PHENOLIC QUANTIFICATION AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITY OF MORCHELLA ESCULENTA

Abstract

The present investigation was designed for the analysis to determine the in vitro
antioxidant potential of a pharmaceutically important mushroom (Morchella esculenta).
Four basic test systems viz., DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) free radical
scavenging, nitric-oxide scavenging activity, super-oxide scavenging activity and total
phenolic compounds were used. Among all the scavenging tests a significant correlation
existed between concentrations of the extract and percent (%) inhibition of free radicals.
Measurement of total phenolic content of the extract was achieved using Folin-Ciocalteau
reagent containing 23.42±0.89mg g-1 of phenolic content, which was found significantly
higher when compared to reference standard gallic acid. DPPH scavenging activity of
methanolic mushroom extract showed highest % inhibition value, which was found to be
70.8±0.89, followed by super oxide scavenging activity (52.9±0.76). The least value was
found to be that of nitric oxide i.e. 49.04±0.23.