title: Antioxidant effect of Inonotus obliquus.
abstract: The mushroom Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pilát (Hymenochaetaceae), has been widely used as a folk medicine in Russia, Poland and most of the Baltic countries. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the antioxidant capacities of Inonotus obliquus. Four extracts from the fungus were evaluated for antioxidant activity against the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide, and peroxyl radicals. The polyphenolic extract had a strong antioxidant activity, and the extract containing triterpenoids and steroids presented a relatively strong antioxidant effect. The polysaccharide extract, however, was inactive. The protective effects of these four extracts were assessed against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress using a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. Our results show that the polyphenolic extract protected these cells against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress, while the polysaccharide, triterpenoid and steroid extracts were ineffective. Additionally, the remnant polyphenolic and low molecular weight polysaccharide extracts showed a weakly protective effect at a concentration of 50 microg/ml. Our results indicate that Inonotus obliquus has the capacity to scavenge free radicals at concentrations higher than 5 microg/ml and that the polyphenolic extract can protect cells against oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital, 300 Gumi-Dong, Bundang-Gu, Seongnam-Si, Kyoungki-Do 463-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Dong-Seok
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyoung-Chan
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001487:Basidiomycota; D002460:Cell Line; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D059808:Polyphenols; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D011134:Polysaccharides; D001205:Ascorbic Acid