Bioactivity and chromatographic analysis of nutrients and non-nutrients of two Leccinum species
Conference Paper
Overview
Overview
abstract
Nowadays the rising cost of health care and pharmaceutical products, the
increase in life expectancy as well as the demand for an improved quality of life, has
led to an increased concern about food intake and an emergence of new concepts of
nutrition [1]. Mushrooms have been pointed out as an excellent option to include in a
healthy diet, due to their nutritional value [2] associated with their bioactive properties
[3].
The current study presents the chemical profile of two edible species, Leccinum
molle (Ban) Ban and Leccinum vulpinum Watling, harvested in the outskirts of
Bragan9a (Northeastern Portugal), regarding their content in nutrients and
nonnutrients. Individual profiles of sugars and fatty acids were obtained by HPLC-RI
and GC-FID, respectively. Tocopherols were analysed by HPLC-fluorescence, and the
non-nutrients (i.e., phenolic and other organic acids) by HPLC-PDA. The antioxidant
activity of the methanolic extracts obtained from both species was assessed with
different assays (e.g. reducing power, radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation
inhibition) and their hepatotoxicity was evaluated in primary cell cultures obtained from
porcine liver, PLP2. Generally, both Leccinum species revealed similar nutrient profiles, with low fat
levels, fructose, mannitol and trehalose as the foremost free sugars, and higher
percentages of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in comparison with saturated
fatty acids. The presence of bioactive compounds was also detected, namely phenolic
(e.g., gallic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids) and organic acids (e.g., citric
and fumaric acids). Both species presented antioxidant properties, being L. vulpinum
the species which showed the most promising results (higher contents of total phenolic
acids and lower ECso values in all the performed assays). Neither of the extracts
presented toxicity against the liver primary cells PLP2, up to maximal concentration
tested (Giso > 400 μg/ml).
