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The Lignicolous Fungus Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane Mushroom): A Promising Natural Source of Antiradical and DPPH Inhibitory Agents

Summary

Lion’s Mane mushrooms grown on a special mixture of agricultural waste materials showed the best antioxidant properties in this study. Researchers found that combining sawdust, wheat straw, bagasse, rice bran, and corn flour created the ideal growing environment. The mushrooms produced high levels of protective compounds called phenolics and flavonoids that help fight harmful free radicals in the body. This research shows how we can turn agricultural waste into valuable medicinal mushrooms with strong health benefits.

Background

Hericium erinaceus is an edible medicinal mushroom with recognized nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. Agricultural waste valorization through mushroom cultivation offers a sustainable approach to recover nutrients and bioactive compounds while managing organic waste.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the mineral content, mycochemical substances, and antioxidant properties of H. erinaceus fruiting bodies cultivated on 19 different substrate formulations enriched with agricultural waste, to determine optimal substrate compositions for maximizing bioactive compound production.

Results

The optimal substrate (sawdust 30% + wheat straw 30% + bagasse 15% + rice bran 15% + corn flour 10%) yielded the highest phenolic content (27 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoid content (8 mg QE/g DW), and IC50 value (88.7 μg/mL). Potassium and phosphorus reached 1600 and 1833 mg/100 g DW respectively, while iron reached 77.7 mg/100 g DW. Strong positive correlations were found between phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that enriched agricultural waste substrates significantly enhance mineral content and antioxidant properties of H. erinaceus. This research provides insights into biological technologies for valorizing organic solid waste into valuable, medicinally-active bio-based products with promising antioxidant and pharmaceutical applications.
  • Published in:The Scientific World Journal,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39949660, DOI: 10.1155/tswj/5964432
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