BIOMEDICAL POTENTIAL OF SELECTED MUSHROOM SPECIES

The aim of this study was to determine neuroprotective, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of acetone extracts of Coprinus comatus and Coprinopsis picacea mushrooms. The neuroprotetive activity was tested against acetylcholinesterase enzyme using the Ellman method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by free radical scavenging ability, superoxide anion radical scavenging activity and reducing power. The total phenol content was examined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The antimicrobial potential was determined by a microdilution method against 12 microorganisms. The cytotoxic activity was tested using MTT method on the Hela, A549 and LS174 cells. Our results indicate that C. comatus expressed a stronger neuroprotective effect (the percentage of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was within the range 19.66-51.73%) than C. picacea. In antioxidant effect C. comatus had more potent free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 276.69 μg/mL) and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 39.40 μg/mL), while reducing power was relatively similar for both species. The total amount of phenols for C. comatus and C. picacea was 50.57 and 50.20 μg PE/mg of dry extracts, respectively. In antimicrobial activity, C. picacea showed a better effect with MIC values from 0.1 to 7.5 mg/mL. Finally, C. picacea expressed stronger cytotoxicity toward A549 and LS174 cells, while C. comatus was more active against Hela cell.