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Antiaging Properties of Macrofungi Extracts from Hericium erinaceus, Ganoderma lucidum, Coprinus comatus
Mushrooms are rich in bioactive compounds with antiaging properties. This study focused on three species: Hericium erinaceus, Ganoderma lucidum, and Coprinus comatus. Their antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities were evaluated using ABTS, CUPRAC, and DPPH assays. Ganoderma lucidum showed the highest ABTS activity (97.09%), followed by Coprinus comatus (83.35%) and Hericium erinaceus (60.53%). In the CUPRAC assay, Ganoderma lucidum demonstrated the greatest Cu2+ reduction at 3.0 mg/mL, while Hericium erinaceus and Coprinus comatus showed similar reduction levels at higher concentrations. The DPPH assay revealed Ganoderma lucidum as the most potent antioxidant (90.83%), with the other two species exhibiting around 45% lower activity. Ganoderma lucidum also had the highest tyrosinase inhibition. Among the extracts, Coprinus comatus ethanol extract was most toxic, especially to Daphnia pulex and Chironomus aprilinus, with 50% mortality occurring within approximately 8 hours and 40 minutes, respectively. Hericium erinaceus ethanol extract was the least toxic, affecting only Daphnia pulex with four deaths after 24 hours. Aqueous extracts from all fungi showed no toxicity. These findings suggest that mushroom extracts, particularly Ganoderma lucidum, have potential for use in antiaging
The Effect of Bitter Melon and Chromium(III) Supplementation on the Mineral Status of Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet
Antimicrobial Activities Evaluation and Phytochemical Screening of Some Selected Plant Materials Used in Traditional Medicine
Plant extracts are a source of valuable ingredients that can be used in many industries. This paper presents research on the content of selected bioactive compounds in extracts obtained from various plant materials. Raw materials have a documented use in traditional medicine not only in Poland. The tested plants were: bitter melon (fruit), elderberry (flowers, fruit, leaves), wild rose (fruit, flesh, seeds), mountain ash (fruit), guelder rose (fruit), and sea buckthorn (fruit, leaves, pomace). The main goal of these tests is to indicate the potential raw materials that may constitute an alternative source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activity. The plant material was tested for the content of bioactive antioxidant compounds and possible antimicrobial activity. The content of polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids) was analyzed using UPLC/PDA, sterols, organic acids, and other bioactive compounds. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The total free phenolic acids (TPC) and total free flavonoids (TFC) of all plant raw materials was varied and ranged from 0.21 (mg RUTE/1 g of extract) to 38.30 mg RUTE/1 g of extract) for TFC. The concentration of sterols was, on average, about 10 mg/1 g of extract. The value of approx. 20 mg/1 g of the extract was recorded for bitter melon and beach rose. The content of organic acids was about 1.5 mg/1 g of the extract to even 13 mg/1 g of the extract for sea buckthorn berries. The most sensitive to the extracts’ activity were the following bacteria: M. luteus, P. mirabilis, P. fragii, S. enteritidis, and E. coli. The tested plant materials can be used in various industries as a source of bioactive compounds of an antibacterial nature.