This study is based on the phenolic composition and the antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm activities of the edible mushroom Marasmius oreades from Turkey. The phenolic composition of an M. oreades ethanol extract was measured by using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, aluminium chloride colorimetry, and ultraperformance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant activity was evaluated on the basis of DPPH radical scavenging activity. The effect of the M. oreades ethanol extract was also screened in order to determine glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities. The antimicrobial activity of the mushroom extract was evaluated by using well diffusion and was based on the minimum inhibitory concentration. In addition, the antibiofilm potential of M. oreades was analyzed against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Finally, the anticancer effects of the mushroom extract were tested on colon (HT-29) and breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) cancer cell lines by using the MTT assay. The results revealed that the total amount of phenolics in the ethanol extract of M. oreades was 10.990 ± 0.0007 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g, and the total amount of flavonoids was 1.139 ± 0.0052 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g. The ultraperformance liquid chromatography results indicated that the M. oreades ethanol extract contained various phenolic compounds: catechin, ferulic, gallic acid, and vanillic acid. The M. oreades ethanol extract scavenged about 80% of DPPH free radicals. It did not show any effect on the glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase enzyme activities, but its maximal concentration (10 mg/mL) increased superoxide dismutase activity (8%). The ethanol extract of M. oreades showed a moderate anticancer effect on the HT-29, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Although the ethanolic extract of the mushroom did not show sufficient antibacterial activity, it presented a strong antibiofilm effect against all studied pathogenic strains at the tested concentrations.

Ethanolic extracts of the mushroom species Ganoderma adspersum, Inonotus hispidus, Russula chloroides, and Sarcodon imbricatus were investigated for their polyphenolic contents and biological activities. The radical scavenging activity of the extracts was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) (DPPH) method and their polyphenolic compounds were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Furthermore, the activity effects of mushroom extracts on the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were also examined. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of mushroom extracts was evaluated by disc diffusion method. Ethanolic extract of I. hispidus demonstrated the highest total phenolic content and total flavonoid contents, with 227.23±4.96 mg gallic acid equivalent/g and 42.14±0.20 quercetin equivalent/g, respectively. The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed for ethanolic extracts of I. hispidus, with 10.687±1.643 µg/mL IC50. HPLC analysis demonstrated that R. chloroides was composed of ferulic acid, gallic acid, and myricetin compounds. The highest GST enzyme activity effect was detected with the ethanol extracts of I. hispidus and S. imbricatus. None of the mushroom extracts demonstrated significant inhibition of the bacterial strains used. These results indicate that I. hispidus may be proposed as a new potential source of natural medicine and its potential may be related to its polyphenolic content, which needs further investigation.

The antioxidant capacity of Fomitopsis pinicola extracts was determined based on DPPH radical scavenging activites. Their total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also investigated. Antioxidant enzymes are important in controlling oxidative stress and maintaining cellular homeostatis. They can protect cells from the deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species and prevent the development of degenerative diseases such as Alzhemier disease, Parkinson disease, cancer, and even aging. In this regard, the modulatory activities of F. pinicola extracts on the antioxdant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also investigated. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration for DPPH radical scavenging capacity of the pure and 70% ethanol extracts were determined as 0.178 ± 0.004 and 0.300 ± 0.005 mg/mL, respectively. Total phenolic contents of the pure and 70% ethanol extracts were determined as 313.2 ± 5.8 and 278.0 ± 2.9 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract, respectively. The total flavonoid contents of the pure and 70% ethanol extracts of F. pinicola were determined as 93.8 ± 1.6 and 100.4 ± 4.5 mg quercetin equivalents/g extract, respectively. Both the pure and 70% ethanol extracts (1-10 mg/ml) were investigated for their activities on GPx, SOD, and CAT enzymes in vitro; maximum concentrations of both F. pinicola extracts effectively activated the GPx and SOD enzymes at around 20-35% and the CAT enzyme at 2-12%. Gallic acid is one the main ingredients of F. pinicola extract; therefore, the gallic acid content of the extract was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and its corresponding modulatory activities on the same enzymes were also investigated in vitro. The results indicate that the beneficial effects of F. pinicola might be related to its high antioxidant potential, its high gallic acid content, and its ability to modify and activate antioxidant enzymes.

Extra virgin olive oil is the highest grade of virgin olive oil derived by cold mechanical extraction without the use of solvents or refining methods. These olive oils are known for their composition in phenolic compounds that have antioxidant properties. This study aims to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activities of four Turkish extra virgin olive oil samples: Kilis yağlık, İzmir sofralık, Ayvalık, and Tavşan yüreği. The highest sample concentration used for the experiments was 4 mg/ml while 1 mg/mL was used for ABTS radical scavenging assay. The lowest total phenolic and flavonoid content was observed in Tavşan yüreği sample. All extra virgin olive oil samples showed scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Extra virgin olive oil samples with high phenolic and flavonoid content presented more effective radical scavenging activity with low IC50 values. This study provides information about the phenolic content and antioxidant activities of four important Turkish olive oil samples.