Screening of Secondary Metabolites and Antioxidant Activity of Wild Edible Termite Mushroom

Wild edible mushrooms produce a variety of bioactive compounds that are known to have antioxidant properties. Natural antioxidants can protect against oxidative induced free radicals without any side effects. Thus, they are consumed by people for food and nutraceutical values. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of three wild edible termite mushrooms (Termitomyces albuminosus, T. eurhizus and T. robustus). Different phytochemicals were screened in the 50% ethanol, methanol and water extracts of three termite mushrooms. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminium chloride method respectively. The antioxidant activity of three termite mushrooms was evaluated by DPPH assay. Qualitative screening of phytochemicals has revealed that alkaloid, steroid, fatty acid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, carbohydrate and protein are found in the 50% ethanol, methanol and water extracts of three species of termite mushroom. A high amount of total phenolic and flavonoid content was found in the 50% ethanol extract of T. albuminosus, T. eurhizus and T. robustus (TPC: 50.28, 54.56 and 57.63 mg GAE/g extract; TFC: 16.30, 18.43 and 18.80 mg QE/g extract respectively). Due to high phenolic and flavonoid content, 50% ethanol extract of three termite mushrooms has shown high antioxidant activity (i.e., lowest IC50: 710.00 - 714.05 μg/ml). These termite mushrooms have antioxidant properties due to the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites that can potentially be used as a source of natural antioxidants in the form of food and nutraceutical.