Bioactive properties of fungi considerably differ between the fruiting body (FB) and the submerged culture as regards mycelia (M) and the fermentation broth (F). Antioxidant properties of hot-water extracts obtained from three different fungal origins: FB, M and F of two autochthonous fungal species (Northern Serbia), Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum were investigated. Free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) was evaluated in vitro by the DPPH assay and reducing power ability (FRAP assay). Considering possible bioactive properties of different compounds present in fungal extracts, the content of total proteins (TP), phenols (TC) and flavonoids (TF) were investigated colorimetrically. The chemical characterisation of the examined extracts was evaluated using the HPLC-MS/MS method. C. comatus showed the strongest RSC activity; more precisely, fermentation broth extract (FCc) on DPPH radicals (IC50 = 5.06 lg mL -1 ) and fruiting body extract (FBCc) for the FRAP assay (42.86 mg ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/g). Submerged M extract of both species showed the highest TC (MCc 81.95 mg gallic acid eq (GAE)/g d.w.; MCt 81.64 mg GAE/g d.w.), while FB extracts contained the highest content of TP. Comparing LC-MS phenolic profiles between species-interspecifically and among different fungal origins-intraspecifically (fruiting bodies and submerged cultures), high variations were noticed. In submerged M or F extracts of C. comatus, vanillic, gallic, gentisic and cinnamic acids were detected, as opposed to FB. Considering that diverse phenolic profiles of detected antioxidant compounds were obtained by submerged cultivation, this type of cultivation is promising for the production of antioxidant substances.

Five different salicylate based ionic liquids were prepared in order to study their toxicity. Aquatic organisms (A. salina) and a human non-tumor cell line (normal fetal lung fibroblasts, MRC-5) were used for that purpose.

This study was focused on in vitro screening of the total antioxidant activity of the selected extracts of the mushroom Coprinus comatus and quinic acid, one of their antidiabetic ingredients, by an uncommon electrochemical assay. Indeed, direct current (DC) polarographic HydroxoPerhydroxo Mercury(II) Complex (HPMC) assay based on decrease of anodic limiting current originating from HPMC formation in alkaline solutions of hydrogen peroxide at potential of mercury dissolution, observed upon gradual addition of antioxidants, was applied herein for the estimation of the natural products' antioxidativity. Quinic acid was found to exhibit most promising antioxidant potential (4.0±0.2 %µL -1 ) being ≈ 2-fold more active than the screened C. comatus extract samples. Actually, such a finding puts some light on the antioxidativity of cyclic polyols, well understimated class of organic compounds, compared to aromatic (poly)phenolics. As a low cost, easy-to handle and accurate this polarographic assay may be thoroughly recommended for much broader use.

The polysaccharide (PSH) extracts from the edible mushroom species Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum were screened in liquid for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChE) activity. Both extracts were found to display inhibition of the aforementioned enzyme reaching similar IC values of 0.62 ± 0.07 and 0.61 ± 0.03 mg/mL, respectively. According to the means of FTIR spectroscopy, these PSH extracts mostly contained β-glucans. However, the presence of some proteins and polyphenolics as minor ingredients were also detected. Compared with existing literature data for anti-AChE activity of the sugar samples, the findings within this study may be treated as a profound bioactivity. Consequently, this study puts some light on the possible use of the screened macrofungi in the palliative treatment of Alzheimer's disease.