The aim of the study was to investigate the antioxidant properties, phenolic and flavonoid contents and composition and content of ascorbic acid in Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii enriched simultaneously with selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn). Non-enriched mushrooms contained Se and Zn at the level as in the most popular mushrooms. The total phenolic content (TPC) for non-enriched P. ostreatus and P. eryngii was 9.64 ± 0.33 and 7.91 ± 1.02 mg/g of extract, the total flavonoid content was 2.11 ± 0.19 and 1.26 ± 0.17 mg/g of extract, and ascorbic acid content ranged from 10.28 ± 0.39 to 16.64 ± 0.47 mg/100 g DW, respectively. Methanolic extracts contained 4-hydroxybenzoic, ferulic, p-coumaric, protocatechuic, t-cinnamic and vanillic acids and naringenin. In methanolic extract of P. eryngii, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was also quantified. The correlation between the TPC and antioxidant activity in mushroom was confirmed. Additionally, the correlations between Zn and Se concentration in fruiting bodies and EC₅₀ value and phenolic compounds were confirmed. Our results with simultaneous supplementation with Zn and Se provide the opportunity to increase the content of the elements in fruiting bodies and to improve antioxidant properties and antioxidant contents in enriched mushrooms. Additionally, the obtained results demonstrated that simultaneous enrichment with micronutrients with a contrary effect on antioxidant properties can activate synthesis of phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid. The investigation is the first study evaluating the effect of addition of two elements to the substrate at the same time on antioxidant properties of mushrooms.

Among the Agaricus genus, both cultivated and wild growing species can be found. In the study, the profile of phenolic compounds and organic acids, as well as ergosterol content of different species of edible Agaricus, was estimated together with a comparison of their ability to scavenge DPPH radicals. The investigation was carried out on seven strains of Agaricus bisporus (one brown and six white), Agaricus blazei, Agaricus arvensis, Agaricus bitorquis, Agaricus campestris and Agaricus silvaticus. Before analysis, the samples were dried. Among nine organic acids detected in Agaricus species, oxalic, lactic and succinic acids were the most abundant. The profile was very heterogeneous with A. silvaticus, A. camperstis and A. arvensis found to be the species richest in organic acids. The phenolic profile revealed only phenolic acids, among which gallic, caffeic and ferulic were detected in all species. The dominant were gallic, trans-cinnamic and chlorogenic acids. The highest sum of phenolic acids and total phenolic content was found in A. brasiliensis. Antiradical of the extracts against DPPH radical was as follows: A. bitorquis > A. arvensis > A. brasiliensis > brown A. bisporus > A. campestris > A. silvaticus > white A. bisporus. The lowest EC₅₀ value was estimated for A. brasiliensis and A. arvensis. A correlation was confirmed between antioxidant activity and phenolic acids. Ergosterol content reached the highest level in A. silvaticus and A. campestris. The investigation emphasizes the value of Agaricus species as a source of different bioactive compounds including phenolic compounds and organic acids.

In the study the effect of drying temperature on phenolic and organic acid content, total phenolic content, ergosterol content, antioxidant activity and content of 40 elements in fruiting bodies ofLeccinum scabrumandHericium erinaceuswas estimated. The analysis was performed for fresh fruiting bodies and those dried at 20, 40 and 70 °C. Drying resulted in changes in the profile of phenolic and organic acids. Drying generally resulted in losses of the content of total phenolics, ergosterol and antioxidant activity in both species. However, a reduction and an increase of phenolic acids and organic acids were observed. The greatest reduction of the compounds was generally observed at 70 °C. The greatest losses concerned organic acids (some single components and total) (even more than 90% of some compounds). The inhibition of free radicals decreased in the following order: fresh samples > air-dried samples > samples dried at 40 °C > samples dried at 70 °C. The drying temperature affected only selected element contents in fruiting bodies.

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading global cause of mortality indicating the need to identify all possible factors reducing primary and secondary risk. This study screened the in vitro antiplatelet and anticoagulant activities of hot water extracts of eight edible mushroom species (Agaricus bisporus, Auricularia auricularia-judae, Coprinus comatus, Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus eryngii, and Pleurotus ostreatus) increasingly cultivated for human consumption, and compared them to those evoked by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). The antioxidant capacity and concentration of polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, organic acids, ergosterol, macro elements, and trace elements were also characterized. The most promising antiplatelet effect was exhibited by A. auricularia-judae and P. eryngii extracts as demonstrated by the highest rate of inhibition of adenosine-5′-diphosphate (ADP)-induced and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced aggregation. The response to both extracts exceeded the one evoked by 140 µmol/L of ASA in the ADP test and was comparable to it in the case of the AA test. Such a dual effect was also observed for G. lucidum extract, even though it was proven to be cytotoxic in platelets and leukocytes. The extract of P. ostreatus revealed an additive effect on AA-induced platelet aggregation. None of the mushroom extracts altered the monitored coagulation parameters (prothrombin time, prothrombin ratio, and International Normalized Ratio). The effect of mushroom extracts on platelet function was positively related to their antioxidative properties and concentration of polysaccharides and ergosterol, and inversely related to zinc concentration. The study suggests that selected mushrooms may exert favorable antiplatelet effects, highlighting the need for further experimental and clinical research in this regard.

The phenolic and flavonoid contents and composition and the antioxidant ability in Hericium erinaceus, Ganoderma lucidum, and Agrocybe aegerita under selenium (Se) addition to growth medium were studied. The contents of total Se in fruiting bodies of controls (0 mM of Se) were 4.58 (A. aegerita), 8.53 (G. lucidum), and 14.29 (H. erinaceus) mg kg^–1 dry weight (DW), and was significantly increased by Se enrichment of substrate. The total phenolics in fruiting bodies of controls of H. erinaceus, G. lucidum, and A. aegerita were significantly lower (17.10, 28.11, and 16.05 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g of extract, respectively) than for Se-rich mushrooms (26.29, 40.29, and 20.07 mg GAE/g of extract, respectively). Total flavonoid content for H. erinaceus, G. lucidum, and A. aegerita increased after Se supplementation from 368.6 to 445.6, 469.9 to 627.7, and 318.1 to 393.9 μg g^–1 of extract, respectively. The results show that the mushrooms have superior antioxidant properties after Se addition, because the scavenging ability on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals was improved.

The leaves of eight Salix species/hybrids were collected from two sites with different soil conditions including metal concentrations to investigate the concentration of Cu, Zn and Pb, phenolic profile and antioxidant scavenging activity. Cu, Zn and Pb, phenolic content and scavenging activity in leaves from the control area (lower concentration of metals in soil) (site C) were lower than in plants cultivated in site G (higher concentration of metals in soil). The content of Cu, Pb and Zn in leaves was in the range 9.21 (site G)–52.36 (site G), 0.41 (site C)−12.03 (site C) and 27.23 (site C)–214.44 (site G) mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Total phenolic content ranged between 18.19 (site C) and 84.71 (site G) mg gallic acid equivalent per gram of dry matter. Total flavonoid content was between 7.98 (site C) and 54.48 (site G) mg catechin g⁻¹ d.m. The scavenging effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl˙ ranged between 33.6% (site C) and 56.3% (site G). Phenolic acids, myricetin and quercetin were quantified in leaves. The results show that phenolics are involved during adaptive mechanisms under elevated content of Cu, Pb and Zn in soil. Changes in the phenolic composition in leaves can be suggested as indicators of metal stress in Salix plants.