HPTLC identification of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus edodes extracts

Because of the special flavour and of the therapeutic properties, Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus edodes are among the most cultivated and consumed mushrooms species. This work aimed to evaluate the antioxidant properties and free radical scavenger activities of Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus edodes methanol extracts by phosphomolybdenum and DPPH- assays respectively, total phenolic content (Folin – Ciocalteu) and identification of bioactive compounds by HPTLC (high-performance thin layer chromatography). The obtained fingerprints of extracts, in tree systems (for phenols, coumarins and triterpenoid saponins) have shown the presence of ferulic acid as main compounds in Pleurotus ostreatus extract and ergosterol (provitamin D2) in both of them. Total phenol content was 2.03 g/100g for Lentinus edodes extract and 1.24 g/100g for Pleurotus ostreatus extract. Radical scavenger activity and total antioxidant capacity, was higher for Lentinus edodes extract (90.14%, 203.05 mg AA) in comparison with the results obtained for Pleurotus ostreatus extract (85.32%, 168.34mg AA). The mushrooms examined in this work could represent important and accessible sources of natural antioxidants for food, food supplement and cosmetic industry.