Optimization of Ultrasonic Extraction to Obtain Erinacine A and Polyphenols with Antioxidant Activity from the Fungal Biomass of Hericium erinaceus

Author: mycolabadmin
12/18/2020
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Summary

Researchers developed an efficient ultrasonic extraction method to obtain beneficial compounds from the lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus), particularly a substance called erinacine A and antioxidants. The optimized process uses 80% ethanol and takes 45 minutes, producing extracts rich in antioxidants that can protect cells from damage. These extracts showed promise in protecting brain cells and could potentially help prevent or treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

Background

Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal fungal species that produces erinacine A, a bioactive metabolite with strong antioxidant activity. Classical extraction techniques for obtaining metabolites from this fungus are resource-intensive, energy-consuming, and inefficient at biomedical scales. This study aimed to develop an efficient ultrasonic extraction method for identifying and extracting biologically active compounds from H. erinaceus mycelia.

Objective

To develop and optimize an ultrasonic extraction method for obtaining erinacine A and polyphenols with antioxidant activity from H. erinaceus fungal biomass. The extraction process was optimized using response surface methodology to determine the best extraction yield of metabolites involved in antioxidant activity.

Results

Optimal extraction conditions were 80% ethanol, 45 min extraction time, and 1:30 g/mL solvent-to-material ratio, yielding 23.2 mg GAE/g DM total phenolics and DPPH IC50 of 87.2 µg/mL. Erinacine A was identified and quantified by HPLC at retention time 17.846 min. The extracts showed mild acetylcholinesterase (53% inhibition) and butyrylcholinesterase (49% inhibition) inhibitory activities. Strong correlation was found between total phenolics and antioxidant activity.

Conclusion

This is the first study to report ultrasonic extraction optimization for erinacine A determination and antioxidant compound extraction from H. erinaceus. The mushroom biomass represents a valuable natural source of dietary polyphenols and flavonoids with antioxidant properties suitable for functional foods and alternative medicine applications. Results support potential neuroprotective effects beneficial for neurodegenerative disorder prevention and treatment.

Published in:Foods,
Study Type:Experimental Research,
Source: PMID: 33352839, DOI: 10.3390/foods9121889