential of two commercial essential oils (EOs) from coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) against vaginal clinical strains of bacteria and yeast and their chemical composition. Methods and Results Antimicrobial activities of commercial essential oils were determined using macro-diffusion (disc, well) and micro-dilution method in 96-well micro plates against twelve clinical strains of bacteria: Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus sp., Staph. aureus ATCC 25923, ATCC 6538 and E. coli 25922 and two clinical Candida albicans strains, including ATTC 10231. Spectrophotometric method was used for determination on C. albicans growth. An antimicrobial effect of EOs was strain specific. Bactericidal activity was higher for coriander EO (minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) 0·4–45·4 μl ml−1) against almost all tested bacteria, except multiple resistant strains of Eneterococcus sp. and Proteus sp. Thyme EO showed slightly better fungicidal activity reaching MIC at 0·11 mg ml−1 for all C. albicans strains. The effect of EOs on biofilm-forming ability was tested for two strains of Staph. aureus and E. coli, as well as on C. albicans filamentation ability. Brine shrimp lethality bioassay revealed thymus oil total toxicity and coriander oil intoxicity (LC50 = 2·25 mg ml−1). The chemical composition of oils was analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry showing oxygenated monoterepenes as dominant constituents. Conclusions The results provide in-vitro scientific support for the safety possible use of Coriander EO against E. coli, Staph. aureus and C. albicans vaginal infections in alternative gynaecological treatment. Significance and Impact of Study To examine EOs as possible constituent of naturally based antimicrobial agents in vaginaletes for safety gynaecological application.

© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. In vitro acetylholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of an autochthonous sample of the mushroom Coprinus comatus (encompassing fruiting body FB, mycelia M and filtrate F from the submerged cultivation) was the subject of this study. C. comatus F extract exhibited rather potent anti-AChE activity (73.0 ± 1.5%) at in liquid conditions, comparable to those of the conventional drug donepezil (80.6 ± 1.4%). Also, the same extract exhibited high anti-AChE activity (1 µg) in solid. While its FTIR spectrum indicated the presence of phenolic compounds, quercetin (28.1 µg g−1 d.w.) was found to affect the observed bioactivity (59.8 ± 0.9%). This is the first report of profound anti-AChE activity of any C. comatus extract, a medicinal mushroom that has been successfully cultivated in P.R. China, due to the demanding needs of food industry.

Lycoperdon perlatum (Pers) 1796 is saprobic puffball species with a global distribution. It is edible if young, when the gleba is still homogeneous and white. Since this species has a pleasant texture and taste, it has been used in soups as a substitute for dumplings. The aim of this work was to study bioactivity of crude extracts prepared from wild-growing sporocarps of L. perlatum collected from Eastern Serbia during 2012. The bioactivity screens included antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP assays), antiproliferative (human breast MCF-7 cancer cell-line; MTT and SRB assays) and antibacterial (three referent ATCC strains; microdilution assay) effects. Polar extracts (aqueous - LycAq and ethanol - LycEtOH) and a nonpolar extract (hexane - LycHex) of the examined mushroom species were screened. In addition, LycAq and LycEtOH were primarily characterized by UV-VIS spectrophotometry, due to determination of chemical composition (total phenol and flavonoid contents). The highest anti-DPPH radical activity was observed for LycAq (IC50 = 46.56 µg/ml). In comparison with LycAq, less polar LycEtOH showed slightly better ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (IC50 = 21.87 µg/ml and IC50 = 19.28 µg/ml, respectively). However, total phenol contents of both extracts were similar (≈ 2.0 mg GAE/g d.w.). Conversely, modest activities were found against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25922 (LycHex, MIC = 3.12 mg/ml) and MCF-7 cells (with the highest one obtained for LycEtOH after 72 h, IC50 = 367.54 µg/ml and IC50 = 390.03 µg/ml, MTT and SRB assays, respectively). According to the obtained experimental data, L. perlatum can be considered as a good source of novel and potent natural antioxidants for use in regular diet.

© 2020 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland Medicinal mushrooms have tremendous potential in production of bioactive compounds with diverse bioactivities while the biochemical potential of some specific mushroom strains (autochthonous for the region) in production of specific bioactive agents may be of the main importance in a continuous search for novel strains with supreme activities all over the world. In this study, the ethanolic (EtOH) and water (H2O) extracts of wild-growing polypore mushroom species were investigated: Trametes versicolor (L.) Lloyd and Stereum subtomentosum Pouzar. This study was designed to determine total phenol (TP), flavonoid (TF) and protein content (TPR) as well as LC/MS/MS phenolic profile related to in vitro antioxidant, antiproliferative (MTT assay) (AP) and DNA fragmentation properties. The H2O extracts expressed better antioxidant scavenging potential than EtOH showing the highest activity for the T. versicolor (IC50=5.6 μg/mL, IC50=0.6 μg/mL for DPPH. and OH., respectively) while O2.− activity achieved the best activity for S. subtomentosum (IC50=4.1 μg/mL). In contrary, the highest AP activity was obtained for the EtOH extracts of S. subtomentosum (IC50=141.1 μg/mL). The EtOH extracts of both species showed the highest TP, TF and TPR content. Obtained results of DNA degradation indicate genotoxicity potential of the extracts at high concentration. The LC/MS/MS detection showed that the majority of analyzed extracts contained phenolic acids, p-hydroxybenzoic and protocatechuic acid. The obtained results suggest that analyzed medicinal mushroom species, T. versicolor and S. subtomentosum, could be of potential interest as new sources of strong natural antioxidants as well as antiproliferative agents in the future.

Bioactive properties of fungi considerably differ between the fruiting body (FB) and the submerged culture as regards mycelia (M) and the fermentation broth (F). Antioxidant properties of hot-water extracts obtained from three different fungal origins: FB, M and F of two autochthonous fungal species (Northern Serbia), Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum were investigated. Free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) was evaluated in vitro by the DPPH assay and reducing power ability (FRAP assay). Considering possible bioactive properties of different compounds present in fungal extracts, the content of total proteins (TP), phenols (TC) and flavonoids (TF) were investigated colorimetrically. The chemical characterisation of the examined extracts was evaluated using the HPLC–MS/MS method. C. comatus showed the strongest RSC activity; more precisely, fermentation broth extract (FCc) on DPPH radicals (IC50 = 5.06 μg mL−1) and fruiting body extract (FBCc) for the FRAP assay (42.86 mg ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/g). Submerged M extract of both species showed the highest TC (MCc 81.95 mg gallic acid eq (GAE)/g d.w.; MCt 81.64 mg GAE/g d.w.), while FB extracts contained the highest content of TP. Comparing LC–MS phenolic profiles between species—interspecifically and among different fungal origins—intraspecifically (fruiting bodies and submerged cultures), high variations were noticed. In submerged M or F extracts of C. comatus, vanillic, gallic, gentisic and cinnamic acids were detected, as opposed to FB. Considering that diverse phenolic profiles of detected antioxidant compounds were obtained by submerged cultivation, this type of cultivation is promising for the production of antioxidant substances.

This study aimed to determine antiradical (DPPH center dot and (OH)-O-center dot) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities along with chemical composition of autochtonous fungal species Trametes versicolor (Serbia). A total of 38 phenolic compounds with notable presence of phenolic acids were identified using HPLC/MS-MS. Its water extract exhibited the highest antiradical activity against (OH)-O-center dot (3.21 mu g/mL), among the rest due to the presence of gallic, p-coumaric and caffeic acids. At the concentration of 100 mu g/mL, the same extract displayed a profound AChE inhibitory activity (60.53%) in liquid, compared to donepezil (89.05%), a drug in clinical practice used as positive control. The flavonoids baicalein and quercetin may be responsible compounds for the AChE inhibitory activity observed. These findings have demonstrated considerable potential of T. versicolor water extract as a natural source of antioxidant(s) and/or AChE inhibitor(s) to be eventually used as drug-like compounds or food supplements in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Aromatic plants are among the most important sources of biologically active secondary metabolites, with high antimicrobal potential. This study was carried out to examine in vitro antifungal activity of Foeniculum vulgare (Apiaceae), Carum carvi (Apiaceae) and Eucalyptus sp.(Myrtaceae) essential oils against three Candida albicans strains of different origin (laboratory-CAL, human pulmonary-CAH and ATCC10231-CAR). The essential oils were screened on C. albicans using disc and well-diffusion and microdilution method, and compared to Nystatine and Fluconazole as standard anti-mycotics. The activity of tested oils was expressed by inhibition zone diameter (mm), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) (mg/ml). The results indicated that studied essential oils show antifungal activity against all three isolates of C. albicans. It was observed that each oil exhibits different degree of antifungal activity depending on the oil concentration applied as well as on analyzed strain of C. albicans. Carum carvi demonstrated the strongest antifungal effect to all tested strains, showing the lowest MIC values (0.03mg/ml for CAL, 0.06mg/ml for CAH, and 0.11mg/ml for CAR, respectively). Eucalyptus sp. exhibited the lowest antifungal activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.11 mg/ml for CAL to 0.45 mg/ml for both CAH and CAR. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172058]

The antioxidant activity of organic extracts of eight fungal species, Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma applanatum, Meripilus giganteus, Laetiporus sulphureus, Flammulina velutipes, Coriolus versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus and Panus tigrinus, was evaluated for free radical (DPPH· and OH·) scavenging capacity and an effect on lipid peroxidation, and the antibacterial activity was tested by the agar well diffusion method. The highest DPPH· scavenging activity was found in the methanol extract of G. applanatum (12.5 μg/mL, 82.80%) and the chloroform extract of G. lucidum (510.2 μg/mL, 69.12%). The same extracts also showed the highest LP inhibition (91.83%, 85.09%) at 500 μg/mL, while the methanol extracts of G. applanatum and L. sulphureus showed the highest scavenging effect on OH· radicals (68.47%, 57.06%, respectively) at 400 μg/mL. A strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria was also manifested. The antioxidative potencies correlated generally with the total phenol content (0.19–9.98 mg/g). The HPLC determination showed that the majority of analysed species contained gallic and protocatechic acids. Consequently, these fungi are shown to be potential sources of antioxidative and antibacterial agents. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

As a result of an interest in natural derived metabolites, lignicolous fungi have taken on great importance in biochemical investigations. In the present study, antioxidative screening analyses have included in vitro testing of different extracts (aqueous, methanol, chloroform) of four fungal species using three different assays: Fe2+/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation by TBA assay, the neutralisation of OH· radicals and the radical scavenging capacity with the DPPHk]assay. TLC analysis confirmed the existance of phenolics in the extracts, but also indicates the presence of some other compounds. The obtained results 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: G. lucidum, G. applanatum, M. giganteus and F. velutipes. These results suggest that analyzed fungi are of potential interest as sources of strong natural antioxidants that could be used in the food industries and nutrition.

Crude extracts (methanolic-ME andwater-WE) of the fungus Meripilus giganteus (Pers.: Pers.) Karst. were analyzed for their antioxidative, antibacterial, cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and hemolytic activities using tests in vitro. The highest scavenging activity was exhibited by WE on OH? radicals, showing a 50% effective concentration (EC50) at 292.83?2.5 ?g/ml and ferric-reducing ability at 14.24?2.9 mg eq of ascorbic acid per g of dried extract (mg/g).An anti?bacterial effect was detected mostly against Gram-positive strains of bacteria. Toxicity assays exhibited higher effects for ME, reaching EC50=403.43?5.8 ?g/ml against estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7); 50% hemolytic activity at a concentration of 30?0.03 ?g/ml against erythrocytes; andEC50=4.5?0.05 mg/ml for acetyl cholinesterase-inhibitory activity. These results suggest possible use of this fungus as a new source of pharmaceuticals.

In vitro evaluation of total phenolic contents and antiradical activities of the lignicolous fungi Fomes fomentarius and Schizophyllum commune hydrodistilled extracts was the subject of this study. This preliminary screening included four free radical species evaluated by UV–vis (DPPH•, ABTS• and •NO) and EPR (Asc•), respectively. According to the experimental data obtained, both F. fomentarius and S. commune hydrodistilled extracts may be considered as promising sources of phenolic natural products (157 and 138 mg GAE/g d.e., respectively) and other bioactives showing good anti-DPPH (1.31 μg/mL) and anti-Asc (70.40%) radical activities, respectively, at in vitro conditions.