Antioxidant Activity and Folic Acid Content in Indigenous Isolates of Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinal fungus called Linzhi in China and Reishi in Japan, is an economically important fungal species and commonly utilized for its nutraceutical properties. G. lucidum mushroom does not have cytotoxicity and has been demonstrated to be safe due to its' long history of oral administration. G. lucidum was subjected to an intensive scientific research since 80s, demonstrating the multiplicity of its medicinal uses and it is a major source for many bioactivities. Among many known and tested bioactive compounds, particularly polysaccharides occupy a precious position as immuno modulators. Anti-oxidant activity of polysaccharides has been identified from G. lucidum. In the present investigation, 4 different indigenous isolates of G. lucidum (GL-01 to GL-04) were tested for its antioxidant and folic acid content. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of G. lucidum was reported and has the maximum antioxidant activity (95.36±0.02%) recorded for GL-01 at 1mg/ml concentration and it is followed by the same strain at 0.8mg/ml concentration (94.92±0.01%). GL-02, GL-03 and GL-04 of methanol extract shown 93.18±0.17, 93.55±0.41 and 92.5±0.34% scavenging activity respectively. The maximum activity with water extract (62.18±1.96%) recorded by GL-03 at 0.8mg/ml concentration. Methanol extract has shown excellent antioxidant potential compare to water extract. Maximum folic acid content (77.7 μg/100g) was recorded in GL-03. The positive results of free radical scavenging activity by fruit bodies of this is another alternative platform to new finding in field of pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals.