Antioxidant activities of extracts and metabolites isolated from the fungus Antrodia cinnamomea

Abstract

Three different solvent partitions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate [EtOAc] and n-BuOH) of the culture broth from Antrodia cinnamomea were assayed with two different radical scavenging methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and superoxide radical scavenging (SOD) assay. The EtOAc layer exhibited the best antioxidant activity. Two major antioxidant metabolites were isolated from the active EtOAc layer. The antioxidant activities of compounds 1–6 were further evaluated by DPPH, SOD and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. Compounds 3 and 5 showed stronger free radical scavenging than the reference BHA, ED₅₀ = 1.36 and 34.24 µM. Compound 5 displayed moderate SOD activity (ED₅₀ = 310.0 µM), and its antioxidant capacity of TEAC value was 2.2 mM trolox equivalency.

Keywords:

• Antrodia cinnamomea
• Polyporaceae
• antioxidant activities
• free radicals
• DPPH
• SOD
• TEAC

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant (97AS-3.1.3-FD-Z2) from the Agriculture and Food Agency, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. The authors thank Senior Technician Mrs Chyi-Jia Wang of Center for Resources, Research and Development (CRRD) of Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) for measuring the 2D-NMR data.

Notes

Both authors have contributed equally to this manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ming-Jen Cheng

Both authors have contributed equally to this manuscript.