Antifungal, antioxidative, and genoprotective properties of extracts from the Blushing Bracket mushroom, Daedaleopsis confragosa (Agaricomycetes)

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal, antioxidative, and genoprotective potentials of various extracts of Daedaleopsis confragosa fruiting bodies and mycelia. The extracts exhibited weak fungistatic and an absence of any fungicidal activities against 7 important animal and human pathogens. Although mycelial extracts, especially the hot water extract, were more effective antifungal agents than basidiocarp extracts, they were significantly weaker than the commercial antimycotic ketoconazole. The tested extracts reduced DPPH radicals to various extents, depending on the material used for extraction and the solvent. The mycelial hot water extract was the best DPPH radical scavenger (half-maximal effective concentration, 3.42 mg mL-1), whereas the 96` ethanol extract of basidiocarps was the weakest one (half-maximal effective concentration, 5.36 mg mL-1). Phenols were the main carriers of activity, and their proportions in the tested extract mainly depended on the type and concentration of the solvent; the effect of the material used for extraction was negligible. The largest amount of phenols was detected in the 70% ethanol extract of basidiocarps (126.40 μg gallic acid equivalents mg-1) and the lowest in the basidiocarp methanol extract (19.93 μg gallic acid equivalents mg-1). Aqueous extracts of basidiocarp and mycelial extracts were not genotoxic agents but exhibited significant protective activity against hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage during use in leukocytes' pre- and post-treatments.