Antioxidant efficacy of a wood degrading fungus Phellinus gilvus (Schwein.) Pat., from Indian fungal flora

Abstract

Phellinus is a basidiomycete genus representing a group of wood rotting fungi. In spite of the wood degrading habit, a number of medicinal uses have been credited to various species of this genus. In the present study, the content of carbohydrates, proteins and phenols was estimated in hydroalcoholic (70% ethanol) extract (HAE) of P. gilvus. The same extract was screened for free radical scavenging activity on DPPH (1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), hydroxyl ion, superoxide ion and reducing power. The extract showed good quantity of proteins 42.4 mg/100 mg followed by carbohydrates 34.12 mg/100 mg and phenols 30.2 mg/100 mg. The EC50 of test extract was found minimum against DPPH free radical (25±2.30) and maximum against hydroxyl ion (37.67±1.45). The present study demonstrated the antioxidant potential of P. gilvus so that it could be used against several free radical related disorders.