FREE-RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF MUSHROOM POLYSACCHARIDE EXTRACTS

The superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of eight mus hroom antitumor polysaccharide extracts were investigated using phenaz in methosulphate-NADH-nitroblue tetrazolium system and ascorbic acid-C u2+-cytochrome C system respectively. The results showed that six of e ight mushroom polysaccharide extracts had superoxide and hydroxyl radi cal scavenging activities. The protein content of the polysaccharide e xtracts appeared to contribute a direct effect on free radical scaveng ing activity. However, none of the mushroom polysaccharide extracts ha d antioxidative activity as measured by detecting malondialdehyde (MDA ) contents of liver microsomes.